As stars of the popular series Heated Rivalry, Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams are sharing what they most look forward to as they prepare for the second season of their hit hockey-themed love story. Heated Rivalry sparked conversation soon after Season 1 premiered, leaving fans wondering about future developments in the series. Both actors have been very honest about their appreciation for the show's story as being inspirational to them, and how their success with the first season has changed their lives.To date, Heated Rivalry has had an enormous influence on its audience, particularly within the queer community, with comments such as that this series made them feel seen. This came from several viewers who relate to the show's depiction of love and relationship experiences through pressure and crisis situations associated with being involved in professional sports. With the upcoming second season of Heated Rivalry, the two leads have shared some of their experiences and hope to keep pushing the development of these friendships through their respective characters as well as in real life. These developments have been a huge contributor to the show's success and engagement among viewers.This series is based on the second book of Rachel Reid's Game Changers series and has a large following. When Heated Rivalry's first season premiered, it became an instant hit outside Canada, where it was originally created for Crave. The chemistry between Storrie and Williams was apparent from their first scene together, and even the creator, Jacob Tierney, has stated that he knew from their audition that they were the perfect actors for these roles.The moments the actors loved most from Heated Rivalry Season 1Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams have said that Heated Rivalry Season 1 was full of scenes that challenged them and helped them grow as actors. Both have shared stories about their first chemistry read, when they realized how well they worked together. Williams once said that Storrie felt so natural in the role that he thought he was speaking to a "real Slavic Russian boy," even though Storrie is American. This early moment helped set the tone for how comfortable they would become on set.They also remembered the scenes they read during auditions. One involved a serious talk about Russia, where their characters argued about why their relationship seemed impossible. Another was the hotel room scene where Shane comes out to Ilya. These moments helped them understand the emotional heart of Heated Rivalry.Actors discussed how their characters' perception of each other impacted their perception of living life. For example, Ilya thinks Shane's forthrightness is attractive, while Shane admires Ilya's ability to help him experience different ways of living. Those themes are ingrained throughout the Heated Rivalry season 1 and will remain central to the narrative as we move into season 2.They also discussed filming their first intimate scene on their very first day together, which left both very anxious at times. In addition, they expressed appreciation for how quickly they were able to relax because of the support of those around them. Storrie stated,"Wow. I remember day one was really nerve-wracking, but I remember Jacob being like, 'Well, there’s a little bit of everything, so we’re going to really see how this goes.'"The intimacy coordinator enabled the two of them to comprehend what was about to happen at each interval of the scene, which allowed each scene to feel authentic and yet secure. Both have said numerous times that the intent of these scenes is not to provide audience shock value but to aid in character development and emotional storytelling. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostAnother major challenge for Storrie was learning Russian, as his character speaks many lines in the language. He took long lessons every day for weeks before filming. Williams said his biggest fear was the visual tone of the show, because he worried it would look too bright or comedic, like Shoresy. But after watching a playback on the first day, he realized the show would have a darker and more emotional look, which put him at ease.What are they most excited about for Heated Rivalry Season 2?As the filming of Heated Rivalry Season 2 begins, the stars are looking forward to getting more in-depth with their respective characters. They are anxious for fans to witness Shane and Ilya's maturity as individuals and what they must endure as a result of being famous, as well as being part of a sport, and experiencing a romantic relationship. Fans are also greatly anticipating where the characters' stories will lead after a very emotional conclusion to last season.Cast members have also reflected on how important their fans are to them as well. Several fans have commented that they feel connected to the show. Some fans have even said to Storrie that he doesn't really interact with the internet, but every time he does connect with it and sees people's messages, he feels grateful. There are also many from the world of sports who reached out to the show tell the cast how much of an impact it had on their lives.They also talked about creating queer intimacy on screen in ways that feel truthful to themselves. Williams explained that intimacy plays an important part in the overall narratives when they show character growth or evolution and should not be seen as unnecessary. Both actors feel that the upcoming Heated Rivalry season 2 will have more opportunities to relate these emotional components of the story arc.