Editor's note: This article contains spoilers for Heated Rivalry season 1 episode 5, "I'll Believe in Anything," now streaming on HBO Max.
Heated Rivalry has been a career-changing TV series for every single person who's played a part in it. From lead actors Connor Storrie (Ilya Rozanov) and Hudson Williams (Shane Hollander), to supporting characters like François Arnaud (Scott Hunter), to recurring actors like Robbie G.K. (Kip Grady).
While all four actors playing love interests in the HBO Max/Crave original series are receiving well-deserved praise for their deeply committed performances, it's only fair to highlight G.K.'s particularly well-executed, lived-in, and charming-beyond-belief stint as Kip — a character who leads Rachel Reid's first book, Game Changer, alongside Scott Hunter in the literary series that inspired the TV show... But, on said TV show, is only introduced in episode 3, which inherently interrupts the main love story between Ilya and Shane that viewers had gotten obsessed with. It isn't until episode 5 that audiences see Kip for the second time overall, though it is felt as though he's been there all along, just like Shane, or llya, or Scott.
During an interview with Out, G.K. reacts to how fans have embraced Kip, his relationship with Scott, his father, and even his group of friends — turning the smoothie shop's "girl!" into a standout quote/meme of the series so far. The actor also discusses the ideas surrounding Kip and Scott's involvement in the now-confirmed second season of Heated Rivalry, and reveals his desire to become an action movie star — perhaps even playing a superhero — when asked to dream big and look beyond the gay hockey series that's propelled his career to new heights.
Out: I think it's fair to say that Heated Rivalry has been a success beyond anyone's wildest imagination. In the first two episodes, people kind of knew, or theorized, that episode 3 would be about Scott and Kip. However, you were only able to talk about the show after that episode aired. How did this waiting process feel like?
Robbie G.K.: Yeah, it was tough, for sure! I really wanted to be chatting about it, and there were so many things that I was excited to share about the series. But, you know, I obviously have a ton of trust in Jacob [Tierney; Heated Rivalry showrunner]. He and Brendan [Brady; executive producer] had kind of told me to keep things low-key, because this is kind of our strategy. I was like, "Yeah, you've got it."
And then the first two episodes came out, and stuff was being posted on Instagram, and I was like, "We're really keeping this a secret to the last second here." People had started to message me like, "I'm so excited to see Kip in the next episode." And I was like, "I don't really know how to respond to that because I can't really confirm or deny!" [Laughs.] But I think I was just very excited about it.
I'm the type of person that, if I have a surprise for somebody, or if I give them a gift, you've gotta open it right now. I just can't contain my excitement. [Laughs.] So that was pretty tricky.
Sometimes I suck at keeping those secrets, too.
Don't tell me, or everyone else is gonna know.
Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady; François Arnaud as Scott Hunter on Heated Rivalry season 1 episode 3.HBO Max/Crave Canada
This is still a pretty unique situation, though. Even if you're already struggling to keep episode 3 a secret, I don't think you could've anticipated the pressure that you had to handle. The two first episodes just exploded in, like, one day. That must have been mind-blowing.
Yeah, it was. Because episode 3 is so different — obviously a very different storyline, different characters, totally different kind of tone than the first two — I was kind of anxious about it, to be honest. You know, people are obviously loving this, and I was really worried that people would be like, "Why are we focusing on these guys? Why are we focusing on this relationship?" I think that there was a little bit of that feedback as well, so I was kind of anxious about it.
But I also thought that maybe people would like the change of pace. Maybe they'd be open to it, 'cause they really are such different worlds between Ilya and uh Shane's storyline, and then Scott and Kip's storyline. Obviously, Scott is still a professional hockey player, but Kip's world is so small compared to all the lights, and the flash, and the stakes, and everything. They're so different.
Jacob called me, I think three or four days before episode 3 came out, and he was like, "Just letting you know, reception has been crazy, and the first two episodes are really blowing up, and that's great." And he was kind of like, "You know, brace for impact for that to happen as well with episode 3." But, um, I kind of didn't believe him? [Laughs.] I was just like… I don't know, I guess we'll wait and see how this all works out. I was happy to see it along with everyone else and be able to talk about it.
Even people who were like, "Oh, I don't know about this," have already changed their minds completely. The consensus I'm seeing right now is that people want a whole spinoff. They want a full story now, which is amazing. With season 2 being announced — and I'm not presuming you know anything about it, so I'm not going to put you in the spot — but would you be interested in exploring Kip's story even further?
Without a doubt. I mean, I'll separate into two different categories. First off, working with this team, working with Jacob and Brendan, I can truthfully say that this is the top tier of working as an actor; it is to work with a team like this. I had never felt more comfortable. Everyone was laughing every day; the vibe was so high every day. It took me back to when I was younger and making little short films with my cousins and friends. It just felt so fun. So that experience alone, I would love to be back in that environment with that team.
And then, obviously, from a storyline perspective. I mean, absolutely. François and I were chatting the other day and talking about… You know, I can't really say anything as far as the next couple of episodes — I'm trying not to say any spoilers — but there's a whole world between Scott and Kip. If we chose to explore that more, I would be thrilled to just be a part of any and everything that I could get my hands on.
Robbie G.K. as Kip Grady; François Arnaud as Scott Hunter on Heated Rivalry season 1 episode 3.HBO Max/Crave Canada
There's a lot more to explore. I spoke with François about how Ilya and Shane are both hockey superstars who agree to keep things a secret, even if they don't like it. For Kip and Scott, though, it's different. Kip is completely out. He goes to gay bars, has friends, and has a life. Scott doesn't have a life. He's not just closeted in terms of sexuality; his walls are all the way up. Meanwhile, Kip is this free spirit. This tension was interesting, I thought, to play out in one episode, and to pull it off in a way that we're heartbroken by the end of episode 3. How do you see that dynamic between those two characters? And Kip, I guess, being willing to sacrifice his life, you know, for this relationship? It takes a good friend to snap him out of it.
I really feel like Kip and Scott are two puzzle pieces that click together because, to your point, Kip really has this whole world outside of "career success." Scott's character has obviously hit the ceiling as far as how high you can go and succeed, but Kip has a whole community that he's built around himself, and those are the two puzzle pieces that can snap well together.
Scott is missing that friendship, that community, and his parents. Kip's world, even with his dad… which, also, is played by Matt [Gordon], who's just phenomenal. I think Matt is the internet's favorite person. Uh, I could ramble on about these guys 'cause they're all great, but I do feel like the two characters kind of complete each other in that way. I don't know if I'm answering your question well.
[Laughs.] Yes, you are! This does feel like a great crew and a great cast altogether. I also wanted to talk about the fantastic year that you've had. I don't think anyone could've predicted that this show would become this huge phenomenon. We were excited within queer media, but this is giving certified blockbuster. Crave recently announced that Heated Rivalry is its biggest original series ever.
Yeah, I saw it, too. They posted on Instagram that it's Crave's No. 1 debut ever for an original series. It's honestly surreal. It's insane.
Robbie G.K. as Riley and Mary Beth Barone as Grace on Overcompensating.A24/Prime Video
Earlier this year, you were on Overcompensating, which also blew up. Just huge. And I think a lot of people are now revisiting those scenes and being like, "Oh my god, it's Robbie!" Especially in the end 'cause of that scene [redacted spoilers]. So you've had these huge titles this year. How has it been on a personal level, and on a professional level, to have these huge, unexpected leaps throughout the year?
Yeah, Heated Rivalry aside, which has just been kind of an explosion, you know, out the gate… Honestly, Overcompensating, I think that I filmed that two summers ago. [Thinks.] Yeah, I think two summers ago now. When I auditioned for it, I knew that it was kind of a smaller part or whatever. At the time, I was actually still working a full-time job in sales, downtown. I would literally be at work, and then I would bike, on my bike, to set, to go do that. And then go back to my job afterwards. So I filmed all of that and thought, "Oh, this is cool, whatever."
And then Overcompensating came out, and it obviously got a lot of buzz around it as well. It was cool. This year has been interesting for me. It's kind of the first time where my friends are watching shows that I happen to be in. [Laughs.] And that's a very weird, and kind of scary, thing. But it's also very cool. It's awesome to be able to point to stuff that, you know, is topical; that is easily accessible and people can watch on big platforms. I'm just beyond thrilled at this year.
I'm currently playing a recurring character on CBS's Sheriff Country, too. So I'm filming that at the moment as well. I play a cop in that, which is totally… [Laughs.] You know, versus what I'm doing in Heated Rivalry.
Totally different, that's for sure.
Totally different. So it's been a wild year, honestly. I think going into Christmas season now, I'll have a chance to really look back and, you know, just savor every moment that this year has brought. I'm just beyond grateful for all these opportunities, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next surprise is this year, I guess… Or next year.
You mentioned working a full-time job in sales, which reminded me of these memes going around and joking, like, "So a guy looks like this and works at a juice shop?" But here you were, working a full-time job in sales while filming Overcompensating. Have you been seen any of these Heated Rivalry memes?
I've seen maybe one or two, yeah. And the comments, which are very funny. My friends send them to me. It's a good laugh.
You posted a photo with the other actors who play Kip's friends on the show. I mean, one of the standout quotes of the entire show is "Girl…" "Girl!" What was it like working with those actors who unfortunately had less screen time but who were all just amazing?
Yeah! It really felt like a fully thought-out world around Kip, and every actor, like Bianca [Nugara] who played Maria, Kip's co-worker, in the smoothie shop — she brought so much life and character to that. Those little bits, and little moments. I'm so glad that the internet, and just people in general, are giving her and the other actors like Nadine, and Brandon [Ash-Mohammed], and Matthew [Finlan] — and all of these people who kind of fill out this world — the flowers they deserve. Because, really, like I said previously, without Kip's community, I think the charm of that whole storyline wouldn't land.
It's also a testament, obviously, to Rachel Reid's writing, and Jacob's direction, being able to add these little things in, which feel like the perfect amount to build enough character. And, obviously, the actors who play all these characters are phenomenal. They were great to work with. I had a great time with Nadine [Bhabha], too, who plays Elena. I saw a whole bunch of like fan posts about her, calling her "mother," or "queen," and all this stuff, which is great.
We had a ton of fun on set. All those days at the bars, we were all like, you know, goofing around, chatting, and actually talking. I'm just so… It's great when people can be friends off camera. And then, you know, everything on camera just feels like what we're doing anyway. We're having fun.
Robbie G.K. (Kip Grady), Bianca Nugara (Maria), Matthew Finlan (Kyle Swift), Brandon Ash-Mohammed (Shawn), Nadine Bhabha (Elena Rygg) via Instagram Story.Instagram (@robsgk)
Looking ahead, any dream projects you'd like to work on? Is it film, or more TV, or perhaps theater? What would you like to do next?
Well, I actually grew up doing musical theater; funny you mention it. I was like, "Oh my goodness, Rob," because that was my first professional acting job: Musical theater. That's primarily what I did up until, probably, the last like six or seven years.
But, moving forward, honestly? A longtime dream of mine is to be a series regular, or a lead, in some type of action film, or cop show, or something like that. I would love to use, or to leverage, my dancing background. I also played competitive sports. I still play rugby on the weekends and compete with a club in Vancouver. I would love to bundle that all up into some role in the future.
So, whether that be something in the Marvel universe, or DC universe, or anything… If I'm able to act and have a great time doing it, I could die happy, for sure.
Heated Rivalry is streaming on HBO Max. Explore the Out watch guide below.
- The first five episodes of Heated Rivalry season 1 are already available for streaming.
- Robbie G.K. is featured in episode 3 ("Hunter") and episode 5 ("I'll Believe in Anything").
- Heated Rivalry episode 6 — the season 1 finale — will be released on Friday, December 26 on HBO Max.
