12 Best Kisses in Heated Rivalry Season 1 Ranked by Fans

Let's be honest, we love all the kisses in Heated Rivalry. Every single one is earned, intentional, and full of yearning, denial, passion, and a mix of feelings that neither Shane nor Ilya quite know how to deal with.

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On Reddit, the amazing u/madwood29579 has run a poll asking fans to vote for their favourite kiss from season 1. With their permission, I've adapted the results in this deep dive article and added some of my own thoughts. They've also put together a video featuring all the kisses mentioned here, so head to the original post if you want to see the clips.

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Ready? Let's see the best kisses of Heated Rivalry.

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12 - Going Up Stairs Kiss

Episode 4 - 04:28

During the episode 4 montage, Shane and Ilya literally can't stop kissing each other while making their way up the stairs in Shane's apartment. It's playful and passionate all at once. This scene is contrasted by the kiss with Rose at the end of the same episode, where she is literally dragging Shane up the stairs.

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11 - Nashville All-Stars Kiss

Episode 1 - 35:58

Seven months since their first kiss, they met again at the Nashville All-Stars game. All it takes is Ilya saying "1221" after the skills competition to send Shane straight to his hotel room. They have been apart for too long and this kiss is full of passion and urgency.

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10 - "You Come Here. No, You Come Here" kiss

Episode 2 - 09:10

So simple, so sweet. Both of them saying "you come here" to each other while walking towards each other anyway - and then crashing into a kiss.

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09 - Gimme Kiss

Episode 06 - 35:07

At the cottage lake, Ilya swims over to Shane asking for a kiss: "Gimme kiss".

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08 - First Kiss

Episode 01 - 17:43

After their commercial shoot and that locker room shower, Ilya goes to room 1410 to meet Shane. Despite saying "this is such a bad idea", Shane and Ilya shares their first kiss, something that they have wanted for a long time. And first kiss is always special.

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07 - Tampa Bay All-Stars Comfort Kiss

Episode 05 - 24:04

After Ilya opens up to Shane about his fears around Russia and his family, he breaks down crying. Shane's response is to climb into Ilya's lap and kiss him gently and quietly. Shane then holds Ilya tight to let him know he's there for him.

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06 - Cottage Kiss

Episode 06 - 11:45

This kiss is a direct parallel to their first kiss - same passion, completely different energy. Where the first kiss was scared and adventurous, this one is warm and familiar.

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05 - All-Stars Helmet Kiss

Episode 05 - 17:21

Playing on the same team for the first time at the Tampa Bay All-Stars game, they score a goal together and Ilya kisses Shane through his helmet right there on the ice. From the outside, it reads as Ilya's usual shenanigans. But for the two of them, it's something they couldn't hold back even if they tried. Hidden in plain sight.

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04 - "Boyfriend? Probably Yes" Kiss

Episode 06 - 48:33

The first kiss after Shane comes out to his parents. Shane is spiralling - the coming out, the revealing of his relationship with Ilya - and Ilya steadies him by saying: "Your boyfriend is here" with a gentle kiss, right in front of his parents.

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03 - Forehead Kiss

Episode 02 - 13:19

After their first time together at Shane's apartment, Shane looks at Ilya and says "that was so fucking hot", then gives him the sweetest forehead kiss. The tenderness overwhelms Ilya, who then says "I should go" and leaves.

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02 - Skip Game Changer Kiss

Episode 05 - 53:43

Arguably the most important kiss in the entire series. It's this Scott and Kip kiss that gives Ilya the confidence to say "I'm coming to the cottage". And in the Game Changers book series, this kiss inspires other players to come out, and starts the change of landscape of the NHL for LGBTQ+ players.

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In the episode, the chorus of Wolf Parade's "I'll Believe in Anything" swells at exactly the moment Scott and Kip kiss, while showing the reaction of Shane, Ilya and the world around them. The whole sequence is shot so beautifully. Watching this makes me cry every time no matter how many times I've rewatched the show.

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01 - Stairwell Kiss

Episode 02 - 14:29

The most tender, sweet kiss in the show, and so deserving of the 'best kiss' top spot. What makes it even more special: This kiss wasn't originally scripted to be this way. Hudson and Connor just did something so quietly beautiful that director Jacob Tierney said "I don't care. We are keeping it." And so it became the most iconic kiss of the Heated Rivalry.

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Honourable Mention - "I Love You" kiss

Episode 06 - 30:02

OP u/madwood29579 has mentioned that this kiss is left out by mistake, so it only feels right to include it as an honourable mention. After Shane admits how much he wants to be with Ilya, Ilya kisses his neck and murmurs "ya tebya lyublu" twice before translating it for Shane: "I love you." The kiss that follows carries all the love and passion accumulated after years of yearning.

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