Spoiler Alert: This post will discuss major plot points from Heated Rivalry. If you haven’t seen it, you may want to watch it first and read this afterward.

Unless you’ve gone into full hibernation mode this winter, you’re aware of how the Canadian hockey romance series Heated Rivalry has taken over the internet. A classic love story arc, two closeted (rival) hockey players find love with each other and must figure out how to be true to their hearts while keeping their sexual orientation a secret.

There are countless such stories. So why are people so obsessed with this one?

We love this show because it is a reprieve from modern dating. Let me explain.

Any single person knows that the struggle of dating involves perpetually undefined relationships. Emotional detachment has been embedded in modern dating, from the language we use to the (loose, barely existent) script that guides how people enter romantic relationships. Even saying “dating” feels like a commitment. Instead, people “talk” when they’re first getting to know each other; they “go out,” but they don’t “go on a date.”

This show highlights the long, murky, painful process of modern dating. Even couples with incredible chemistry and desire for closeness struggle with emotional intimacy and commitment. Why are we so scared of expressing our true feelings or asking for what we need? Whenever Shane (Hudson Williams) attempts this, he is often dismissed and shut down by Ilya (Connor Storrie). Having and sharing feelings or a desire for clarity or commitment is so often perceived as........

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