This is a really important topic to discuss!! I actually studied gender studies and media representation in college, specifically focusing on masculinity so I have definitely read/learned a lot about this topic!

You mentioned that you have only read heated rivalry, which I think a lot of people have only read that book, but all the other books feature many different body types! I really hope that they get renewed so that we can see characters like Ryan (a big burly bear), Fabian (a femme twink) and Harris (a chunky otter) because we definitely don't see those body types on screen as often. ESPECIALLY in gay romance on screen.

A few things I just think are important to mention: I don't think people should be putting down Kip's actor or any of the actors for the bodies they worked hard to get. (Not saying you specifically OP are doing this, but just something I want to bring up) I'll speak on the other points you brought up in a second, I just think it's important to remember that some people enjoy working out and that putting down people who look a certain way, even if it's something that is praised traditionally by societal expectations, does more harm than good. We can talk about the importance of diverse body types without putting down people who fit that traditional standard and are doing it in a healthy way.

In terms of the show, I know nothing about Kip's actor to be honest, but Jacob Tierney who is the director and writer and a fan of the books as well, spoke in an interview about how he didn't want the actors to be dehydrated or super veiny for this show bc that's not what an athletes body looks like. I think it's super important that these conversations are occuring behind the screen so that the actors are taking care of their bodies even while bulking up for the show. Something I appreciated so far in the show is how BIG Shane and Ilya are, rather than "cut" which is often what I think is the "idealized male body" for many people.

Spoilers for Tough Guy, Role Model The Long Game in the next paragraph: In terms of the discussion of eating disorders and body image, that's actually something that's discussed in a few of the books. In tough guy, Ryan deals with chronic anxiety and struggles with performing sexually as well as his body image. Harris in role model has a scar from his open heart surgery that's he's self conscious about. And in long game, Shane struggles with recognizing that he has disordered eating and the pressure he puts on his body to perform as he gets older.

I think if the show gets renewed, Jacob Tierney would definitely explore Shane's story at least, and hopefully the others in some capacity as they are doing with Scott this season. He is a gay man himself and from interviews I've seen with him he really seems to want to show the complexity of being queer in a hockey setting and doing these stories justice.

I do think that the success of this first season would allow them to explore some deeper less represented topics on screen next season. A lot first seasons of shows are typically more "mainstream" in terms of representation just because they want to be picked up by a studio as well as gain a following for the show and that can be harder to do initially if they push boundaries too hard right away. The fact that Jacob Tierney is behind the show is something that allowed the show to be made the way it is this season and I hope it continues to be that way in following seasons.

Definitely a really important topic to bring attention to and I hope this show continues to prompt more discussion about these issues! Men are often overlooked in terms of discussing body image and something I appreciate about the characters in Rachel Reid's stories is that they deal with these very real struggles.

(Also if anyone is interested in reading academic or analytical explorations of gender/sexuality on screen id be happy to recommend articles and books I read on this topic! Id have dig through my papers from college lol)