Rachel Reid defends Season 2 casting choices

The first season of *Heated Rivalry*—the Netflix series based on Ottawa writer Rachel Reid’s hit hockey romance novels—wrapped last year with strong reviews for its mix of on-ice drama and off-ice chemistry. Now, Reid is pushing back publicly after fans and critics questioned the casting of Charlie Gillespie as Troy and Justice Smith as Harris in the upcoming second season, which was announced late Friday.

Reid’s books center on a fictional Ottawa Centaurs hockey team, where Troy, a rugged defenseman recently traded from Calgary, clashes with Harris, the team’s analytics-savvy social media manager. The dynamic between the two—part rivals, part reluctant allies—drove much of the first season’s appeal. Social media lit up over the weekend with comparisons between Gillespie, known for his role in *Ginny & Georgia*, and the book’s Troy, described as “brooding, rugged, and not much of a talker.” Harris, meanwhile, is portrayed in the novels as a Black queer man with a sharp wit and a background in digital activism. Smith, who rose to fame in *Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves*, doesn’t match the character’s race or queerness, sparking criticism that the show is erasing key aspects of Reid’s source material.

Reid, who has been vocal on social media about staying true to the books, posted on Instagram Sunday: “I get it—you love the characters. So do I. But actors bring their own magic. Let’s see what they do with these roles before we write them off.” She didn’t respond to requests for further comment. Netflix has not issued a statement, but industry insiders say filming for Season 2 is set to begin in Toronto this fall. The showrunner has previously said the adaptation aims to “expand the world” of the books rather than replicate them scene-for-scene.

The controversy highlights a growing tension in book-to-screen adaptations: how much fidelity fans expect versus creative reinterpretation. Reid’s pushback suggests she’s not just a passive creator but an active advocate for her characters—especially as Season 2 looms. For fans, the real test may come when they see Gillespie and Smith on screen. If the chemistry works, the debate could fade. If not, Reid may have to decide how much of the original story she’s willing to bend—or fight for.