I've now seen multiple articles about "why straight women love heated rivalry so much" and it's either some overly intellectualized take on the portrayal of masculinity and consent and not being pushed to identify with the female character or they try to argue something about fetishization of gay men and while i think either of those things could are definitely worth to be discussed in relation to the show something about this does not sit right with me.
First of all i think that straight women being the main audience of hr is just not true. Sure, a lot of straight women watch it and enjoy it but i've seen just as much - if not more - enthusiasm for the show in queer spaces and from queer people from all kinds of communities. Crediting only straight women with the success of the show not only dismisses the role of its queer audiences but also the impact and the importance of the show. Straight women might be a big part but at least some part of that must be the fact that women simply are the biggest audience for romance and therefore obviously enjoy one when it is well made and acted and a majority of women are straight.
Also this whole discourse in some ways overlooks that maybe the show simply managed to tell a universal story about love and connection in a way that felt real or inspirational or sweet or hopeful in a tone that speaks to a broader audience beyond gender or sexuality.
Trying to justify or account for its success in a way dismisses the ability of queer love (and sexuality) to be universal in the same way that straight romance is.
There is obviously also loads of misogyny there trying to discredit media made and enjoyed by queer people and women but this post is already long enough.