SPOILER ALERT: This text comprises details about Episode 5 of “Heated Rivalry,” now streaming on HBO Max.
Robbie G.K. did some method auditioning when he read for the role of hockey champion Scott Hunter in “Heated Rivalry.”
“I feel living in Canada, I actually have a stereotypical view of what hockey is and what hockey individuals are like,” the actor tells me via Zoom from Toronto, where he’s visiting family for the vacations. “I had like a mullet and a mustache happening.”
G.K. didn’t get the part. But regardless of, because series creator Jacob Tierney asked him to play Kip Grady, the juice bar employee who has a steamy and emotional romance with the very closeted Scott, played by François Arnaud, in episode 3.
G.K. had chemistry reads with a few other actors before Arnaud. “After I did the one with François, I texted Jacob right after and I said, ‘That was the last one, wasn’t it?’ Because I could tell just by us reading it that it really felt prefer it went from a scripted conversation to an actual conversation,” G.K. recalls. “I feel that’s a testament to François’ ability of just making it feel so authentic. I used to be like, ‘Oh, wow. That is the primary time this hasn’t felt like a chemistry read. This just appears like we’re talking.’”
At the tip of Episode 3, Scott and Kip break up. Even so, Kip returns in Episode 5. He’s within the stands when Scott’s team wins the Stanley Cup. Through the final scene, Scott motions for Kip to affix him within the rink as his team is celebrating the championship. Then, in one among the show’s most jaw-dropping moments, Scott comes out of the closet by kissing Kip. The episode then cuts to Ilya (Connor Storrie) telling Shane (Hudson Williams) he’s going to take him up on his offer to spend a few of the summer with him at his vacation cottage.
“I knew it was going to be a really moving moment, in fact, but it surely’s very different from once you film something like that and also you’re in a hockey rink and there’s no music, and the entire build-up of every little thing,” G.K. says. “After I first watched it, I used to be just giddy about it. I feel that is the moment where all these storylines intersect. I’m glad it turned out because it did. It’s significantly better than anything I could have ever imagined.”
Heated Rivalry – (L to R) François Arnaud as Scott Hunter and Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady in Episode 105 of Heated Rivalry. Cr. Sabrina Lantos © 2025
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It took about seven takes to get the kiss good. “It was a fun day,” G.K. says. “That was my last day on set, so it was type of an emotional day. It felt like a great little button to that storyline.”
While “Heated Rivalry,” which relies on Rachel Reid’s queer romance novel series “Game Changers,” has been picked up for a second season, G.K. doesn’t know yet if Kip will return.
“There may be an entire world to explore after this,” he says. “I do know that they’re sticking to the books and that’s super exciting. And I do know that ‘The Long Game’ has loads in it, and the following couple of books have a number of content in them, too. But outside of the show alone, I left that set feeling like this was top-of-the-line projects I’ve ever worked on, just due to the people. I might do absolutely anything to be back in that setting.”
I used to be at an enormous gay Hanukkah party last night, and all anyone desired to discuss was “Heated Rivalry.” They were checking their phones to see in the event that they’d be home in time to look at Episode 5.
No way. That’s crazy. Truthfully, it’s been such a whirlwind. Last night, I couldn’t sleep because I used to be fascinated by the episode. Often, anything that I’m in, I’m like,”That is garbage,” and I can’t fix it. But I used to be like, “I’ll watch the screener and perhaps do some laundry just so I’m up so far and every little thing.” I discovered myself in my underwear, having done no laundry, sitting there giggling, watching the entire episode. I’m glad everyone seems to be having fun with it as much as I’m.
Now we have to see your audition with the mullet and mustache.
I don’t think that’s going to see the sunshine of day, so I’ll have to indicate it to you in person sooner or later. The costume designer was Hanna Puley, who I worked with on “Overcompensating” [G.K. played nurse Riley in Benito Skinner’s coming-of-age Prime Video comedy series]. I used to be like, “Girl, I feel we have now to try to maintain this. I feel it suits for Latest York City.” Ultimately, we decided not to do this, but it surely was fun to try.
Do you think that Scott and Kip could have a future together? From what I can tell, that is Scott’s first relationship with a person, perhaps the primary time he’s ever really been with a person. And he asked Kip to maneuver within the morning after their first night together.
Yeah, it was like in 10 seconds. François and I actually have chatted about this, and indubitably, I feel that there’s obviously a relationship that continues to exist. There’s a lot to explore after this point, right? There are these weird parallels because the identical way that the show is exploding and the episodes are exploding, the identical thing would occur on a fair larger scale for Kip.
How was it doing the sex scenes? You worked with an intimacy coordinator, but it surely’s pretty steamy and also you’re saying things like, “Will you fuck me?”
Truthfully, it was great. That was my first time doing any form of intimacy scene past kissing on camera with anyone. I couldn’t have asked for a greater team. François is such knowledgeable, and he’s obviously been within the industry and worked a lot that I type of leaned on him during those scenes. Once we began doing it, I used to be like, “Oh, that is so chill, and it feels so welcoming. I feel very comfortable.” Jacob made it clear from the beginning that our sex scenes or our montage was going to have a special flavor than the primary two episodes.
How much pressure are you feeling to remain in shape now, especially for those who’re back for Season 2?
I’m having fun with the vacations. I’m gonna have a number of turkey, and I actually have as many desserts as I can. I feel we got quite a while until, if I’m fortunate enough to be involved in anything after this, to work on it. I will be unrecognizable in the following three days.
I feel the show goes to assist a number of people who find themselves fighting their sexuality. Do you are feeling that?
That’s something that I’m still processing as well. I’ve gotten a number of messages since Episode 3 got here out from all around the world from people who find themselves saying, “I live here on this country and being out isn’t really an option for me. I need you to know that seeing all this and any such representation is priceless.” Without getting too cliche and too sappy, it’s so moving and so beautiful. Growing up in musical theater, I actually have a number of friends who’ve passed through that journey in several stages. I’ve seen firsthand the impact of getting role models or having TV shows or any media like this. To be a component of something that enables these people to feel even for a second that there’s a world on the market that exists for them is priceless.
This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
