Heated Rivalry has become such a global hit that Russian fans are breaking the law to watch it. The Canadian LGBTQ+ sports romance, about two rival hockey players in a secret love story, boasts a 9.1 IMDb score and a 98 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating. Despite Russia’s sweeping gay propaganda laws, journalist Mikhail Zygar says the show has seen extraordinary success. Fans are using Telegram, VPNs, and piracy to watch—risking heavy fines just to see queer love on screen.
