Heated Rivalry creator breaks down the differences between the finale and Rachel Reid's book

When Heated Rivalry, HBO Max's sensational queer hockey romance, reached its much-talked-about finale, fans of Rachel Reid’s beloved novel immediately began comparing what unfolded on screen with what they remembered from the page. While the series remained true to the emotional heart of Shane and Ilya’s story, the finale made a handful of bold choices that elevated the narrative, reinforcing why so many viewers are calling it one of the greatest television adaptations ever made.

From altered conversations to restructured emotional beats, the Heated Rivalry finale reflects the realities of adapting an intimate romance for television. Certain moments were expanded to give the characters more breathing room, while others were reshaped to suit a visual medium and a season-long arc.

Creator Jacob Tierney explains how pacing played an important role in these decisions and why some fan-favorite details from the book could not be translated directly to the screen.

More on the Heated Rivalry finale in our story.

Jacob Tierney breaks down his creative choices for the Heated Rivalry finale

Jacob Tierney's Heated Rivalry does not end with Rachel Reid's epilogue but with an idyllic montage of Shane and Ilya driving off into the sunset, whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears. As the end credits roll and Cailin Russo's Bad Things fills the background, we see the lovers fondly talking & caressing each other and driving off to their happy ending.

While this was the perfect conclusion to Shane and Ilya's decade-long relationship, book readers noticed how the finale did not feature Reid's epilogue, set one year after the events of the finale. The epilogue saw Ilya switching to Ottawa and the couple holding a press conference to announce their shared charity, which was also hinted at in the sixth episode. Instead of concluding Shane and Ilya's story with a press conference, Tierney closes Heated Rivalry with an aesthetic montage, leaving much of the epilogue and the upcoming challenges in the couple's future for the (confirmed) second season.

In an interview with Collider, the creator breaks down this creative choice to skip Reid's epilogue, which will likely be featured in the sophomore season of the series:

''When I think about the way that book ends, what I remember in my heart, without my brain or my notes, is, “They get to be happy.” I don't think that I needed more detail or explanation at that point. “And here's what the charity's going to look like.” Does that matter, ultimately? There’s so much to deal with at another time, and it just didn't feel like the time for exposition.''

The Heated Rivalry finale featured an additional (and important) scene between Shane and his mother

Fans are calling the Heated Rivalry finale (which is currently sitting at a near-perfect IMDb rating of 9.9/10) the perfect conclusion to an epic story. But they noticed an additional scene between Shane and his mother (Yuna), which is not part of Reid's books. This pivotal scene comes after Shane's father sees his son and Ilya basking in their post-confession bliss, kissing after their swim in the lake. While David awkwardly drives away to his own cottage, Shane and Ilya follow suit and the former finally comes out to his parents and introduces his 'boyfriend' to them.

While David and Yuna are initially shocked at their son's revelation (more about his relationship with Ilya and less about his sexuality), they eventually understand the couple's mutual admiration. Then comes a heartfelt moment between Shane and Yuna in the Heated Rivalry finale, an additional scene not featured in Reid's book. As Shane expresses his guilt over concealing his relationship from his parents, Yuna apologizes for not being understanding enough. The moment is quiet but impactful, clearly justifying Tierney's choice to especially add it into his adaptation as he discussed with Collider:

''It was really important to me that Shane and Yuna have a conversation, period...I think that there are so many ways that parents and children try to do things for each other while skipping over things that matter, and it doesn't mean they don't love each other, and it doesn't mean that they're not trying, but it can lead to a lot of hurt. I just wanted to see Shane and Yuna have a moment.''

Tierney's breakdown of the Heated Rivalry finale highlights just how thoughtfully the series was adapted from Rachel Reid’s novel.

Every deviation from the book was shaped with intention, either to heighten emotional impact or to give Shane and Ilya’s journey a richer arc. While the paths may differ slightly, the heart of Heated Rivalry remains untouched, preserving what readers cherished while offering something fresh for new audiences.

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