5 Queer Shows To Watch If You Like Heated Rivalry

Feb 13, 2026

Like many across the world, I binged watched “Heated Rivalry” in one weekend. When I finished, I felt a queer-hockey-couple-sized hole in my heart. When it comes to wholesome, happy-ending representation, the queer community has survived on scraps found after watching six seasons and 100 hours just for the queer couple in question to kiss once.

The impact of “Heated Rivalry” shows the importance of representation. Between tears shed, joy felt, and the show inspiring real-life hockey player Jesse Korteum to come out publicly, “Heated Rivalry” has made a lasting impact on the community. So if you’re looking for a queer-rep fix to hold you over until season two of Heated Rivalry in 2027, check out one of these wholesome shows.

1. Our Flag Means Death

This show is so good. It’s funny, it’s queer, and it has a happy ending. It’s the whole package. “Our Flag Means Death” follows a man who becomes bored of his life as a wealthy father and husband. So, he decides to become a “Gentleman Pirate,” or a pirate that chooses to never kill.

The representation in this show is not the main plot, but rather simply exists within it. In a world where we constantly see queerness portrayed as an all encompassing identity, this show offers a breath of fresh air.

2. She-Ra and The Princesses of Power

Yes, “She-Ra and The Princesses of Power” is a kids show, but adults can and should watch it, too. We can’t deny that “She-ra” offers stellar queer representation. Similarly to “Our Flag Means Death,” sexuality isn’t discussed like it’s an issue, or really discussed at all. Whether a character’s sexuality isn’t a necessary distinction to make. Each character just is who they are, regardless of who they’re with.

And really, nearly every character is queer. You have boys who like boys, girls married to girls, and even a nonbinary character. And if you’re looking for another rivals-to-lovers relationship, this show has that, too.

3. Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies

Unfortunately, “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” was a show stricken down in its prime, as much queer media is. Paramount+ cancelled it after just one season, and then they took it off their streaming service, making this show hard to find.

But if you can find “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” and give it a watch, it’s so worth it. The show is a prequel musical series to the famous “Grease” musical. While the series never got to reach its full potential, it does include a queer story that does reach some resolution by the end.

4. Steven Universe

When it comes to queer media, Steven Universe is a trailblazer, as it was the first kids cartoon to feature a same-gender proposal, wedding, and recurring couple. If you don’t already watch cartoons, this show can feel simplistic. Some episodes lack the depth of storytelling we expect in most media, and are mostly just there as a silly time-killer for kids.

However, if you want a casual watch, or something for the whole family, Steven Universe offers that. It does have a clear, overarching plot, characters that develop and grow throughout the series, and – of course – wholesome and respectful queer representation.

5. Wynonna Earp

The “Wynonna Earp” show is a 2010’s classic, airing during a time when queerness in mainstream media was often merely a fan-theory based on subtext and confirmed queer characters were constantly being killed off.

During this trying time, Wynonna Earp brought us a lesbian couple we could root for until the very end. With demons, angels, vampires, and cowboys, Wynonna Earp is a campy, western, dark-fantasy, comedy with a plot that constantly takes new twists and turns, all while featuring an array of explicitly queer characters.