While fans obsess over the steamy hockey romance between Scott and Kip in HBO Max's Heated Rivalry, a minor character's two-syllable debut might be the show's most explosive Easter egg. Matthew Finlan, who plays bartender Kyle Swift, reveals in an exclusive interview that his seemingly throwaway role was actually a secret setup for a heartbreaking future storyline.
"I was filming my first scene—just saying 'Hey, Kip'—when showrunner Jacob Tierney dropped the bomb," Finlan tells TheEntBase. "He said, 'There's an entire book where your character has an unrequited love story with Kip. Try to convey all that pain in two syllables.'"
Finlan, who initially thought he was just playing a background bartender, discovered Kyle is actually the lead character in Rachel Reid's fourth novel, Common Goal—a book that follows Kyle's move to New York and his complicated friends-with-benefits relationship with veteran goalie Eric Bennett.
Matthew Finlan as Kyle Swift in 'Heated Rivalry' - his minor role hides major future significance. HBO Max
The actor now uses this knowledge as fuel during workouts. "When I'm struggling through those last reps, I visualize my castmates watching," he says with a laugh. "You never know when a camera might zoom in on your backside in season 2."
What makes this revelation particularly juicy is the timing. While Finlan remains "as clueless as anyone" about season 2 plans, Reid herself confirmed to TheEntBase: "That's definitely the same Kyle. His romantic future remains uncertain, but the character is consistent." This confirmation suggests Kyle's heartbreaking arc from Common Goal could be coming to screens sooner than fans expect.
Finlan's journey to the role was almost derailed before it began. The 31-year-old actor nearly rejected the audition after reading character descriptions. "I told my team, 'I'm not Scott Hunter—let's withdraw that offer,'" he recalls. Though he didn't land either lead role, his connection to Kip's smoothie-barista persona was strong enough that he's now preparing for Kyle's potential multilingual future. "I've even considered downloading Duolingo," he jokes.
The cover of 'Common Goal' by Rachel Reid - the book that reveals Kyle's full story. Carina Press
The most tantalizing detail? Finlan's role was designed as a hidden clue from the start. While season 1 primarily adapts Reid's 2019 novel Heated Rivalry, Kyle's sporadic appearances in Kip's narrative were intentional Easter eggs for book readers. Now, with season 2 in development and Finlan "fully prepared and waiting in the wings," fans are left wondering: Will Kyle's unrequited love for Kip become the show's next major heartbreak?
"I'm immersing myself in Kyle's arc," Finlan says, having now read Common Goal. "The popularity of the show has given me really good motivation for the new year." For viewers who thought Kyle was just a background character, this revelation changes everything—and makes the wait for season 2 even more heated.
