Heated Rivalry has quickly become one of the most talked-about queer series of the year, but Episode 3, the emotional, quietly romantic story of Scott Hunter and Kip Grady, is the one that has viewers fully obsessed. The standalone episode shifts away from the fiery, enemies-to-lovers relationship of Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) and instead spotlights a slower, tender narrative brought to life by François Arnaud and Robbie G.K.
The result is a devastating, beautifully acted portrait of a relationship defined by fear, desire and the cost of secrecy, and it’s earning widespread praise for both stars.
The World of Heated Rivalry
The series, adapted from Rachel Reid’s bestselling Game Changers novels, debuted on Crave and HBO Max in late November. While the main storyline comes from the second book, Heated Rivalry, Episode 3 draws from Game Changer, the first novel, which follows closeted hockey player Scott Hunter and smoothie-shop employee Kip Grady.
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The episode gives viewers Scott’s emotional backstory, exploring the tension between his public persona as a celebrated athlete and his private longing for connection. Scott and Kip’s chemistry is immediate, but Scott’s fear of coming out ultimately fractures the relationship, making the episode one of the most heartbreaking of the season.
François Arnaud: A Veteran Actor With Deep LGBTQ+ Roots
François Arnaud, who plays Scott, has been winning viewers over for more than a decade. Born in Montreal in 1985, Arnaud fell in love with acting at age nine after seeing a stage production of Cyrano. He later trained at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal before landing his breakout role as Cesare Borgia in Showtime’s The Borgias in 2011.
His résumé since has spanned critically acclaimed dramas and genre hits, including Midnight, Texas, UnREAL, Yellowjackets, Blindspot and Twinless. In 2024, he appeared opposite Orville Peck and Noah Cyrus in the country singer’s music video “How Far Will We Take It?”
Arnaud publicly came out as bisexual in 2020, sharing a thoughtful and widely praised post about bi visibility.
Robbie G.K.: The Breakout Actor Behind Kip Grady
Kip, Scott’s sweet, grounded love interest, is played by Robbie G.K., an actor known for roles in Overcompensating, Marry F** Kill*, Utopia Falls and The Next Step.
Heated Rivalry marks Robbie’s most intimate, emotionally layered performance yet, and fans have been quick to praise his warmth, sincerity and rom-com charm.
Building Scott and Kip’s On-Screen Magic
The chemistry between Arnaud and Robbie is a major reason the episode has been so celebrated, which is remarkable considering how quickly the actors had to bond.
“The first time I met him was with the intimacy coordinator,” Arnaud told Variety. “We were making dick jokes before the sex scenes, but once the cameras were rolling, we were tuned into the reality of these characters.”
The pair had only one chemistry read over Zoom before filming. Arnaud said Robbie’s openness impressed him immediately, joking that their dynamic reminded him of Notting Hill: “I get to be Julia Roberts!”
Their intimate scenes were guided by intimacy coordinator Chala Hunter, whom Arnaud praised for striking the perfect balance, respectful, comfortable and in tune with the show’s emotional tone.
While Shane and Ilya remain the center of Heated Rivalry’s overarching story, Scott and Kip have captured fans’ hearts with an entirely different flavor of queer romance, one marked by hesitation, longing and the bravery it takes to choose authenticity.
With Heated Rivalry continuing to dominate conversations online, one thing is clear: François Arnaud and Robbie G.K. have delivered one of the year’s most unforgettable queer TV romances, and fans are hoping this won’t be the last time we see Scott and Kip on screen.
