The TV show Heated Rivalry, based on the popular novels by Rachel Reid, isn’t just a hit with fans – it’s a critical success too, boasting a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and becoming a genuine cultural phenomenon. Now, it’s achieved something incredibly rare, joining the ranks of Breaking Bad as one of only a few shows to reach this major milestone.
Following the release of the fifth episode of Heated Rivalry, fans were shocked by its cliffhanger involving Shane, Ilya, Scott, and Kip, and quickly began praising it. As evidence, the episode currently shares the top spot on IMDb’s list of highest-rated television episodes, being one of only two to achieve a perfect score. This puts it alongside the best-reviewed episodes of all time, for this steamy hockey romance.
Not surprisingly, another standout episode comes from Breaking Bad. Often hailed as one of the greatest shows from the golden age of television, the Bryan Cranston-led drama boasts the highest-rated episode on IMDb: “Ozymandias” (Season 5, Episode 14) has a perfect 10, based on over 273,000 ratings. As many know, this AMC series is exceptional, and this episode, directed by Rian Johnson and available on Netflix, is particularly well-regarded. Therefore, anything comparable to it is truly remarkable.
The fifth episode of Heated Rivalry, titled “I’ll Believe in Anything” (available on HBO Max), marks a turning point for Shane and Ilya. Throughout the 56-minute episode, they begin to truly acknowledge and embrace their feelings for each other, significantly deepening their romantic connection. Beyond its importance to the overall plot, the episode also highlights the impressive talents of its lead actors. Both Connor Storrie, with a demanding Russian monologue as Ilya, and Hudson Williams, in portraying Shane’s vulnerability, demonstrated why they’re perfectly cast in these roles.
The episode has caused a huge fan reaction, with viewers enthusiastically sharing their love online. As a result, it’s received a perfect 10/10 rating on IMDb, based on over 34,000 votes.
No other TV show has ever received a perfect score of ten. While many have come close, only Breaking Bad and Heated Rivalry have actually achieved it.
Currently, only 20 television episodes have earned a perfect 9.9 rating. These include acclaimed episodes like “Everyone’s Waiting” from Six Feet Under, “The View from Halfway Down” from BoJack Horseman, “Sozin’s Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang” from Avatar: The Last Airbender, “Connor’s Wedding” from Succession, and “The Rains of Castamere” from Game of Thrones, among others.
HBO Max subscriptions begin at $10.99 monthly and include access to popular shows like Game of Thrones, Succession, and Heated Rivalry (available in the US). See the deal here for plans starting at $10.99 per month.
It’s amazing that Heated Rivalry is considered one of the greatest TV episodes of all time, right up there with classics like Breaking Bad. Those are truly iconic shows!
You can watch the season finale of Heated Rivalry on HBO Max this Friday to see how the story ends. I’ve read the book, and you won’t want to miss what happens with Shane and Ilya! The last episode showed us that the finale promises to be well-made, emotionally engaging, and full of excitement.
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2025-12-23 22:10