Heated Rivalry author Rachel Reid watched the season finale at a beloved queer bar
This Canadian queer bar held a very special viewing party for the Heated Rivarly finale.
Mark
Besides turning its lead actors into overnight stars, record-breaking Canadian TV show Heated Rivalry has also boosted footfall at gay bars. In recent weeks, many establishments hosted viewing parties for the raunchy queer romance.
One such venue to hold a viewing party for the season finale last week was Stardust. The queer bar and kitchen is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Not only was the party held in conjunction with Halifax Mussels (a fabulous queer and allies hockey organization), and hosted by drag queen Miranda Rights, but the very special guest was Heated Rivarly author Rachel Reid.
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Reid, who lives in Nova Scotia, published her first Game Changer book in 2018. It followed a romance between fictional professional hockey player Scott Hunter and barista Kip Grady. It was followed in 2018 by a sequel, Heated Rivalry, which centered on hockey rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Further best-selling novels have followed.
Reid said in 2023, “Game Changer came from a place of me being angry at hockey culture and how clearly homophobic it was and is, and all the other things that made me really ashamed to be a hockey fan. That whole series attacks the NHL and hockey culture quite a bit.”
The TV adaptation of Heated Rivalry has proved an enormous success. It was HBO Max’s most-watched new show in 2025. A second season has already been greenlit.
Stardust watch party
The Stardust viewing party quickly sold out in advance. Reid, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2023, took the stage. She answered questions from Miranda Wrights about the TV phenomenon. She and the audience then enjoyed a screening of the final episode.
Asked about a particularly memorable line from Heated Rivalry—“I prefer to be the hole than the peg”—Reid said she was particularly proud it had been included in the TV adaptation and “that I had to watch an actor deliver it in a very tearful, earnest scene,” before quipping, “I felt very, very powerful in that moment.”
Asked what she thought took up more space, Ilya’s “ego or a$$”, she replied the latter.
The reason why? “I think his ego’s fake,” Reid said.
She went on to say that one of the most rewarding parts of the show’s success is watching how it has changed the lives of some previously unknown Canadian actors. She hopes any future casting will do the same for other unknown Canadians, prompting cheers from the Nova Scotia audience.
Reid also shared video and photos from the watch party. In a clip, she says she cannot explain the show’s success, but compares it to a genie escaping a bottle.
“The amount of support and love for this series is incredible”
“It was an incredible evening for me,” drag performer Miranda Wrights later told GayCities.
“I read one of Rachel’s books this summer (The Shots You Take). I loved it and her writing, and then got into the Game Changer series and was hooked! Then, all of a sudden, I see they were making a show and was shocked and excited!
“The evening was so much fun,” Miranda continued. “The amount of support and love for this series is incredible, from both readers and viewers. Rachel is such a kind and incredibly talented person, and I consider myself so lucky to have spent that time with her. I love seeing the success of the series. It’s touching all different kinds of people, and that’s amazing. And to see a queer story like this reach so many people is truly something.”
Halifax
When it comes to tourism, Halifax enjoys less visitors than bigger Canadian cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Quebec City. However, its location on the Atlantic coast lends it historic appeal.
The UNESCO-designated Halifax Citadel offers panoramic harbor views. The bustling waterfront boardwalk features the Canadian Museum of Immigration, where over one million immigrants entered the country. Halifax’s connection to the Titanic is explored through gravesites and museum exhibits. Food lovers can also enjoy fresh seafood at historic properties and breweries in the thriving craft beer scene.
In terms of queer scene, besides Stardust, there’s also RumoursHFX. According to Halifax Pride, approximately 50 businesses and organizations in Nova Scotia have achieved Rainbow Registered accreditation, as designated by the Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC), and a significant concentration of those businesses call Halifax home.
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