Jacob Tierney has confirmed that the second season of Heated Rivalry will bring one of the most emotionally significant moments from the book series fully to life on screen: Shane Hollander coming out to his hockey team. This moment, which originally appeared as a brief epilogue detail in Rachel Reid’s novel Heated Rivalry, will be expanded and dramatized in the television adaptation, giving audiences the chance to witness Shane’s journey in a far more immediate and immersive way.
The showrunner shared this insight during his appearance on the Loon Call Podcast, where he spoke candidly about adapting Reid’s follow-up novel, The Long Game, for the next season of the series. According to Tierney, certain milestones in a character’s emotional arc simply cannot be left to implication or summary when translating a story from page to screen. Shane’s coming out, in particular, is one such moment. Tierney explained that while novels can afford to reference life-changing events in retrospect, television demands that viewers experience those moments alongside the characters. For him, allowing something as meaningful as Shane’s coming out to happen off-screen would undermine its emotional weight and narrative importance.
In the original novel, Shane’s disclosure to his teammates is mentioned after the fact rather than shown in detail. Readers learn that it happened and understand its significance, but they are not present for the conversations, the tension, or the immediate reactions. The television series, however, intends to take a different approach. By placing the scene directly in front of the audience, the adaptation will explore not only Shane’s internal emotions but also the dynamics within the locker room and the varied responses of his teammates. This expansion aligns with the show’s broader storytelling philosophy, which seeks to deepen character development by turning understated or implied moments from the books into fully realized dramatic sequences.
Tierney emphasized that visual storytelling offers unique opportunities to convey vulnerability, fear, and relief in ways that prose alone cannot. Facial expressions, body language, silence, and atmosphere all play a role in communicating what a character is experiencing. By allowing viewers to “see it and experience it,” as Tierney put it, the series can honor the emotional core of Reid’s work while also making the moment accessible and impactful for a television audience, including those who may not have read the novels.
Season two of Heated Rivalry is expected to follow the events of The Long Game, continuing the story of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as they face new personal and professional challenges. While their relationship remains central, the upcoming season will also place greater emphasis on individual growth, particularly as Shane navigates life more openly within the high-pressure, traditionally conservative world of professional hockey. His coming out is not just a personal milestone, but also a moment that has implications for team dynamics, public perception, and his own sense of identity.
In addition to this pivotal scene, Tierney hinted that other moments from the books that were only briefly referenced or summarized could receive similar treatment in the series. This approach reflects a careful balance between staying faithful to the source material and adapting it in a way that feels natural and compelling for television. Rather than simply recreating the novels beat for beat, the show aims to explore emotional undercurrents and character interactions in greater depth, allowing stories that were once confined to a few lines on the page to unfold over entire scenes or even episodes.
The first season of Heated Rivalry was widely praised for its character-driven storytelling and emotional authenticity, particularly in its portrayal of a queer romance within the world of professional sports. That success has set high expectations for season two, with fans eager to see how the series will handle some of the most anticipated moments from the books. Shane’s coming out, long regarded by readers as a powerful and affirming conclusion to his arc, is now poised to become one of the defining scenes of the show’s next chapter.
Although a premiere date for the second season has yet to be announced, anticipation continues to build. With a focus on major emotional arcs, thoughtful adaptation choices, and the promise of bringing fan-favorite moments fully to life, the upcoming season is shaping up to be a meaningful continuation of Shane and Ilya’s story. For many viewers, seeing Shane step into the light and claim his truth in front of his team will not only be a long-awaited moment, but also a testament to the show’s commitment to telling honest, resonant stories about love, identity, and courage.
