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Heated Rivalry Episode 6 Release Date
Season 1 of Heated Rivalry runs for six episodes total. Episode 6 The Cottage is the sixth and final chapter. The show started with a two episode premiere on November 28 2025. Then one new episode arrived each Friday in December.
That pattern ends with episode 5 on December 19 and episode 6 on December 26. For most viewers in North America the new episode lands just after midnight Eastern. Some outlets list the time as 12 01 a.m. Eastern on Friday for each new chapter.
Where to watch Heated Rivalry?
Heated Rivalry is an HBO Max original in the United States. You can stream all episodes there with a paid subscription or via the HBO Max channel on Prime Video. In Canada the series streams on Crave and the Crave channel on Prime Video. In Australia it is also available on HBO Max.
Some other countries carry the show on different platforms such as Neon in New Zealand and Movistar Plus in Spain. There are no official free streaming options at the moment so legal access needs a valid subscription plan in your region.
Heated Rivalry Episode 5 Recap
Episode 5 is titled I will Believe in Anything. It is the emotional peak of the season and the setup for the finale at the cottage. The story picks up after the tense club scene from episode 4 where Shane sees Ilya dancing with someone else while he is there with Rose.
Episode 5 then jumps into the all star game in Tampa. Shane and Ilya share beers at the hotel bar. They tease each other. Ilya calls Shane pretty. The chemistry is obvious now and no longer just rivalry.
Their connection grows during the pool scenes and on the ice at the all star game. They work together as linemates. After a goal Ilya gives Shane a kiss on the cheek right there in front of everyone and passes it off as a friendly moment.
Later they finally sleep together in Ilya’s room. It is not just casual sex. The episode makes it clear that real feelings have built up under all the years of competition.
The tone shifts when tragedy hits. Ilya’s father dies and he goes back to Russia. He is crushed by grief and the pressure of going home to a country where being gay is dangerous for him.
Shane tries to support him from a distance even while dealing with his own injury and career fears. Their bond turns softer more intimate and more verbal than before.
The episode’s big public moment belongs to Scott Hunter. During the championship celebration Scott looks up into the stands and calls Kip down onto the ice. In front of the cameras and crowd he kisses Kip and comes out.
Shane and Ilya watch this on TV and the scene shakes them. Seeing another star hockey player come out forces both of them to question how long they will keep hiding.
The ending sets up the cottage. After watching Scott’s courage Ilya changes his plans about staying in Russia all summer. He calls Shane and says he is coming to the cottage. The episode cuts there and points straight toward the finale.
When do Heated Rivalry Episodes Drop?
Season 1 has six episodes. All are about feature length with a weekly drop.
- Rookies episode 1 and Olympians episode 2 premiered together on November 28 2025.
- Hunter episode 3 arrived on December 5.
- Rose episode 4 came out on December 12.
- I will Believe in Anything episode 5 lands on December 19.
- The Cottage episode 6 premieres on December 26 as the finale.
Disclaimer:
The information provided reflects the release schedule for Heated Rivalry Season 1, which is currently airing on HBO Max and other regional platforms. Episode 6 will be available as per the schedule, with no confirmed free streaming options at this time.
