Heated Rivalry Best Line Voting Bracket
Details about the voting bracket running from February 18 to March 4, 2026, as well as results of the daily polls.
From the ice to the cottage, the smash hit TV adaptation of Heated Rivalry has brought us so many iconic lines. To celebrate all this romance goodness, I’m hosting a Heated Rivalry Best Line Voting Bracket from February 18 to March 4 to determine the best line from Season 1.
Each day of Round 1, 4 popular lines will face off against each other, with the winner moving on to the next round. The final head-to-head battle for the cup will take place on Wednesday, March 4.
32 lines will compete, but only one can win the cup!
WHEN
Daily polls from February 18-March 4, 2026
Voting ends each day at 11 pm PT
WHERE
@romancingthedata on Instagram
RESULTS
Round 1: Group Stage
Group 1: Ilya, Episode 1 (February 18 - 1,599 votes)
“OK.” (Ilya, Episode 1) - 12%
“Is lie, liar told you that.” (Ilya, Episode 1) - 62%
“What colour? Is big?” (Ilya, Episode 1) - 13%
“Hollander, you are having panic attack.” (Ilya, Episode 1) - 13%
🏆 WINNER: “Is lie, liar told you that.” (Ilya, Episode 1) - 62%
Group 2: Ilya, Episode 2 (February 19 - 1,674 votes)
“Never in life have I blushed. Russians do not do this.” (Ilya, Episode 2) - 55%
“You will murder me.” (Ilya, Episode 2) - 20%
“Mr. Businessman. Mr. Landlord.” (Ilya, Episode 2) - 10%
“Such a good trick.” (Ilya, Episode 2) - 16%
🏆 WINNER: “Never in life have I blushed. Russians do not do this.” (Ilya, Episode 2) - 55%
Group 3: Ilya, Episodes 4-6 (February 20 - 1,736 votes)
“You like tuna melt?” (Ilya, Episode 4) - 2%
“I’m so in love with you, and I don’t know what to do about it.” [in Russian] (Ilya, Episode 5) - 54%
“Stupid Canadian wolf bird.” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 32%
“I’m on the cover of the f*cking game.” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 12%
🏆 WINNER: “I’m so in love with you, and I don’t know what to do about it.” [in Russian] (Ilya, Episode 5) - 54%
Group 4: Ilya, Episode 6 (February 21 - 1,816 votes)
“I don’t ever want that problem to ever go away.” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 48%
“She would have loved you. Like I love you.” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 27%
“Gimme kiss.” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 11%
“Oh, they don’t know I play for Boston?” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 13%
🏆 WINNER: “I don’t ever want that problem to ever go away.” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 48%
Group 5: Shane (February 22 - 1,808 votes)
“Wow. Genetic.” (Shane, Episode 2) - 23%
“We didn’t even kiss.” [Deleted text] (Shane, Episode 2) - 24%
“I kind of prefer being the hole rather than the peg.” (Shane, Episode 5) - 18%
“Yes! Bet-ter.” (Shane, Episode 5) - 35%
🏆 WINNER: “Yes! Bet-ter.” (Shane, Episode 5) - 35%
Group 6: Shane/The Cottage (February 23 - 1,875 votes)
“Will-you-come-to-my-cottage-this-summer?” (Shane, Episode 5) - 43%
“I’m coming to the cottage.” (Ilya, Episode 5) - 40%
“Sir, I’m just a bellboy! You can’t treat the staff like this.” (Shane, Episode 6) - 10%
“Don’t marry Svetlana. Just don’t.” (Shane, Episode 6) - 7%
🏆 WINNER: “Will-you-come-to-my-cottage-this-summer?” (Shane, Episode 5) - 43%
Group 7: Shane & Ilya (February 24 - 1,854 votes)
“I might open.” “I might knock.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 1) - 14%
“I love you.” “Holy sh*t.” “I mean...” “I love you too.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 6) - 39%
“He’s visiting, and we’re, uh...” “Lovers.” “No, Ilya, that’s gross.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 6) - 21%
“My boyfriend?” “I mean, yes. I think so, probably.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 6) - 26%
🏆 WINNER: “I love you.” “Holy sh*t.” “I mean...” “I love you too.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 6) - 39%
Group 8: Supporting Characters (February 25 - 1,808 votes)
“Girl...” (Maria, Episode 3) - 17%
“Or. I pick or.” (Kip, Episode 3) - 20%
“He deserves sunshine. And so do you.” (Elena, Episode 3) - 27%
“I just hope Jane knows how lucky he is.” [in Russian] (Svetlana, Episode 5) - 35%
🏆 WINNER: “I just hope Jane knows how lucky he is.” [in Russian] (Svetlana, Episode 5) - 35%
Round 2: Final 8
Group 1 vs Group 2 (February 26 - 1,879 votes)
“Is lie, liar told you that.” (Ilya, Episode 1) - 55%
“Never in life have I blushed. Russians do not do this.” (Ilya, Episode 2) - 45%
🏆 WINNER: “Is lie, liar told you that.” (Ilya, Episode 1) - 55%
Group 3 vs Group 4 (February 27 - 1,883 votes)
“I’m so in love with you, and I don’t know what to do about it.” [in Russian] (Ilya, Episode 5) - 49%
“I don’t ever want that problem to ever go away.” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 51%
🏆 WINNER: “I don’t ever want that problem to ever go away.” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 51%
Group 5 vs Group 6 (February 28 - 1,812 votes)
“Yes! Bet-ter.” (Shane, Episode 5) - 20%
“Will-you-come-to-my-cottage-this-summer?” (Shane, Episode 5) - 80%
🏆 WINNER: “Will-you-come-to-my-cottage-this-summer?” (Shane, Episode 5) - 80%
Group 7 vs Group 8 (March 1 - 1,794 votes)
“I love you.” “Holy sh*t.” “I mean...” “I love you too.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 6) - 88%
“I just hope Jane knows how lucky he is.” [in Russian] (Svetlana, Episode 5) - 12%
🏆 WINNER: “I love you.” “Holy sh*t.” “I mean...” “I love you too.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 6) - 88%
Round 3: Final 4
Group 1/2 vs Group 3/4 (March 2, 1,794 votes)
“Is lie, liar told you that.” (Ilya, Episode 1) - 20%
“I don’t ever want that problem to ever go away.” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 80%
🏆 WINNER: “I don’t ever want that problem to ever go away.” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 80%
Group 5/6 vs Group 7/8 (March 3)
“Will-you-come-to-my-cottage-this-summer?” (Shane, Episode 5) - 45%
“I love you.” “Holy sh*t.” “I mean...” “I love you too.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 6) - 55%
🏆 WINNER: “I love you.” “Holy sh*t.” “I mean...” “I love you too.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 6) - 55%
Round 4: Final 2
Final Vote (March 4)
“I don’t ever want that problem to ever go away.” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 53%
“I love you.” “Holy sh*t.” “I mean...” “I love you too.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 6) - 47%
🏆 FINAL WINNER: “I don’t ever want that problem to ever go away.” (Ilya, Episode 6) - 53%
Round 1: Group Stage
32 lines | Voting between 4 lines, winning line moves to next round
Wednesday, February 18 : Group 1
Thursday, February 19: Group 2
Friday, February 20: Group 3
Saturday, February 21: Group 4
Sunday, February 22: Group 5
Monday, February 23: Group 6
Tuesday, February 24: Group 7
Wednesday, February 25: Group 8
Round 2: Final 8
8 lines | Voting between 2 lines, winning line moves to next round
Thursday, February 26: Group 1 vs Group 2
Friday, February 27: Group 3 vs Group 4
Saturday, February 28: Group 5 vs Group 6
Sunday, March 1: Group 7 vs Group 8
Round 3: Final 4
4 lines | Voting between 2 lines, winning line moves to next round
Monday, March 2: Group 1/2 vs Group 3/4
Tuesday, March 3: Group 5/6 vs Group 7/8
Round 4: Final 2
2 lines | Winning line wins the cup!
Wednesday, March 4: THE FINAL VOTE!
Voting Bracket Breakdown
Note: I chose the first 20 lines to be included based on what I observed to be the most popular among the fandom. The remaining 12 lines were voted by fans on my Instagram page (1,600+ people voted!).
Since so many of the lines are from Ilya, I decided to organize the bracket groups by character—that way Ilya is mostly competing against himself in the first round (Groups 1-4)! Shane has two groups mostly to himself (Groups 5 & 6), although Group 6 also has Ilya’s cottage line. Group 7 is lines from both Shane & Ilya and Group 8 is lines from supporting characters. There is no perfect way to organize the groups…these are going to be tough votes no matter how they are grouped!!
Group 1: Ilya (Episode 1)
“OK.” (Ilya, Episode 1)
“Is lie, liar told you that.” (Ilya, Episode 1)
“What colour? Is big?” (Ilya, Episode 1)
“Hollander, you are having panic attack.” (Ilya, Episode 1)
Group 2: Ilya (Episode 2)
“Never in life have I blushed. Russians do not do this.” (Ilya, Episode 2)
“You will murder me.” (Ilya, Episode 2)
“Mr. Businessman. Mr. Landlord.” (Ilya, Episode 2)
“Such a good trick.” (Ilya, Episode 2)
Group 3: Ilya (Episodes 4-6)
“You like tuna melt?” (Ilya, Episode 4)
“I’m so in love with you, and I don’t know what to do about it.” [in Russian] (Ilya, Episode 5)
“Stupid Canadian wolf bird.” (Ilya, Episode 6)
“I’m on the cover of the f*cking game.” (Ilya, Episode 6)
Group 4: Ilya (Episode 6)
“I don’t ever want that problem to ever go away.” (Ilya, Episode 6)
“She would have loved you. Like I love you.” (Ilya, Episode 6)
“Gimme kiss.” (Ilya, Episode 6)
“Oh, they don’t know I play for Boston?” (Ilya, Episode 6)
Group 5: Shane
“Wow. Genetic.” (Shane, Episode 2)
“We didn't even kiss.” [Deleted text] (Shane, Episode 2)
“I kind of prefer being the hole rather than the peg.” (Shane, Episode 5)
“Yes! Bet-ter.” (Shane, Episode 5)
Group 6: Shane/The Cottage
“Willyoucometomycottagethissummer?” (Shane, Episode 5)
“I'm coming to the cottage.” (Ilya, Episode 5)
“Sir, I'm just a bellboy! You can't treat the staff like this.” (Shane, Episode 6)
“Don't marry Svetlana. Just don't.” (Shane, Episode 6)
Group 7: Shane & Ilya
“I might open.” “I might knock.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 1)
“I love you.” “Holy sh*t. I mean...I love you too.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 6)
“He's visiting, and we're, uh...” “Lovers.” “No, Ilya, that's gross.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 6)
“My boyfriend?” “I mean, yes. I think so, probably.” (Shane & Ilya, Episode 6)
Group 8: Supporting Characters
“Girl...” (Maria, Episode 3)
“Or. I pick or.” (Kip, Episode 3)
“He deserves sunshine. And so do you.” (Elena, Episode 3)
“I just hope Jane knows how lucky he is.” [in Russian] (Svetlana, Episode 5)
Happy voting! 💜
So many of these individual quotes have been adopted by so many communities (I'm thinking of how "Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird" has been fully embraced by outdoor educators, bird-nerds, and scientific institutions as a way to educate about the Canadian Loon).
This was really fun and makes me appreciate the show even more!
This sounds so fun! I better catch up on the series quick though!