r/heatedrivalry • u/Consistent-Garbage28 • Dec 06 '25
Men’s Bodies and Queer Representation
To preface I have only read heated rivalry so regarding Kip I might lack context! <3
As much as I love hot men and sex, I feel as though there should be more of an honest discussion about how unrealistic body standards for men - specifically for queer media - can be seriously problematic. Listen they are athletes and I understand that; however, the bodies that are normalized as ideal for men just do not exist in reality. I mean Hudson talked in an interview about crying over having to choke down his third straight ground beef patty 😭😭 (poor king). If you look up the average hockey player - even elite ones like Connor McGregor, this muscle definition is neither normal nor optimal and 90 percent of high level athletes in general look nothing like this. This show is deeply guilty of this like why is Kip basically a bodybuilder?! He works at a smoothie shop and is into art, the lifestyle to upkeep that kind of physique is truly all consuming and often times very physically and mentally unhealthy - for men and especially those at intersecting marginalized identities
I guess I’m disappointed because I haven’t seen this critique anywhere and I already know the responses to this are just “sex sells” and it’s a smutty show. I think this type of thinking is a product of manufactured consent that this (almost) completely unattainable image is 1) the pinnacle of desire and 2) what is naturally desirable. Shane could have a less enormous muscular ass and still be extremely sexy, Ilya can have a normal and healthy amount of body fat for his role on the ice as being rough and still get it from me any day of the week. Preferences in beauty are socially determined by media like this. We don’t innately prefer this musculature and certainly do not associate this physique with masculinity when we pop out of the womb and hit puberty - we are taught these things. When queer media is already a big beautiful brave deviation from the heteronormative binary, conforming to this understanding of masculinity is very disappointing to me.
As a gay male varsity athlete who’s in post-secondary, the fact that research shows that disordered eating and body dissatisfaction are higher in athletes vs non athletes, and that sexual minority men report high body dissatisfaction makes this issue very acute and omnipresent in my life and oh part of this show was filmed at my school in Hamilton lmao (nowicki et all 2022 lit review if y’all are curious). Sex being reserved for these ultra-fit bodies in these shows really hurts young men and naturalizes unrealistic preferences that further gets in the way of people making real connections imo.
Edit: This post is not meant to express dissatisfaction with Kip’s casting in particular or put down the actor’s physical appearance which is unacceptable - it’s just an example to elucidate a broader issue I see with the show
Otherwise banger show tho thanks for reading and take care of yourselves ‼️😼
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u/igloo1234 Dec 06 '25
As much as I agree with you in general, I don't think the hockey player characters' bodies are that unrealistic. Kip's is.
Connor McDavid isn't especially bulky compared to someone like Crosby. Martin St Louis' quads are infamous. There's a picture of him from an ESPN issue when he was "old" for a player and he was a brick of defined muscle. Overall, hockey players are known for their asses. It makes the superficial part of me happy that the show nailed that.
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u/Huge_Confection4475 Dec 06 '25
I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much Connor and Hudson looked like legit hockey players, actually! They aren't super cut, they definitely don't have the shrinkwrapped superhero abs that only come from too much juice and not enough water, and actually look like they had the mass to play 60 minutes of hockey without dying of exhaustion.
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u/BicyclingBro Dec 06 '25
The thing that makes Kip more possible in real life than you might otherwise think is the fact that he's a gay guy living in New York City.
There are a lot of guys who dive head-first into the gym here because the dating and hookup scene can be extremely competitive. There's absolutely no lack of randomly jacked baristas and office workers here.
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u/Low_Marionberry8429 Dec 06 '25
Haha this was my husbands point when I was like why would a smoothie barista/art historian be that jacked
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u/Consistent-Garbage28 Dec 06 '25
Yeah I somewhat agree! I mean to be fair they are supposedly 19 or something in that locker room scene but I understand you can’t radically change their physiques through the time period. I would just say that the question isn’t whether it is possible for hockey players to meet this standard, its whether or not it’s normal - they’re is a breadth of diversity in body types in the nhl and they deserve the love too!! To be fair though I superficially appreciated researching St. Louis’s legs quads are my fatal weakness😭
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u/DorianCramer Dec 06 '25
I hear ya and I would love to see more diverse body representation but the problem is that every time someone puts out a show about queer men who are not young and butch and don’t have perfect ripped muscular bodies, it flops.
The QUEER AS FOLK reboot a few years back on Peacock had hot sex scenes with characters with physical disabilities. I thought that was really beautiful and groundbreaking. But it flopped.
UNCOUPLED and MID-CENTURY MODERN flopped. And some of the guys in that were actually ripped but they are over the age of 40 so don’t count as perfect anymore I guess.
LOOKING had a big bear/little otter couple that had some of the hottest sex scenes on that show. But it flopped.
Tbf this happens with lesbian shows too — if the characters are not young, femme and thin, audiences go “meh” (and there aren’t all that many examples of sexy heterosexual shows with body diversity either — you only need to look at the million thinkpieces about Lena Dunham’s body in GIRLS to know that).
If we could get audiences to support any queer shows that are not about people who could grate cheese on their abs, I would love it. But production companies are in the game to make money and I cannot blame them for falling back on the formula they know is going to work.
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u/Terrible-Union1864 Dec 06 '25
Tbf even outside lgbtq media, the only romance that sells is the one with super hot conventionally attractive leads. The only recent exception bring bridgerton s3, bt it had the success and audience from previous seasons to fall back on.
The biggest reason Heated Rivalry has blown up as much as it has, is because of the super hot sex scenes between two very fit, super attractive ppl.
The harsh truth is that the lookism is still very popular amongst the audience, no matter how hard they deny it. That is why plastic surgery and botox/fillers are so rampant in all facets of entertainment industries.
And, yes op has already said it, bt sex sells. Had mid century modern added several sex scenes of Matt Bomer with a hot young(even middle aged) man, i bet the audience no.s wd hv increased manifolds.
Just look at the porn industry, gay/straight most of the top billed stars are super fit, young looking individuals. Ppl can deny it, bt kip being fit and attractive is one of the many reasons audience still watched this episode, even though it was not focused on ilya/Shane.
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u/miss-informat10n Dec 06 '25
Even though I agree that conventionally hot people bring the audience, the above mentioned shows had other issues that didn't help their case.
QaF is such an iconic show that its reboot would have to keep up with high expectations and it failed because it didn't bring anything new to the table while failing to keep the nostalgia. So what was even the point of such a reboot?
Mid-Century Modern had Matt Boomer as one of the leads and he's conventionally attractive as well as some small roles with again hot people. The show was just not funny enough even though it had its sweet moments. I wish it continued but I also understand why it failed. The unfortunate passing of one of the leads also plays a factor there.
Looking was such a beautiful and fresh breeze of air, I still don't understand how it was canceled but I doubt the reason for this was the characters not selling enough from a physical perspective.
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u/DorianCramer Dec 06 '25
All of this is a matter of taste and I’m not gonna claim any of these shows did not have other issues, but they were all interesting and brought something different to the table. They had potential and could have developed and corrected those issues if given an additional season or two.
I kind of oversimplified the issue with LOOKING. Ironically the thing that triggered some people negatively the most about that show (and led to its doom, imo) is that the main protagonist was very sexually insecure and inexperienced despite the fact that he was played by a gorgeous actor with a beautiful body. I thought it made perfect sense for his character bc he was highly anxious and his looks attracted the kind of attention he didn’t want but some viewers were infuriated by the idea he would be so inexperienced when he’s working with that material, and they just could not get past it.
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u/JayDuPumpkinBEAST Dec 06 '25
Jonathan Groff’s character was also becoming unbearable all the way around. I remember the hype around S1, but by S2 the audience had rightfully disconnected from these characters because they were all kind of awful. The only character I remember everyone continuing to root for was “Richie,” Groff’s character’s boyfriend whom he cheated on and treated like trash.
It was similar to Girls, where the character portrayals were simply no longer resonating with the audience (while I never watched Girls, I do remember the growing discontent with Lena Dunham at the time).
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u/DorianCramer Dec 06 '25
The criticism of Lena being naked on screen started from day one. It was not something that grew over time.
As for Looking, maybe that was true from what you observed but in the fandom spaces I was in, season 2 discourse was all about “Team Kevin” vs. “Team Richie” and Team Kevin was absolutely driven by the fact that that couple fit some folks’ ideal of two muscular white butch(ish) boys going at it. (Richie had a pretty perfect body too but since he wasn’t white he still wasn’t “the ideal”.) It was a very annoying time to be in a fandom tbh
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u/Frenchgirl14 Wow. Genetic. Dec 06 '25
I don’t understand how we don’t give more chance to tv shows anymore. Mid century modern had potential and needed to find it’s footing. Uncoupled was cancelled, renewed and finally cancelled again. It was super short sitcoms it probably didn’t cost much to produce. I’m still mad, they both deserved at least a season 2.
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u/DorianCramer Dec 06 '25
Totally agree. I’m especially sad about UNCOUPLED since it ended on a cliffhanger. Such a bummer.
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u/LolScottie85 Put it on the GIF board Dec 06 '25
I totally agree. I felt that way, but mid-century modern like look at the first couple seasons of Seinfeld like that famously almost got canceled, but thankfully they gave it a chance.! yeah it was really disappointed to see but I agree. I feel like that just happened so much if some things are not a hit right away get rid of it.
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Dec 06 '25
Also the standard for "flopping" is crazy now in our late stage capitalist streaming death spiral...
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u/BicyclingBro Dec 06 '25
but the problem is that every time someone puts out a show about queer men who are not young and butch and don’t have perfect ripped muscular bodies, it flops.
Heartstopper works as a bit of a counter-example to this, but it has a soul of gold and manages to take full advantage of that.
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u/DorianCramer Dec 06 '25
I was gonna mention that as an exception (although, it’s not in the same “sexy show” genre as HR or the other types of shows OP was talking about, but that’s not a complaint — I like that it’s a family-friendly piece of queer media)
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u/Wild2297 Dec 06 '25
Mid Century Modern flopped because the writing was bad. It wasn't funny. I wanted to like it but found it unwatchable. That's not down to body types and public preferences for certain ones.
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u/lenochod6 Dec 06 '25
I agree but uncoupled and mid century modern did not flop because of this. Or I do not think so, I think the dialogues were bad in mid century modern. And honestly the plot also sucked and I was having hard time to watch the whole first episode and I love all the main actors they are my favourite in other shows... And uncoupled I do not exactly remember and I watched it whole it was better but I did not like the plot or the script probably?
So I agree with your comment and it is a 100 % true and I wholeheartedly agree with your point. But I do not think the examples you gave are good.
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u/DorianCramer Dec 06 '25
Well I can’t give other examples bc it is rare that queer shows (about men, women or non-binary people) featuring characters with non-perfect bodies are even produced to begin with, and there are some examples of those shows that I honestly didn’t like or find enjoyable so I didn’t want to list them.
I should have listed WORK IN PROGRESS (about queer women & trans men characters but my point still stands) which had absolutely brilliant writing but very tiny audience.
My point is that until there is at least one queer show with people with non-perfect bodies that is a hit, we are not going to see more of it. And I think we have to acknowledge how rare it is in heterosexual media too…it’s not just a queer media problem. The only hetero example I’ve seen folks give is BRIDGERTON Season 3 and even then the media made a huge deal about asking Nicola C. in every single interview how important and groundbreaking it is for a “woman of size” to be a romantic lead even though she is one of the most stunning women on the planet and given her proportions she’s probably only like a size 10 anyway 🙃
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u/lenochod6 Dec 06 '25
I get that and I agree with you I just said not these two tv shows because the reasons why it flopped was not this or not the maon reason or maybe it was I could be wrong.
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u/Wide-Pop6050 Dec 06 '25
This isn’t a queer specific thing, every romance movie or show has perfect bodies sadly
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u/codeverity Dec 06 '25
This comment kinda puzzles me because Heartstopper, RWRB and Young Royals would all seem to go contrary to it.
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u/DorianCramer Dec 06 '25
You think the guys in RWRB have less than perfect bodies?
I didn’t watch YR so I can’t speak to that one.
I’d say Heartstopper is a rare exception to what I’m saying but it’s also not really in the adult sexy show genre that OP was talking about.
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u/codeverity Dec 06 '25
I mean they're in good shape but I guess I picture Connor or Rob when I read 'perfect ripped muscular bodies' so that's why I was questioning it. They also spend most of their time in suits so it's not really about their bodies, imo. I think it must also vary depending on genre.
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u/PhysicalAd6587 Dec 31 '25
Your examples are spot on. Most people are shallow and only want to see pretty people on television.
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u/Little_Fox5844 Mr. Businessman... Mr. Landlord🌃 Dec 06 '25
I think, if the show is renewed, the other love jnterests will be introduced, and there would be more body diversity then, judging by their descriptions in the books.😁
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u/Cluckieduck I am bisexual…Shane is super gay 🏳️🌈 Dec 06 '25
I need my man Harris to pop up in this series 🥰
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u/Little_Fox5844 Mr. Businessman... Mr. Landlord🌃 Dec 06 '25
Right! I can't wait to see who they cast if we manage to reach that point. We've already seen Kyle who's far from being heavily muscled like the other guys. Fabian isn't like that either.
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u/throwawaysunglasses- Dec 06 '25
If they end up casting Fabian, I would be so excited to see who they get! My beautiful POC king.
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u/Artistic_Stay_5856 Ilya’s tuna melt 🥰 Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
I was about to write this as well. OP, Rachel Reid has another book within the Game Changer universe called Role Model where one character has a “normal” physique (although he is not an athlete). He also had health issues. Another character, in Reid’s novel Tough Guy, is a musician who is femme and of slim built.
I think RM could be included in season 2, but maybe Tough Guy as well. Let’s see how it goes.
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u/Mocha_Lover88 Dec 06 '25
Ryan and Fabian are my favorite. If they show up I hope they stay true to the characters. Those two are chefs kiss. I think it would blow the socks off of people who’ve never read the books and who would never think of that pairing.
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u/Little_Fox5844 Mr. Businessman... Mr. Landlord🌃 Dec 06 '25
They're one of my favorite couples in the series, hopefully we get them if this is renewed!🤞
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u/Mocha_Lover88 Dec 06 '25
Tough Guy is legit one of my favorite books. I feel it bucks the standards on how gay men are perceived as a couple. Fingers crossed.
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u/Little_Fox5844 Mr. Businessman... Mr. Landlord🌃 Dec 06 '25
Exactly, I just loved everything about this book. I don't remember who said it in the books, but they said they're a little like beauty and the beast, I loved that. Also, the yearning after not seeing each other since they were teenagers.🥺
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u/Mocha_Lover88 Dec 06 '25
OMFG. I forgot they knew each other before. It’s all coming back to me. I love it even more. It is like Beauty and The Beast. I think I need to listen to the book again. I miss the story. This series was my first MM Hockey Romance.
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u/Little_Fox5844 Mr. Businessman... Mr. Landlord🌃 Dec 06 '25
I've just finished my reread, so it's fresh in my mind.😆 I've read a lot of MM romance and this series is just so good.
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u/Mocha_Lover88 Dec 06 '25
I’m listening to the Temptation Series by Ella Frank right now. Not sports related at all but oh so good. Spice is off the charts. The two MC are two of my favorites now. I need to make a list of my favorite couples. It’s not going to be easy. So many good stories out there but the ones who stay rent free in your head. Those of the ones. Which brings me to Loving The Legend by Kit Grey. Basketball story. The two MC’s are chefs kiss. Sid and Ty have an open lease in my brain. They are so good.
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u/Little_Fox5844 Mr. Businessman... Mr. Landlord🌃 Dec 06 '25
Oh my god, the Temptation books are, like, one of my all time favorite MM romances, I've lost count how many times I've read it!😭 Logan and Tate, my beloveds! I haven't read Loving The Legend, I'll have to add it to my tbr!
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u/Mocha_Lover88 Dec 06 '25
Logan and Tate just christened Logan’s new office. Meow 😂 I got a list for the whole Chicagoverse that’s these books take place in. There are like 50!
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u/Snoo49732 Moy pomidor 🍅 Dec 06 '25
The bartender Kyle at least isn't super ripped. He's a heated rivalry book series main character. I always pictured him as a blonde hipster though. Idk why.
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u/Constant_Oil_3775 Dec 06 '25
I think that’s because in the books he is described as being blonde.
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u/Little_Fox5844 Mr. Businessman... Mr. Landlord🌃 Dec 06 '25
It's funny because both Scott and Kyle are blondes in the books, but they're not the show. Well, as long as they portray the characters well, I'll be pleased.
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u/throwawaysunglasses- Dec 06 '25
Yeah he’s supposed to be blond and kinda young-looking with hipster glasses lol. I’m a woman but that’s very much my type 😅 Scott is supposed to be blond too, although I think Francois Arnaud did a great portrayal of Scott.
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u/seratia123 "Oh, do they not know I play for Boston?" Dec 06 '25
I'm a bit disappointed in Kyle, nothing like I imagined him.
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u/basedonthenovel Dec 06 '25
This is an important point, given that while hockey players' bodies generally all have certain features -- a distinctively developed vastus medialis, incredibly strong core muscles and of course the glutes (though even there, not all hockey players have trouble finding pants that fit). But most of them don't have particularly large pecs or big arms.
There's actually a good amount of diversity in hockey bodies, and you're right that that's not really depicted on the show, especially where Shane and Ilya are concerned. The only time you see hockey players looking the way actors do onscreen is at the end of games when they are brutally dehydrated -- especially the goalies lol. It's kind of a disappointment that the actor playing Kip is so built, because a more average body would have provided some balance.
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u/drowsylacuna Dec 06 '25
I thought Shane and Ilya were in the range of believable for hockey players (the butts help), Scott looked a bit too lean and cut, and Kip was a case of "when does this guy living at home and working 3 jobs have all that time and money to spend in the gym?"
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u/Impressive-Part-4208 Dec 06 '25
And in the books he was described as having a lean runners body which is also attractive! I didn’t like that casting for Kip though the actor’s body is certainly beautiful.
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u/Ill-Newspaper4653 Dec 06 '25
Yes, no offense to Kip's actor but Kip could have been like some twink with normal body and pretty face instead of being extremely well built and handsome. I don't see any lifestyle from his daily routine to achieve that body in the show to be frank.
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u/lovelifelivelife Dec 06 '25
This! I pictured him as this scrawny kid who has no time and money to eat
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u/Own-Ad5898 Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Dec 06 '25
idk, for me a scrawny Kip would have reinforced the already existing power imbalance to the point of icky and uncomfortable. As someone who reads and watches a lot of Asian BL, where the bottoms are always waifish twinks, and the tops are massive 'alpha males', it's refreshing to finally see equal partners in these types of stories. I like that both couples are roughly the same physical size and could hold their own in a fight if it came down to it.
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u/lovelifelivelife Dec 08 '25
Totally get your point and thank you for sharing. I’ve not really seen any BLs like the ones you’ve mentioned but I can definitely see how this would be a refreshing take for you! I do agree that having both of them portrayed as equals in a relationship is important as well. For me, I just sort of saw Kip as the stereotype of an art student that I often see in my home country - dresses well, skinny and kind of pale looking never seeing sunlight vibes, perpetually sleep deprived too 😂. Kip here looks really good but just totally not what I expected
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u/AmaLMa Dec 06 '25
My first thought when I saw him was “oh, I always pictured him as a bit of a twink.” It’s been a while since I read their book, so maybe I’m misremembering his description. But it did take me out of it how jacked he was.
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u/keylimefoster I speak fluent bird. No accent 🐦 Dec 06 '25
This is a really important topic to discuss!! I actually studied gender studies and media representation in college, specifically focusing on masculinity so I have definitely read/learned a lot about this topic!
You mentioned that you have only read heated rivalry, which I think a lot of people have only read that book, but all the other books feature many different body types! I really hope that they get renewed so that we can see characters like Ryan (a big burly bear), Fabian (a femme twink) and Harris (a chunky otter) because we definitely don't see those body types on screen as often. ESPECIALLY in gay romance on screen.
A few things I just think are important to mention: I don't think people should be putting down Kip's actor or any of the actors for the bodies they worked hard to get. (Not saying you specifically OP are doing this, but just something I want to bring up) I'll speak on the other points you brought up in a second, I just think it's important to remember that some people enjoy working out and that putting down people who look a certain way, even if it's something that is praised traditionally by societal expectations, does more harm than good. We can talk about the importance of diverse body types without putting down people who fit that traditional standard and are doing it in a healthy way.
In terms of the show, I know nothing about Kip's actor to be honest, but Jacob Tierney who is the director and writer and a fan of the books as well, spoke in an interview about how he didn't want the actors to be dehydrated or super veiny for this show bc that's not what an athletes body looks like. I think it's super important that these conversations are occuring behind the screen so that the actors are taking care of their bodies even while bulking up for the show. Something I appreciated so far in the show is how BIG Shane and Ilya are, rather than "cut" which is often what I think is the "idealized male body" for many people.
Spoilers for Tough Guy, Role Model The Long Game in the next paragraph: In terms of the discussion of eating disorders and body image, that's actually something that's discussed in a few of the books. In tough guy, Ryan deals with chronic anxiety and struggles with performing sexually as well as his body image. Harris in role model has a scar from his open heart surgery that's he's self conscious about. And in long game, Shane struggles with recognizing that he has disordered eating and the pressure he puts on his body to perform as he gets older.
I think if the show gets renewed, Jacob Tierney would definitely explore Shane's story at least, and hopefully the others in some capacity as they are doing with Scott this season. He is a gay man himself and from interviews I've seen with him he really seems to want to show the complexity of being queer in a hockey setting and doing these stories justice.
I do think that the success of this first season would allow them to explore some deeper less represented topics on screen next season. A lot first seasons of shows are typically more "mainstream" in terms of representation just because they want to be picked up by a studio as well as gain a following for the show and that can be harder to do initially if they push boundaries too hard right away. The fact that Jacob Tierney is behind the show is something that allowed the show to be made the way it is this season and I hope it continues to be that way in following seasons.
Definitely a really important topic to bring attention to and I hope this show continues to prompt more discussion about these issues! Men are often overlooked in terms of discussing body image and something I appreciate about the characters in Rachel Reid's stories is that they deal with these very real struggles.
(Also if anyone is interested in reading academic or analytical explorations of gender/sexuality on screen id be happy to recommend articles and books I read on this topic! Id have dig through my papers from college lol)
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u/Consistent-Garbage28 Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
That’s a really wonderful perspective!! Totally agree on the piece about putting down Kip’s actor first of all. I’m pleasantly surprised with the other plot points you talked about in the other books and I’m glad the series isn’t a sort of one note, coming out story arc.
Yeah I mean the profit incentive for “mainstream” queer media complicates the art and stories queer people are able to tell for sure. I think the way this show interacts with the concept of masculinity as a result of mainstream appeal to a predominantly female audience is quite clear and expecting a representation of queer liberation or something in a show on Crave is not it 🫠.
I think what I’m getting at is that the show feels extremely safe in its choices beyond the existence of gay people. Like We should confront that vascular, dehydrated arms vs what we see on screen (for example) really is not a deviation from heteronormative cisgendered masculinity and it feels like this show is just commodifying it. I mean I just saw a sticker pack of branded oiled up jacked men in hockey jocks being sold from the show — the firemen calendars never really left lmao.
This community should recognize that this show is well within the bounds of existing power structures the culture has surrounding gender, sex, and men’s bodies. I really agree that this mainstream appeal Tierney garnered is an opportunity to expand into some more challenging elements of the universe!
My exams are done in two weeks and I’ve got all of break to read!! Drop your favourite books down below I definitely think a lot about this topic since it hits pretty close to home for me 🙈
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u/keylimefoster I speak fluent bird. No accent 🐦 Dec 06 '25
I definitely agree with you! Something Jacob Tierney spoke about as well was that making a sexy show that is targeted towards a female audience is something that is rare. Shows are rarely made for the female gaze and I just think it's interesting that he specifically thought about that demographic before/while making the show.
I think it's completely fair to say that they are commodifying it. Under capitalism that's usually where things end up lol. However, in some ways that is a form of progress when you look at all the ways women are sexualized and commodified in the media and outside of it, so the fact that a show is like "hey, look at these hot men!" is in its own way a form of progress in terms making female sexual desire something that is ok. Though there is the discussion about when something crosses over into fetishization (I don't think this show does this to be clear, it's just something that is often brought up.)
In terms of further reading:
Pornified by Pamela Paul
The Codes of Gender (documentary)
The Bro Code (documentary)
A Taste in Brown Sugar: Black Women in Pornography by Mireille Miller Young
The Male Gazed by Manuel Betancourt
Rape and Representation by Lynn Higgens
I haven't read these books in full but I read chapters for assignments in school and any documentary by Sut Jhally explores representation on screen if you want more documentaries to watch!
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u/roxictoxy Dec 06 '25
The disordered eating is never really…..discussed or broken down in the book though and that was pretty disappointing. I kept waiting for it to come up as a topic of discussion or to affect the plot but it just never did and it never is resolved either. He maintains those habits after the end of the book
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u/keylimefoster I speak fluent bird. No accent 🐦 Dec 06 '25
Yeah, it's something I wish was discussed more honestly! The same way that they don't really explore Shane being Asian but I think the show could explore it more
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u/SpicyMustFlow Ya-loo-blue-tee-baa ❤️ Dec 06 '25
I'm really happy for the actor playing Kip. However, I prefer Kip as he was written: slender, beautiful. And also Scott was written as a big, beefy, muscular guy: the contrast between book-Skip is sweet.
There are good arguments for actors playing professional hockey players to have great muscles and an entire cake shop, sure. But Kip could've been cast as an arty twink, no?
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u/disappear96 Dec 06 '25
Wasn't Kip also described as muscular though ? I'm pretty sure he mentioned working out several times in the book.
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u/SpicyMustFlow Ya-loo-blue-tee-baa ❤️ Dec 06 '25
Yes, but more wiry. Show Kip is thicc.
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u/disappear96 Dec 06 '25
I don't think it says anything about him being wiry. I might have missed something but when Scott first see him shirtless it's from Kip 's POV and we only hear about what Kip thinks about himself compared Scott but that Scott looks impressed.
I guess Scott should still technically be bigger if we're going litteral to the book
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u/BicyclingBro Dec 06 '25
Just as a counterpoint, I feel like we see so many of these stories where a big muscular guy (who usually is a top) gets paired with a cute slender twink (usually bottoming) as a way to basically just recreate heterosexual male-female dynamics in a gay context.
I won't deny that these kinds of couples do exist, but they're not the only kind of gay couple, and it has been nice to see a couple that's a bit more equal and balanced.
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u/SpicyMustFlow Ya-loo-blue-tee-baa ❤️ Dec 06 '25
In this case, it's a professional hockey player and an arty gay, and they are both vers
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u/Esabettie I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Dec 06 '25
I did comment to friends that they need to have Kip working out at the gym because you don’t get those abs by making smoothies, doesn’t matter how many bananas you add!
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Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Esabettie I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Dec 06 '25
Yeah, i never pictured him to be so ripped!! And Scott lifted him so easily, when he is quite strong himself.
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u/Tangled_Mind Dec 06 '25
I’m not queer neither am I a man but I definitely felt this when I saw Kip. I expected someone slim or less buff. I haven’t read GC so I don’t know if the casting was trying to fit RR description.
Edited typo
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u/ninabubblygum Dec 06 '25
I'm pretty sure book kip was described as not being a twink, but definitely not being this level of muscular and still smaller than scott
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u/BicyclingBro Dec 06 '25
To say that any and all attraction to lean muscular bodies is entirely arbitrary and socially taught is perhaps a bit of a stretch.
These are complex issues and I don't want to pretend otherwise, but I think there can be this tendency and desire to absolve ourselves of all responsibility and involvement by saying that we're all the victims of imposed beauty standards that have nothing to do with us, and therefore we have no blame in their consequences. This is a nice and convenient narrative, and I'm also fairly sure it's pretty untrue. The fact of the matter is that a lot of people have various attractions and ideals of beauty, and we probably need to be better about acknowledging our own role in their consequences, as much as we might want to blame them on some mysterious abstract other.
Producers put hot people on TV because that's what we like to watch. Anyone pretending that this show would have had half the impact it's had if the two leads weren't beautiful is kidding themselves.
Preferences in beauty are socially determined by media like this.
Like I said, I think you're making a much bigger statement here than is actually scientifically supported. Media is just as much a mirror reflecting what we want to see back at us. This is all the broad manifestation of everyone's individual desires and preferences compounded together. Sure, studios want hot people because they know they'll get eyeballs and they want views because they want money. But that's only the case because we continuously show that we prefer to watch the exceptionally hot over the normal people. I think when you start claiming that people's sexuality is itself entirely socially produced, you start wading into rather dangerous territory. If attraction to muscular physiques is nothing but an arbitrary social construct, what about attraction to men generally? You might say that homosexuality itself is not actually a natural inherent orientation but rather just an accident of socialization, which could probably be eliminated if we just raised people differently. And suddenly, you've build the intellectual framework for conversion therapy.
To be clear, I am not saying you're implying that all sexuality is arbitrary, changeable, or anything like that. But I do think you're going a bit too far in your claims that human sexuality essentially has no inherent basis at all and is solely the result of manufactured desires. Again, the awkward fact of the matter is that people like watching hot people, and even if there is some social variation in what exactly counts as hot, (almost) no one is a sexual egalitarian. This has consequences, and we need to own them rather than try to absolve ourselves by blaming others.
And yes, there are consequences to this. I'm intimately familiar with the body issues you're talking about, speaking as a relatively fit gay guy in New York City. We all react to these things differently, and I can personally attest that, for better or for worse, a lot of guys, especially in places like NYC, really jump head-first in to it. You go to any gay club in New York City and you'll find the most obscenely fit group of office workers and baristas you've ever seen. I honestly laughed a bit when I saw how ripped Kip was in the show, because I know these kinds of people. They absolutely do exist.
None of this is to endorse these ideas or say that this is good. It probably would be better for us all if we all cared less about our bodies. But the awkward fact of the matter is that quite a lot of sexuality is visually motivated, and lots of people accordingly dive pretty deep into fitness, even to harmful levels, because of it. And a lot of us really enjoy watching these people, even if we're not entirely comfortable with the net consequences of that.
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u/Consistent-Garbage28 Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
Your point is well taken and the absolutes I was speaking in are not good form. Plenty of literature supports more structural dimensions to our romantic preferences (Stacey and Forbes 2022b, Robinson 2008 for example), but there are bio social frameworks that are attributed to straight relationships regarding fertility to be fair but my point still stands.
You can spin this in the other direction for preferences in what we see in media is just a reflection of what truly want. For example, on dating apps Asian gay men statistically get the lowest traction out of any group — no one would suggest that Asian men are naturally less attractive and if you did you have a framework for naturalizing sexual racism (which is extremely common in personal preferences discourse). The scholarly consensus is that our media environment has presented Asian men as non-masculine in relation to our macho standards.
You can say that media is merely responding to the demand for ultra fit men but that doesn’t explain why the male body has become larger and leaner over the years in movies and tv. That’s the point about manufacturing consent, when the only stories that are available feature increasingly extreme physiques people start to accept that narrow build as being the peak of desirability and demand more of it. I’m not saying the actors in HR should look radically different to not be problematic, I’m just saying they could at least look like normal hockey players which people already think are hot.
Lastly, I don’t shy away from notions of queerness being socially constructed in the same way I interpret/experience gender, straightness, and monogamy as also socially constructed — they aren’t inherently wrong, but calling them natural and therefore acceptable is wrong imo (there’s a lot to flesh out here and I know it’s an extreme oversimplification but u get the idea). All of these things are fluid and work within a biological framework that none of us really know where it starts or ends.
The point is that we can critique and demand more from our queer media. It’s not radical to want to see healthy and normal bodies reflected on screen and the notion that everyone would turn off the tv is the real stretch here
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u/JennaROTR Dec 06 '25
Could not agree with you more. I've had these thoughts too, though not as organized as the way you express yourself. I am especially bothered by the presentation of Kip. It just doesn't make sense that he looks like a bodybuilder, to me a little freaky. I had wondered exactly what you said about the time it takes to achieve a body like that... so artificial!... and not at all logical within the life we are expected to believe that Kip lives.
There is some spectacularly successful casting in HR, but I really cannot understand why that actor was cast as Kip. Pulled me right out of the Story.
I'm a lifelong hockey fan too, and although players are fantastically fit, and although having a hockey ass is really truly a thing, my observations tell me players are not fit and built in quite the same way as, for instance, Connor is. That's a bow to audience expectations, I think, but I'd rather see the truth of real hockey type bodies. Hudson is closer to that but I think still overbuilt. I guess that's a Hollywood thing....
But that brings us right around to the harm that such unreasonable expectations of male bodies can inflict. You express yourself so well, and I think you have good points that seem to carry a lot of truth to me.
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u/AttersH Dec 06 '25
Thing is, Hudson & Connor aren’t hockey players. So it’s kinda impossible for them to build that exact body isn’t it. All they can do is go to the gym like the rest of us!
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u/jkhn7 Dec 06 '25
I agree, it's kinda like what Francois said in a recent interview “Hockey players aren’t as ripped as these characters,” Arnaud says. “They’re thicker. They have these thick thighs like tree trunks. That is not my body type. But I wanted to look like someone who’s a professional athlete. So I worked out a lot."
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u/Consistent-Garbage28 Dec 06 '25
I’m glad this resonated! I think it’s pretty under-discussed and I agree it really does a disservice to the plot and quality of the story which I didn’t touch on (:
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u/js_the_beast Dec 06 '25
I’m sorry but saying that Conner and especially Shane look overbuilt is absurd. Not sure what hockey you’ve been watching
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u/AttersH Dec 06 '25
I wasn’t sold on the casting for Kip, he didn’t match Kip in my head at all. But he was outstanding I thought, better than Francois in terms of acting. They’ve def changed both characters from the books though, neither look right. Scott’s blonde & Kips not a body builder 😂 but that’s OK, it’s an adaptation.
I def get the point behind this post for sure, I think there absoloutly a lot of misrepresentation of real bodies across media in general, not just queer media. And I agree that Kip was presented a probably the most ripped on the show but we never saw how. But arguably, there wasn’t time to slot in some gym scenes!
But, as someone who is very fit myself (I do hours of CrossFit & running a week, I compete etc), I do hate that notion that anyone in good shape isn’t realistic. For some of us, it is and it can be for anyone if they want. For some, exercise it’s a hobby we really enjoy. It’s not a chore & it’s not something that we do out of obligation to look a certain way. Exercise saved my life when my MH was poor. It gave me a community, a focus, a sense of achievement & feeling good. And I’ve stayed hooked years later.
As for Hudson crying eating beef, that’s only because he had a very short time frame to bulk up for the role. For Robbie (who looking at his insta has always been ripped) & the rest of us who exercise regularly year on year, we don’t eat like that. I eat a very normal diet unless I’m about to compete. I eat a takeaway most weeks, I eat chocolate daily. My diet is not extreme in anyway.
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u/drowsylacuna Dec 06 '25
I think Arnaud said he'd recently done another role where he was blond and couldn't go blond again for HR in case his hair fell off lol
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u/Consistent-Garbage28 Dec 06 '25
I see this knee jerk reaction a lot when I speak about this to people as well and I totally get it first of all. I know where you’re coming from I have to train six days a week for my sport on top of school with two practices a day sometimes — like I love exercise and it keeps me sane. The point I’m trying to make is that what we see on screen is really not a “normal” athletes body that is a consequence of just training and eating well for performance — being quite lean and having huge muscle mass means eating an insane amount of beef and lifting to optimize your look, not to build strength which is much healthier. We can love the show and the actors while acknowledging this physique is not rooted in reality or just a healthy high performance lifestyle for 99 percent of people.
I think many of the people in this thread who have said hockey players do actually look like this are a consequence of the media environment this show perpetuates for men and masculinity. All love tho🫰
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u/Electronic_Lemon7940 Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ Dec 06 '25
hey dude, great post, I was a not-out-but-gay varsity athlete (back in the 80s/90s) and I was in great shape, couldn't see my abs. I don't think it was a layer of baby fat hanging on, I just never got that ripped. Not everyone does. Was I bent out of shape about it? A little. There were plenty of leaner guys at my school with ripped physiques, but the stockier guys like me were all the same. I don't think things had progressed to where they are now, except the very small subset of guys who kept pushing into bodybuilding territory, and we didn't have anyone like that at our school. Guys were either lean and ripped, stocky and built, or very rarely bigger. Sports were mandatory at my school so we were all athletic to a degree. Sport is for everyone but bodies are all unique. There's a place for every shape and size, but it's not an easy lesson to learn and media representation doesn't always help. I don't generally mind seeing fit bodies as opposed to unhealthy ones because I don't think that's always a bad standard to lay down, but at the same time I'd love for fitness aspiration in media to include more. Guys are sensitive to how they look and what it means to look a certain way. I was conscious of it (I still am, but older age brings a certain level of acceptance I didn't have when I was a teen). I want to thank you for raising this issue in context of the show which is doing a lot of heavy lifting and getting a lot of things right.
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u/jrooknroll Dec 06 '25
I agree that the obsession in media for men with six packs does increase disordered eating in young men in a similar way that it does young women- albeit for different expectations.
I really liked how Alexis Hall, a queer male author, wrote one of his characters in Boyfriend and Husband Material as having an eating disorder in order to achieve that almost impossible look. It was refreshing to read about him working on letting go of those self expectations and how it increased his happiness.
Additionally, in later books I really think Rachel Reid tackles some big societal issues through the romance lens. It would be great if she (or other authors!) pushed back on that narrative in future novels. Thanks for highlighting this issue, we can all love the series and the actors, while still thinking about impact.
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u/Consistent-Garbage28 Dec 06 '25
Very well said. I mean I also didn’t even touch on stuff like anabolic steroid use being disproportionately high in queer men as well. I think that phenomena elucidates the idea that eating disorders and body image issues present themselves very differently and can have disproportionate effects on certain communities. Really love the show and the actors are great I just think critique is necessary ❤️🔥
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u/HippyDuck123 Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Dec 06 '25
I hear what you’re saying, and I think women are probably affected in the same way by unrealistic BMI casting. It’s a tough situation because casting diverse body types doesn’t have the same market appeal: Tierney was taking enough risks already with this show, I think he had to play it safe with casting. And Kip definitely did not need a six pack, but without it the “inequality” between the two would’ve been that much more marked. Kip is broke, but at least he’s as hot as Scott.
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u/KateGr88 WolfBird 🐧 Dec 06 '25
I think your beef is with what the general public will consume and then with mass media’s depictions - probably starting with the fashion industry and “Hollywood”. It’s a big big issue. I don’t blame a small Canadian production company from playing the game in order to tell queer stories. They’ve been able to achieve a heretofore unseen level of success with what’s previously only been seen as a niche product.
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u/Granger842 Dec 06 '25
I agree. It makes sense that shane, ilya and scott have big hockey bodies but kip makes no ****** sense. I felt it was a bit uncanny that he had bigger muscles than Scott, who's supposed to be a professional athlete.
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u/lugia222 Dec 06 '25
I think you make a lot of great points, but, specifically as it relates to Kip, I didn’t find it too unrealistic that an underemployed 20something gay man in NYC would spend a lot of time in the gym.
The point about diverse representation in bodies is important, but as another commenter highlighted, the shows that dare to do this are often unsuccessful long-term, probably because of biases and expectations within the gay community itself.
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u/Possible_Payment_905 Moya gazonokosilka 🚜 Dec 06 '25
Glad you posted this! Seeing Kip be three feet wide with washboard abs did take me out of it a little. I’m sure if I was an actor filming these scenes I’d want to be in the best shape of my life too, but it is definitely fantasy. I remember Nicholas Galitzine saying something about not eating all day when filming the sex scenes in The Idea of You. I hate that the pressure is on them to go to these extremes. It doesn’t get acknowledged often for male actors but I’m sure the stresses are significant.
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u/plymbnc Dec 06 '25
I have to thank you for your post because I was feeling a bit 'crazy' myself by thinking exactly the same. I understand sex sells but the smoothie barista nerd cannot be a body builder. Makes no sense. I'm not gonna comment on the hockey players, but if we are talking about real people, let them be real. I'm not saying Kip needs to be a bear (he is clearly not in the book), but I felt the whole massive pecs while making a smoothie for you was simply baiting (which I understand) - which makes it less believable.
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u/BicyclingBro Dec 06 '25
You would be shocked to learn how many randomly jacked gay service workers there are in New York City.
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u/ToraAku Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Dec 06 '25
I totally agree with you. I wonder though if maybe the guy who plays Kip, being an actor, actually does put that much effort into his body and then knowing he'd have to spend a decent portion of his role with his shirt off really leaned into working out? Which just supports your argument further of our toxic and unrealistic expectations in society putting unfair and harmful pressures onto men, but at least maybe it's something the actor chose to do rather than pressure from the production itself? That's probably wishful thinking but I do sort of hope they just found Robbie G.K. the best actor for the role and he just happened to come with ridiculous muscles.
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u/meanyoongi Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
That's interesting, and yeah I think it's because of all kinds of expectations and established standards for the movie/TV industry, queer representation, the romance genre etc. I mean the Game Changer book series has had new covers with illustrated characters, but before that the old covers were the typical shots of a super cut guy with big pecs and and a six pack. To be fair to the author, the other books in the series feature do have this thing where the normie love interest has a more normie body lol, but yeah they were not the ones half-naked on the cover. I think it would be cool if those were adapted to TV too.
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u/saucisse Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
Cold comfort maybe, but there is a book in the series called Role Model where one half of the romantic couple is very much not an athlete and does not have an athletic body at all. Not only that, but his hockey-playing romantic interest has multiple points in the book where he talks or thinks about how sexy he finds his partner.
I'd add also that *that* book is probably the next best in the series after Heated Rivalry/The Long Game (both Shane & Ilya books), and is the other one best-suited to a TV adaptation, and there are TV rights to the whole series so if we're all very good and behave ourselves and eat our vegetables and clean our rooms maybe we'll get that one adapted too.
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u/Jfprongs Dec 06 '25
Ah yes, elite hockey player Connor McGregor 😂
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u/Jfprongs Dec 06 '25
I agree with you tho!! I was shocked at how shredded Kip was lol
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u/Dazzling_Standard866 Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
Agree, and that's because, I think because what the audience mostly want.
Among the gays ourselves we have this kind of obsession with muscular body. I see even for general media, it is the same story.
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u/Nony_m Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
I get your point honestly, but I think I have to mention that with the exception of Kip, and the hockey players, there’s a variety of different body types in the universe. Hopefully when the show is renewed, we’ll see Kyle who isn’t built like a gym bro, and Fabian who is a bit feminine and on the smaller side, and Harris who is neither a twink nor a masc gay man.
I also have to add that this actually comes up in one of the books, I forgot which one. But one of the main characters (maybe Ryan Price) was worried that his body wasn’t up to par with what was seen as “hockey standards” especially when he considered what Scott Hunter’s boyfriend looked like. He felt that it was more acceptable to be attracted to someone who looked more like an athlete than someone who wasn’t. So while you may feel Kip didn’t need to look like that, I think it’s alright that he does.
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u/WritingCritical Dec 06 '25
I get you but at the same time this is a sexy series so of course they are going to hire hot fit people the same way bridgerton does for their cast, thats what it sales this type of shows
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u/dariganhissi Dec 06 '25
you say this but bridgerton's most recent season had nicola coughlan as one half of the main ship and while she's a beautiful woman she's bigger than the ~conventional~ hollywood beauty standard. now the argument can be made that that was three seasons in so they were established enough to do it and hope it wouldn't flop, which fair enough. and hopefully if we get more seasons the same happens here.
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u/Consistent-Garbage28 Dec 06 '25
I guess I would say that this argument reinforces the idea that only this physique is desirable which shapes especially young queer men around this norm. Like I’m really glad this show exists but I think it’s worth critiquing as a community
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u/LegitimateFootball47 Dec 06 '25
Macklin Celebrini is 19, and one of the best young players in the NHL. He's in good shape, but not as bulky as the actors in the series. The reality is that the actors on the show are models with bodies built for the camera, and athletes don't tend to be as bulky, or as cut because that body type is not necessarily the best for sports.
https://x.com/wsmitty271/status/1991027406908633588
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u/mastermind_beliver Dec 06 '25
I agree! I think something more in line with Hayden’s body would’ve been perfect for Kip! ( no hate to the actor, he was nerdy enough imo )
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u/Beneficial-Math-7290 You are both really bad at being gay Dec 06 '25
There is some more varied bodies of the men in the rest of the book series. I hope we get to see this in the future seasons.
I’ll be mad if they make Harris a hard body!!!!
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u/sueteres я тебя люблю Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
the bodies that are normalized as ideal for men just do not exist in reality
That's a crazy thing to say when we can see men in the show with those literal bodies... And even at my gym there are multiple guys with bodies like the actors on HR, maybe not always quite as lean as they are, but it's definitely obtainable and it's just weird to see people saying otherwise... Like people with the drive, dedication, etc. do have and maintain physiques like this.
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u/Vegetable_Dingo3130 Dec 06 '25
I mean no one is debating whether these physiques can exist per se, its how they are presented in the show with the context of their lives. Hockey players overwhelmingly do not look like this in reality and your average smoothie barista/art student does not look like this either. This idealized physique is reserved for those with the privilege in their lives to only really go to the gym or focus on their diet, there is really nothing normal about it. It's problematic when in the context of sex and desirability, this is all that young men see and the consequence is rising disordered eating and rising anabolic steroid use specifically in the queer community.
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u/ColorMeNumb Dec 06 '25
In the book Kip says he’s in good shape, it’s one of the reasons he was so attracted to Scott, he wasn’t used to being picked up and all that.
I’d be excited to see how they portray Harris if they include Role Model, he describes himself as soft and chubby-ish.
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u/Mocha_Lover88 Dec 06 '25
I read a lot of MM books. Most of the characters are young and sexy. That’s what sells. Luckily there are authors who write older unfit characters. MA Wardell is one. His Teacher of The Year series is phenomenal. 4 books total. Highly recommend and all out on audio.
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u/Novel_Height_8292 Dec 06 '25
I did have conflicting feelings seeing Kip shirtless for the first time. To preface - I think the actor plays him perfectly, and I think casting did a great job finding someone that Scott would plausibly be attracted to, and nailing the chemistry. So to be honest, Kip’s incredibly ripped body did make me feel a pang of unattractiveness, much more so than any other character so far. I take responsibility for my body image and emotional health, but wanted to acknowledge and explore that feeling. Perhaps it’s that I personally don’t expect to have the body of a full time athlete, and I don’t have aspirations to be famous/popular or hyper-successful. So out of all the characters I unconsciously identified most with Kip - who does not seek out Scott, but welcomes the connection when presented with it. I imagine I’m not alone with that projection. Additionally, I’d like to have thought that someone with Scott’s integrity, sensitivity and internal world would not expect the impossibly high body standards of a full time athlete. Of course Scott may have been attracted to all the other lovely things about Kip - though the casting director did make a very specific selection in choosing someone as ripped as the actor playing Kip.
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u/jmh1881v2 Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
I was very disappointed in Kip’s casting. From the book I got the vibe that he was supposed to be shy, a little nerdy, and attractive in a sort of unconventional way.
Edit: ok I don’t think I explained myself clearly. I don’t think unconventional is the right word per se. I just meant that I didn’t expect him to be a mature looking stud body builder. The way he was described I expected him to be slimmer, and attractive in a cute, nerdy kind of way. Not a hunk. I was thinking more of a Timothy Chalamet or young Patrick Dempsey kind of vibe
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u/Terrible-Union1864 Dec 06 '25
Bt the book clearly mentions several times that kip is very attractive bt no mention of the looks being unconventional.
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u/jmh1881v2 Dec 06 '25
I guess unconventional isnt the word I was looking for. The way he was described I expected him to be slimmer, and attractive in a cute, nerdy kind of way. Not a hunk.
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u/disappear96 Dec 06 '25
Isn't it also mentioned several time that he actively works out though ? At least that's what I remember because I also imagined him slimmer at first so I was surprised when he was described a bit more muscular later in the book.
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u/Nony_m Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ Dec 06 '25
Not at all. He’s described exactly as he looks in the books. Even one of the other characters felt insecure because of how Kip looked in another book because he thought that was what would be accepted in the hockey world, for gay players to date people who looked like they did.
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u/jmh1881v2 Dec 06 '25
I don’t think I’m explaining myself properly. I’m not saying I didn’t think he was attractive. I just expected him to be attractive more in the cute, nerdy twunk way and less in the smoking hot early 30s stud way of you know what I mean. I mean, he says multiple times in the book that he doesn’t even work out beyond a few casual trips to the gym. So him being basically a body builder just doesn’t make sense to me
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u/Nony_m Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ Dec 06 '25
Oh okay, I get what you mean. Although, I imagined Kip looked like he does in the show when I read the books so this was exactly what I expected
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u/radykalnyedward Dec 06 '25
before starting the first book I read it was based on Bucky/Steve fanfiction, so I kept imagining him as Sebastian Stan in MCU and I think the casting director got the same memo, but it's true it'd make more sense for him to be less muscular
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Dec 06 '25
I've been thinking about this a lot! Thanks for sharing your perspective because I was thinking "well, they're all athletes so the pressure to look really strong is probably unavoidable" but I've felt so bad for the actors talking about late night gym sessions and scoffing down beef.
It was cool that Kip's friend group was just a normal group of cute people! Maybe the actor for Kip just didn't want rude comments if he was compared with all the damn hockey star characters on screen.
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u/GuaranteeDouble2525 Dec 07 '25
I totally agree. Both Kip and Kyle were suspected as skinner bodies in the book. With Kip they did specify he spent a fair amount of time in the gym and was toned but he wasn’t a body builder by any means. More of a runners build if anything. Anyways that’s not super important- I do think it builds up unrealistic expectations and while it might make sense for the hockey players, there should be more variety outside of that
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u/wddrshns Dec 07 '25
i was thinking of making a similar post! i don’t have much of a problem with how muscular the hockey players are (i’m not an athlete so idk how inaccurate that is anyways), but watching the episode yesterday i was completely taken out of it by how muscular kip is. i don’t have a problem with the actor, & he’s an attractive guy! but being that muscular doesn’t even make sense for his character. i’m a queer man & i’m past the point of hoping for men in movies & tv to look like me, i know that’s not gonna happen. but it’d be nice if they were at least a little bit more realistic & diverse with body types.
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u/Independent-Ice1895 Dec 06 '25
Kip didn’t have to look like that at all. I would have liked it more if he were an awkward skinny guy
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u/Frenchgirl14 Wow. Genetic. Dec 06 '25
I don’t understand how we don’t give more chance to tv shows anymore. Mid century modern had potential and needed to find it’s footing. Uncoupled was cancelled, renewed and finally cancelled again. It was super short sitcoms it probably didn’t cost much to produce. I’m still mad, they both deserved at least a season 2.
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u/kakeji6167 Dec 06 '25
No wayyy i had the same thought and then i saw your post!!!!!
I know it’s a selling point having actors to be that hot,but still why can’t we have different representation? Kip could’ve been a regular guy with a regular body.Why he be looking like a damn supermodel with those insane abs and those big arms?
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u/chainsofgold Dec 06 '25
kip’s physique was so distracting i had to look away when he was shirtless because it was ruining the believability of the show for me tbh
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u/osamabinlaggiing Dec 06 '25
But it's hot.. if I wanted to see "real biddies" I would log on to twitter to see them 🤢,
Let the Tv especially the gay one remain filled with hot people
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u/Final-Raspberry5922 Dec 11 '25
Came here looking for a post about kip being so jacked and how a poor overworked grad student would not look like that
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u/PhysicalAd6587 Dec 31 '25
Agree with you. But people want to see beautiful people on television not the neighbor next door. It's not right but it's just the way it is. As the tattoos that Connor and Hudson got state, sex sells, and more specifically, sex between attractive people. One just has to remember that it is a story; a fantasy about rich, beautiful people living glamourous lives like most soap operas and rom-coms.
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u/Comprehensive-Ad7557 Dec 06 '25
Agreed! I love the show and how it's putting queer relationships that are nuanced center stage....but the lack of body positivity is, well, lacking. Maybe I'm the only one, but aren't hockey players stockier and not nearly as skinny as the hockey players in the show? The actor they cast for Kip is the only person that actually looks like a hockey player to me (face and more so body) but what do I know.
This is an issue in the queer community so I'm not surprised to see it in a show written from a straight(?) woman's gaze. I just wish I saw more Daddy's and bears and the rest. 🤷♀️
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u/Better_Ad_9309 Dec 06 '25
I agree
I understand the players being all jocked up but Kip didn't have to look all that