Exclusive Interview
‘Heated Rivalry’: François Arnaud Teases ‘Powerful Moments’ for Scott & Kip in Final Episodes
What To Know
- Scott (François Arnaud) and Kip (Robbie G.K.) are the central characters of Heated Rivalry Episode 3.
- Their relationship’s future remains uncertain after Episode 3’s ending.
- Scott and Kip absent from Episode 4, but Arnaud teased the “powerful moments” ahead for them.
How are we feeling, Scott (François Arnaud) and Kip (Robbie G.K.) fans? After spending a full 50 minutes with the veteran hockey player and his barista boyfriend, Heated Rivalry went back to its scheduled rivals-to-lovers programming with Shane (Hudson Williams) and Ilya (Connor Storrie) in Episode 4. Scott and Kip, however, are nowhere to be found after their cliffhanger in the previous episode.
If you’re going through Skip withdrawals like us, we checked in with Arnaud to see what reassurance he could give fans in their absence. “The emotional climax of the season involves all of these characters, and I think their stories are all tied together,” the actor told Swooon in a joint interview with G.K. “I can also say that Episode 4 is the only episode that I’m not in the season at all.”
That’s good news for those hoping to find out what’s next for Scott and Kip’s whirlwind romance. Episode 3 sees the characters meet for the first time, catching each other’s eye when the hockey player becomes a regular at the smoothie bar where Kip works. Their sweet flirtation turns into a secret relationship, which unfolds over the next several months. Kip essentially moves into Scott’s place, and they eventually say they love each other — but Scott’s not ready to come out or let Kip’s loved ones know about their connection.
Arnaud explained that Episode 3 was always meant to be a “bubble bottle episode” for his character and Kip. The main chunk of Season 1 is devoted to Shane and Ilya’s journey, based on author Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry. It’s part of her larger hockey romance series, in which Scott and Kip are the subjects of the first book, Game Changer. Episode 3 covers roughly three quarters of their book, ending on the moment when Scott and Kip come to a crossroads about keeping their relationship secret.
Without spoiling anything — unless you want to spoil their ending for yourself — Scott and Kip’s book journey overlaps with Shane and Ilya’s, especially towards the end of both books. But only time will tell if the show will follow the text exactly when it comes to Scott and Kip. As some fans have pointed out, the show has already made a major change: Episode 4 spans from 2014 to 2016, but Scott and Kip’s episode plays out in just 2014. It’s a lengthier timeline compared to Game Changer‘s months-long one.
Fans have yet to find out what Scott and Kip have been getting up to in those few years, but they can rest easy knowing that the characters will return in some capacity before Season 1’s end. “Their presence is certainly felt throughout the rest of the season,” Arnaud teased. “But it is what it is for now, but definitely, there are powerful moments that they’re involved in Episodes 5 and 6.”
Let us know your predictions for Scott and Kip and the final two episodes of Heated Rivalry in the comments below.
Heated Rivalry, Season 1, Fridays, HBO Max
