The Walking Dead star joins fans obsessed with breakout hockey drama
Summary
– Jeffrey Dean Morgan praised Heated Rivalry on social media
– He said episode five left him “still recovering”
– The episode featured emotional confessions and a major coming-out moment
Jeffrey Dean Morgan just reminded everyone that even major television stars binge-watch the same shows as the rest of us. During a social media exchange sparked by debate over the Super Bowl halftime show, the Walking Dead actor casually revealed his love for the breakout hockey romance series Heated Rivalry.
Morgan joked that he was ready to go “all Heated Rivalry” during the online back-and-forth, then added that he was still recovering from episode five. When another fan reacted with surprise, he doubled down with a warning, saying that the fifth episode would break viewers.
The episode he referenced, titled “I’ll Believe in Anything,” became a major talking point among fans. It centers on professional hockey player Shane Hollander finally opening up to his longtime rival and secret partner, Ilya Rozanov, about his true feelings. The emotional turning point follows a serious on-ice injury that forces both characters to confront what they mean to each other.
The closing moments elevated the episode even further. A championship celebration featured another player publicly coming out and sharing a kiss on the ice, inspiring Shane and Ilya to embrace their relationship. The installment received widespread acclaim and briefly held a perfect user score online.
Morgan, who has built a career on delivering emotional performances in projects such as The Walking Dead and Grey’s Anatomy, clearly appreciates storytelling that hits hard. He has not yet shared full thoughts on the season as a whole, but his reaction has already connected him with fans who felt the same impact.
For viewers who have not tuned in yet, the series is streaming on HBO Max in the United States. Based on Morgan’s reaction, episode five is not one to watch lightly.
Now that's how ya do a clapback, class mixed with sarcasm= epic comebacks . I love it and am damn proud of ya big guy.
— JDM is the Shiz! (Scarface) (@FloatyRedHead23) February 10, 2026
