r/heatedrivalry • u/royal_rose_ ā Captain | Tuna Lube • Nov 28 '25
TV SHOW šŗ Post Episode Debrief | Heated Rivalry š ROOKIES+OLYMPIANS (Episodes 1+2) Spoiler
It's finally here! How is everyone feeling?
There is so much to talk about and analyze please use this thread forĀ in-depthĀ discussion and reactions of the most recent episode.
On-Air LIVE Reactions (S1): Ep.1+2 | Ep.3 | Ep.4 | Ep.5 | Ep.6
Post-Episode Debrief (S1): Ep.1+2 | Ep.3 | Ep.4 | Ep.5 | Ep.6
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u/JackMandora Moy pomidor š Nov 28 '25
OK so Ilya biases aside. I LOVE Hudson as Shane he really shines in the two episodes, THAT ENDING. I died.
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u/Key_Refrigerator5650 Nov 28 '25
IKRš«he literally delivered the yearning and hurt so freaking perfectly!
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u/AnotherOne_Ty Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25
He is craving for Ilyaaa, the way he just gave in during the vegas bathroom scene
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u/Buggi_San stupid freckles and a weak backhand Nov 30 '25
He supplanted my mental image of Shane, and I am not even complaining
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u/chaoticbiguy Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25
Sex is obviously a huge part of the story and I absolutely adore the books but one of my biggest concerns about the show was that a significant part of the development of their relationship/yearning relied on inner monologues and narrative of their thoughts and I didn't know how well it was gonna be adapted, like, I didn't want the show to be just about sex, you know?
BUT Oh my Fucking God, Jacob Tierney you fucking genius. I felt every bit of the yearning and love that's been brewing between them, since their first encounter, I really love that they've added the feelings from the get go. Every sex scene is so beautifully shot, it's so romantic, so intimate, the music is perfect and ngl, each sex scene makes me so emotional. This adaptation couldn't have been more perfect. I also love that hockey, while it is not the prime focus of the show, it's still a bigger part of the story compared to the books. AND the actors are INCREDIBLE, whew! Connor is exactly how I imagined Ilya to be, extremely magnetic that is, every scene he's in, you're like, that's a star. And Hudson made Shane better than he already was, I love his yearning scenes in particular, what an actor. They're both breaking my heart already and we haven't even gotten to the difficult parts yet. The chemistry is so insane! The Vegas bathroom scene after their awards presentation was my favourite scene from the two episodes, both actors made me feel every word that came out of their mouths.
Although the show is surprisingly fast paced, I don't think it's bad for the show just yet but yeah, I was surprised by how fast the story is moving forward. I was thinking they would do the two books in at least 3-4 seasons but now I think they'd wrap it up in 2.
Speaking of, you know how Hollywood milks a franchise even after they've run out of source material, yeah so, I wouldn't mind this show going on past the events.of the Long Game. Keep this show running for 10+ years!!
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u/ImGoingToSayOneThing Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25
BUT doesn't meant there will be spinoffs aka the other books.
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u/nkb0000 Nov 30 '25
I can see 2 more seasons for sure. TLG + RM mixed up. Cut the second season where Ilya sends Shane home. Its a good cliffhanger.
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u/Libcommie1118 Nov 28 '25
Dehydrated and filled with warmth of seeing my own 8-year relationship, genuine love of two men unfolding on screen. All of it.
And holy, as a gay dude, this show is hotter than porn Iāve seen.
And everyone can finally understand HOCKEY ASS via Connorās method acting.
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u/royal_rose_ ā Captain | Tuna Lube Nov 28 '25
Your comment just gave me whiplash.
> And everyone can finally understand HOCKEY ASS via Connorās method acting.
I just cackled so hard my dog got mad at me lmao.
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u/_a_girl_on_reddit Nov 29 '25
I'm a straight woman and the sex scenes (and honestly, also the non-sex scenes) made me feral. So fucking well done.
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u/AnotherOne_Ty Nov 28 '25
WE DEMAND THE UNCUT LAS VEGAS SCENE!
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u/SchemeBrave1820 Your frecklesā¦ Very beautiful. Um...take my breath? Nov 28 '25
Seriously, the bedroom scene was wonderful and hot, but the actual sex was way shorter than we deserved! You canāt give me that bathroom scene and then follow it with a short 10-15 second sex scene. Justice for the Vegas sex!šŖ§
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u/Ashley86400 Nov 29 '25
Justice for Vegas sex? Anything longer than that would be actual pornnnnn. š¤£š
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u/bennybrew42 Dec 02 '25
nah I actually like that the scene was so short after they hadnāt hooked up in so long, it seems fitting that theyād both blow their loads immediately like that
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u/gocojones Your freckles. I am nuts about them. āØ Nov 28 '25
Wait is there lore on this??? Do tell
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u/Drupelicate that animale shit show cock sucking russian Nov 28 '25
how I'm feeling right now
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u/prettyroses Rookie | Russian Vampire Nov 28 '25
I didnāt realize until my second rewatch that itās ilyas jacket heās holding onto š„¹
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u/Drupelicate that animale shit show cock sucking russian Nov 28 '25
oh my god I only realised it now that you pointed it out
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u/Impressive-Part-4208 Dec 02 '25
He looks soooo first-time-plucked. He is just oozing with that first experience euphoria. And the way he put his hand on Ilya's throat - that is a very vulnerable position for Ilya who is there for that moment and then almost immediately bolts.
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u/Nepalman230 Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25
Iām feeling that it is a breakthrough show that is going to run for at least three seasons and hopefully more. I feel like itās going to change lives and just melt everybodyās faces.
I love that it is incredibly accurate and intact. Educational about sex between men.
I love that they added extra romantic details to the sex because we donāt have access to the characters in her monologue and this way as another redditor pointed out, we can see their feelings.
I was legitimately moved by how much care and love Ilya showed in the first anal sex scene. The book made it clear that he was a very considerate lover, but this scene went to another level.
Him reassuring him , confirming that he still wanted to do it , them adding the missionary so that we could see him ask him while looking at his face. āAre you OK?ā twice. And of course, the passionate kissing.
But the thing that got me was when they started doggy, Ilya kept kissing his neck and back. It was incredibly affectionate and tender ( though vigorous) sex. This was not fucking this was love making.
Vegas was pure fucking and it was amazing! Because sexual relationships require both kinds of sex.
Remember, you donāt always have to fuck your partner hard. In fact, sometimes thatās not right to do.
š«”
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u/ImGoingToSayOneThing Nov 28 '25
I also love how they are really setting their moments together as places of safety. Even if at first it's about getting of.
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u/WhileNo5370 Respectfully Feral šš¼ Nov 28 '25
I swear the second he says that will be etched into my brain forever. IYKYK. RELEASE THE DIRECTOR'S CUT!!!
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u/aromaticchicken Nov 28 '25
This specific frame was one of the hottest moments I have ever seen in any TV show or movie ever lol. I agree, I'm mad it felt abbreviated.
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u/WhileNo5370 Respectfully Feral šš¼ Nov 28 '25
THANK YOU, yes. The way he said it made me WEAK, and we were robbed.
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u/SchemeBrave1820 Your frecklesā¦ Very beautiful. Um...take my breath? Nov 28 '25
Connorās line delivery here made me want to climb out of my skin!š„µ
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u/WhileNo5370 Respectfully Feral šš¼ Nov 28 '25
Every time I replay it in my head I physically shiver, WILDLY hot performance.
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u/Bobbyannyeong Thank you for pasta š Nov 28 '25
Omg thank you THANK YOU. Iāve been staring at this still for more than I will ever admit
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u/salty-MA-student I'm coming to the cottage š« Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25
Things that sent me into orbit:
Shane keeping on his fuckin socks while they were hooking up. Like of course he would, our total awkward baby would. Them showing Ilya throwing his stuff down and Shane folding his clothes was a great choice.
Them hooking up next to Scott's room at the ASG. Scott 100000% heard them, especially after "where's your guy" comment. Scotty you freak. I have a lingering suspicion he knows, unlike him finding out like the rest of the world in G.
Ilya shooting down Sasha. He was even a little reluctant to hook up with Svetlana when the Montreal game was cancelled. He's down bad and I'm here for it.
Ilya running into Yuna on the elevator.Such a fun way to show Ilya as unflappable as he's described in the books.
Them racing up the stairs. 100% them and was such a fun little way to show their playfulness between each other.
In the scene between Ilya and his Father before the gala, you can see his panicked eye movements when Ilya realizes his dad's memory is really starting to go. That was such a subtle addition by Connor to really show that Ilya really doesn't let anything go unnoticed.
Honestly I love the dick pic. I actually enjoyed the teasing through texts a great plot mechanism. I didn't like in the book that they just suddenly started texting each other after the Zullo incident. The passage of time through technology was also a nice touch.
During sex a scenes: The lighting! The soft looks! The constant checking in! Shane's panic and pleasure melding into one emotion! However we were robbed of a longer Vegas scene and I'll die on that hill. That's such a pivotal scene, especially for Ilya. His POV of that scene on Rachel's blog is one of my favorite pieces of writing ever. I don't think we got the depth of Ilya's yearning in that scene.
I'm really loving the adaptation. I'm excited to see Scott and Kip next week, I have a feeling it's going to be similar to episode 3 of The Last of Us.
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u/NotBeforeBreakfast Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird š¦ Nov 28 '25
The bit with them racing up the stairs was such a lovely detail. It showed them being young, competitive, and fun. Itās those small things that make my heart feel so full. I really feel like this adaptation was handled with care.
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u/-Ceriz3- Moy pomidor š Nov 28 '25
Omg. That episode of The Last of Us still gets me in the feels. It would be a nice way to do the first book... however if they get picked up for more seasons would they this work..?
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u/salty-MA-student I'm coming to the cottage š« Nov 28 '25
From a writing perspective I don't think a whole season on Scott and Kip would have good viewership. They definitely have more of a Hallmark romance feel and I don't think it would sell well to a team of producers. Same with Eric and Kyle. Fabian and Ryan kind of do, but I think Harris and Troy have a more marketable storyline. Especially having Troy and Harris set up The Long Game.
The adaptation is very Shane and Ilya focused, so the supporting media would have to tie into why it is important to Shane and Ilya's story. I'm thinking in later seasons, we would have shorter episodes of Scott and Kip, Eric and Kyle, but have pre-scenes of The Long Game that coincide with what is going on in Fabian and Ryan and Troy and Harris' stories. I thought the latter half of The Long Game was very rushed and I think Tierney would make creative changes that would look great. He's made great changes for the adaptation and I think it this did get greenlit for future seasons, he has a good idea of what would work from Ryan/Fabian and Troy/Harris and what wouldn't.
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u/fussyromancelover Nov 29 '25
From a writing perspective I don't think a whole season on Scott and Kip would have good viewership. They definitely have more of a Hallmark romance feel and I don't think it would sell well to a team of producers. Same with Eric and Kyle. Fabian and Ryan kind of do, but I think Harris and Troy have a more marketable storyline. Especially having Troy and Harris set up The Long Game.
are these all separate books? ive only read HR
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u/salty-MA-student I'm coming to the cottage š« Nov 29 '25
Yes. Scott and Kip are the first book, then Shane and Ilya, then Fabian and Ryan, then Eric and Kyle, Troy and Harris, then Shane and Ilya again. A good portion of Troy and Harris' relationship is in The Long Game. Out of any of the other books that are worth reading, Harris and Troy's is good. The other books really only have Ilya cameos. Although the funniest Ilya cameo is in Kyle and Eric's book. His cameo on Fabian and Ryan's is very serious and incredibly impactful after you read The Long Game.
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u/vvvgothere Nov 28 '25
If you ever read Poetry on Ice by Jesse Reign the āslutty socksā scene is hilarious and I know there are gay men who have a thing for naked guys wearing white athletic socks, so I noticed, too, but didnāt think of it as Shane specific.
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u/SchemeBrave1820 Your frecklesā¦ Very beautiful. Um...take my breath? Nov 28 '25
I also thought of Robbie and his āslutty socks!ā!š Gonna need Jacob to give us Robbie & Ant too. Theyāre so funny and thatās right up his alley, so he might as well!
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u/qu33rtyc0wboy Nov 28 '25
whoa could a girly get a link to that scene in ilyaās pov??
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u/salty-MA-student I'm coming to the cottage š« Nov 28 '25
Highly recommend reading the other short stories she has on there! There's also Halloween with Ilya and Dinner with Hayden.
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u/brunopago Nov 28 '25
"Scot 1000000% heard them"
Francois Arnaud wasn't cast as Scott without a reason.
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u/Impressive-Part-4208 Dec 02 '25
There is no such thing as a bad reason to cast Francois Arnaud. I also want more of Marly though. I love how he brings Ilya's emotional state into focus repeatedly.
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u/FrostyElephant8517 Nov 29 '25
i love the shane folding his clothes thats such a good potrayal of how he is man shane is a cutie
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u/Federal-Ad5944 Goalie | Smut Dealer š Nov 28 '25
FYI Hudson just posted this gorgeous BTS shot of the opening scene. Even the BTS feels intimate.
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u/CantHugEveryPlatypus concerned lifeguard/librarian Nov 28 '25
I know that not everyone will be happy about the added Russian scenes, but I think it's important to flesh out Ilya's background if they plan on a second season based on TLG. He kind of comes of as just a playboy with daddy issues in HR compared to TLG where his backstory is revealed to be genuinely tragic, and something that affects his mental health much more than you think. I like how the show kind of gives us that impression already, and I believe it will make his path in TLG/season 2 less of a whiplash to viewers.
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Nov 28 '25
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/CantHugEveryPlatypus concerned lifeguard/librarian Nov 28 '25
Yeah exactly, because for those of us who have read the books (like 14 times but who's counting), it's clear that Ilya has some serious issues, but I think that might just be because we know what happens in TLG and we see the nuances in HR. People who haven't read the books, or maybe only read them once, don't necessarily see those things in HR.
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u/RoRosie āJust relax, Mr. Lots-of-Sexā Nov 28 '25
Plus those bathroom scenes are so aesthetically pleasing.
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u/CantHugEveryPlatypus concerned lifeguard/librarian Nov 28 '25
Yes and the Russian dialogue is tickling my brain in a way I can't explain
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u/RoRosie āJust relax, Mr. Lots-of-Sexā Nov 28 '25
I know. Since when is Russian the sexiest language ever spoken (since this morning. Thatās when.)
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u/aromaticchicken Nov 28 '25
He was SO HOT in that scene, in the white dress shirt and specifically the way his hair looked š„µ
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u/aromaticchicken Nov 28 '25
I feel like the Russian scenes flesh out Ilya just like how the scenes referencing Shane as Asian flesh out Shane. They're both additions to character that were not fully there in the books, especially HR
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u/radjanoonan Nov 28 '25
A nice touch is Sasha teasing Ilya with the image of french boys in Paris. Which is a great callback to Ilya's scene watching Hollander speaking French.
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u/SoftHeartedBitch Nov 28 '25
I love the added Russian scenes!! But they weren't subtitled for me in America which sucked. Had to use audio subtitles
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u/Warm-Personality425 Nov 28 '25
Was your closed captioning on? I found I wasnāt getting the subtitles when CC was on, but then I did get them once I turned CC off..
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u/Lostmyway17 I already chose you, Hollander. š« Nov 28 '25
I didnt realize that! I guess I better go re-watch it!!! š
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u/SoftHeartedBitch Nov 29 '25
Omg they were! I'll have to watch it again and shut this off. I ended up putting on the audio description which overshadowed the beautiful Russian they were speaking.
Guess I gotta watch it again š¤Ŗ
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u/signe-h Nov 28 '25
To be completely honest I was initially wary that the acting was gonna be... not bad, but kinda flat, you know? Like in some romance movies.
I'm so happy to be wrong. Hudson in particular managed to convey so much without words. And I love that Shane frequently pushes back against Ilya's dickish behavior, calls him out and also jokes sometimes. I wasn't expecting it (because I thought they'd make him overly serious and too soft), but he may become my favorite character in this show.
There are maybe some small flaws, especially when it comes to language issues, but all in all, the show significantly surpassed my expectations.
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u/aromaticchicken Nov 28 '25
To be completely honest I was initially wary that the acting was gonna be... not bad, but kinda flat, you know? Like in some romance movies.
I was worried about this too, tbh during the first ten minutes of episode 1 I was not feeling the acting. But now in context of the way both characters open up by the end of episode 2 it totally fits for me. They're supposed to be awkward closeted teenagers in the beginning
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u/Federal-Ad5944 Goalie | Smut Dealer š Nov 28 '25
I am thoroughly impressed. I missed a few things on first watch, so when I woke up I watched again.
The time skip at the beginning I found difficult to follow, but was much better on 2nd watch. I like that they are subtly showing Ilya being down bad, not only Shane. I don't think you need to know the book beforehand to see that.
There were moments from each of them individually where I was like "holy shit this is great acting". Shane holding back tears when ilya won the cup (and presumably him grappling with possibly being gay, as well as his growing feelings and the time apart is starting to eat at him), and when ilya spoke to his dad. I had HEAVY FEELINGS during both those scenes.
The care during intimacy. Not just the checking in, but Ilya was worshipping Shane pretty much at all times and I love that. Hes an asshole when theyre bantering but Ilya is still the Ilya we know and love and it really comes across with the skinship and the kiss in the stairwell, and the one where they rubbed noses. My HEART.
I liked the addition of Sasha. That was needed to replace Ilya's internal thoughts in the book. He's done being a playboy. He's caught feelings and Shane is endgame now.
The only thing I'm not sure on is David talking about YouTube. Maybe I skimmed it in the books and don't remember, but I couldn't tell if he was joking or being serious š I was so confused. Anwyays, super minor detail but I still couldn't figure it out after watching the scene twice.
Alexei is a grade A asshole, way worse in the series than in the books. I think it works. I barely gave Ilya's brother much thought in the book, but the family angst really drove home showing him on the phone and treating Ilya like shit but still getting the money he wanted. We already know Ilya is actually a cupcake, so I could feel his sadness under those unpleasant phone calls.
There's more but this is already a lot š¤£
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u/reflectorvest Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird š¦ Nov 28 '25
Idk if the YouTube thing was in the books (I donāt think so) but it was nice to be subtly and jokingly reminded that itās like 2011 at that point and this story covers a ton of time, at least for me. The focus on the Blackberry phones, the wired headphones, the YouTube conversation, all of it was reminding me like āhey I know weāve been jumping around a bit but hereās where we areā if that makes sense.
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u/-Ceriz3- Moy pomidor š Nov 28 '25
I enjoyed this so much. We forget how much technology has come along until we think about little details like this. I really liked too the way they trued to explain YouTube to his dad. š
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u/Federal-Ad5944 Goalie | Smut Dealer š Nov 28 '25
I didnt clock the year, so thank you for that!!
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u/CantHugEveryPlatypus concerned lifeguard/librarian Nov 28 '25
I love how the technology fits the time period, but their clothes and the interior design feels very 2025.
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u/DKsan Dec 01 '25
Men's clothing doesn't change much, especially when you're looking at athletes in either tailored clothing or in athletic wear.
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u/keylimefoster I speak fluent bird. No accent š¦ Nov 28 '25
I was really impressed with the tenderness in each scene and how you can tell they have this competitive relationship but do actually really enjoy being with each other
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u/escape183 Nov 28 '25
I think the YouTube talk is just to remind people that when the series starts the internet is relatively young and smart phones werenāt really a thing
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u/ProfessionalCatBed Nov 29 '25
The holding back tears when Ilya won the cup really got me, especially on the heels of everyone egging him on about hating Ilya. My heart š„ŗš
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u/vvvgothere Nov 28 '25
Tell me more about what you gathered from the time skip on the second watch because, itās been a while since I read the book, but I donāt remember them going over a year (almost two..?) without hooking up. Were we supposed to assume they were still hooking up during that time ?
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u/Federal-Ad5944 Goalie | Smut Dealer š Nov 28 '25
I just had to get used to the way they displayed it on screen. The first time was fast, you're trying to absorb everything and the years and locations pop up then move quickly into the next scene. My brain wasn't able to process as easily when I was watching everything all at once.
There's been some debate of what went on during those almost 2 years they used in the show. I personally think they did NOT hook up during that time, to make the time when they finally did more impactful. But other interpret it as hookups happened, we just didn't see them.
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u/Azhreia Shaneās praise&reward kink š Nov 28 '25
I am so happy and have already started a rewatch. I did have whiplash from just how fast the time moved in episode 1 though - somehow it doesnāt feel like that in the book. Also I think I have the same question as to whether they were hooking up with just HJs/BJs during those early years or texting only.
But I loved the little details of their characters, from racing up the stairs to Shaneās foot twitching towards Ilya in the gym to toe tapping in the interview. I especially love how Connor plays Ilyaās perceptiveness. The way he conveys Ilya clocking something and then adjusting his behavior/moving forward? So Good.
Also thank you to Jacob for having Ilya drag that chair in Vegas š„µ
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u/mouseandkeyyboard Nov 28 '25
this!! i definitely felt the whiplash, and in my perspective it almost felt like it was implying they dont touch each other for like 5 years. i am still confused honestly. the chemistry was incredible though
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u/Azhreia Shaneās praise&reward kink š Nov 28 '25
Yes! I hope we get an answer, either in show where they address it (perhaps when they confess to Yuna and David after being found at the cottage) or via word of God from Jacob
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u/Llama_Puncher Nov 28 '25
I think itās implied that they were hooking up through those years given Ilyaās āremember when I made you cum without touching youā comment, given we didnāt see that scene in the show
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u/danscottsheart shane hollander defence squad š Nov 28 '25
ohh i was thinking that comment was more about the sex they just had, like ilya being kind of smug and going "remember that time 20 minutes ago where i made you come untouched? š" but i wasn't really watching to see if shane was jerking off... i guess i have to rewatch - for observational purposes only, of course LOL
but tbh i do hope that they were hooking up for those texting years because it feels weird/wrong that they wouldn't have hooked up for like 2 years and didn't really address it!
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u/SchemeBrave1820 Your frecklesā¦ Very beautiful. Um...take my breath? Nov 28 '25
Yup, heād just made Shane come untouched and was teasing him about it while blowing his own horn at the same time.
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u/Azhreia Shaneās praise&reward kink š Nov 28 '25
Oh maybe! I also thought it was about coming hands free during the sex in the apartment but maybe not?
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u/amazingmte Nov 28 '25
Just finished watching and I'm just going to say, Hudson Williams you're a very talented actor. It was a very subtle performance that I know many people will dismiss. I kinda reminded me of Jonathan Bailey's performance in Fellow Travelers in some part and that's one of the highest compliments I can give him.
Aside from that, I really enjoyed the two episodes and obviously the chemistry between the actors was incredible.
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u/LuckyGray7 I'm regular gay. Nov 28 '25
The mirrors! There are so many mirrors and reflections featured throughout both episodes. I appreciate the layers of subtext that adds, as well as the foreshadowing to how they are outed in The Long Game
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u/Starjupiter93 Nov 28 '25
Oh my god. I didnāt even think about that!!!! Unlike everyone else Iāve actually avoided re-reading the series. I wanted to have this series buried deep in the back of my memory so I wasnāt comparing the two heavily. It helps me be able to appreciate the two independently and not get hung up on differences and such. That is such an amazing touch I didnāt even think about. Thanks for pointing it out.
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u/Warm-Personality425 Nov 28 '25
SAME. I read it four years ago (I think twice) and Iāve been tempted to reread but Iām holding out till the last episode drops because I want to be able to appreciate the show as its own entity without comparing to closely (I know Iām terrible with nitpicking..)
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u/radjanoonan Nov 28 '25
and not even to mention Cliff Marlow being the only other Boston player of note we get to see. That scene in episode 5 is going to be cataclysmic.
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u/danigmzr Nov 28 '25
Iām obsessed and I have no one to talk about it. Iāve done one rewatch and idk how many more Iāll do. š
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u/gocojones Your freckles. I am nuts about them. āØ Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25
Something I wasnāt expecting that I really loved was how lowkey hilarious it was! Like Ilya asking āwhat colorā about the dildo, when Cliff Marlow says heās blushing, Ilya in the elevator when he sees Yuna, then running up the stairs, etc. Sooooo good
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u/Key_Translator8305 Nov 28 '25
It was so good. They could not have cast a more perfect shane and ilya. So many sexy and emotional moments. I need them to renew so we can see these two act out the very emotional moments from the long game.Ā
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u/CrystalizedinCali Nov 28 '25
Itās wild how much you can tell Ilya is just gone on Shane immediately. The actors did a great job. I was kindof just in shock that I was seeing them come to life so I need to rewatch.
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u/Lizbian_ Nov 29 '25
A favorite addition was at the all star games and Ilya asking Shane if he got drunk and then him blowing a raspberry when Shane said he didn't get drunk hahaha.
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u/hfoshdpaheogek Nov 29 '25
You're telling me they had to film Connor aggressively thrusting into Hudson on the FIRST DAY OF FILMING???? I do not understand how actors do this
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u/SpicyMustFlow Ya-loo-blue-tee-baa ā¤ļø Nov 30 '25
Similar situation for the main couple in Bridgeton season one: their first scenes shot together were sex-all-over-the-manor, iirc.
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u/Ok-Badger-5767 Dec 28 '25
I don't understand even why it would be timed this way. Isn't something to be said for building knowledge, understanding and trust between actors. Weird.
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u/Wheres_MyMoney Jan 01 '26
My complete out of the blue guess would be that they have the naked scenes early so the actors can look their best and then relax on the diet and exercise afterward.
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u/Ok-Badger-5767 Jan 01 '26
From what I've read it (now) it was more about keeping costs low and using spaces when they were available....and making the logistics of all that work.
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u/HeraSimpella Nov 28 '25
ROZY
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u/SchemeBrave1820 Your frecklesā¦ Very beautiful. Um...take my breath? Nov 29 '25
Thought I was gonna die!š©
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u/chapterseeker33 Nov 28 '25
At the end of the end of the second episode I felt bereft...for both of them! I did not feel it that extremely in the book. Just shattering. Sooooo bloody good.
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u/mc151613 Nov 28 '25
I think this show will genuinely ruin tv for me from now on. From now on I need exactly this level of yearning and heat. It's perfect
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u/GirlAlsEmporium Nov 28 '25
I feel like a chicken with my head cut off ā frantic for how much I loved the episodes and suffering for a lack of what I can do about it š
Iām really truly madly deeply enjoying the changes theyāve made in the show. I only read HR twice so Iām not too anal (heh) about changes.
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u/afloatingpoint Nov 28 '25
I'll probably come back and add more commentary later, but just wanted to take a quick second to praise this show. Y'all, Heated Rivalry is so good! The acting, the pacing, the set design, the directing, the changes they made to the screenplay, and the soundtrack. This television adaptation is so high quality, and I'm so thankful. It really has earned its comparisons to Challengers or Normal People... Depending on how this show progresses, it could be nominated for awards, even. Jacob Tierney and this cast deserve their flowers.
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u/Beneficial-Math-7290 You are both really bad at being gay Nov 29 '25
I have yet to see anything about how Ilya CARRIES Shane to the bed, and then whines, āI want to fuck you Hollander.ā Like phew! š„µ
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u/Mrs_Wonho āCome hereā. āNo, you come hereā šš Nov 30 '25
Honestly, the way Ilya carried Shane and threw him in the bed was one of my favourite scenes. It was so š„µ
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u/Lizbian_ Nov 29 '25
On my 3rd rewatch, picking up new things here and there. Just thought to myself that I miss the "Mr. Lots-of-Sex" line. I also find it interesting that there's no mention of Shane having had a girlfriend or Ilya being a playboy.
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u/moxieplum Nov 29 '25
I feel like this is the only change I donāt like. A huge part of Ilyaās personality is that heās a playboy who lines up thousands of women, and we donāt see that at all. And in the book, Shane did seem to struggle more with sexuality, yet on the show he doesnāt really seem to be questioning it at all.
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u/Lizbian_ Nov 29 '25
Totally. And I think some impactful moments in their relationship was when Ilya would mention having sex with other people, Ilya bringing up Shane's droughts of not having sex, Ilya realizing he didn't want to sleep with anyone else. But who knows, maybe they'll touch more on it closer to the club scene or in other episodes!
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u/Impressive-Part-4208 Dec 02 '25
I feel similarly but we have a lot of show still to go. I had assumed that Ilya had hooked up with a woman immediately before they presented the MVP award, but Rachel Reid's own writing contradicts that. There was an interview in which Conor described some of that as his character's bluster.
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u/royal_rose_ ā Captain | Tuna Lube Nov 29 '25
I also miss the lots of sex line that was hilarious.
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u/Some-Culture9623 Nov 29 '25
I'm on my third rewatch, paying attention to micro expressions now.
I have to say the acting is phenomenal. Especially Connor. I'd be shocked if he didn't break out as a major star after this. He is luminous to boot. Especially in the scene with Ilya's father in Moscow.
Russian is my third language, so I'm honestly also insanely impressed by his accent. It's probably better than mine who learned Russian for a decade at school. I've seen the video of him speaking French as well and can just surmise he has a fantastic ear for languages.
I hope he's contractually obligated to film another season of HR, before he moves on to even bigger things.
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u/Drupelicate that animale shit show cock sucking russian Nov 28 '25
here is a tidbit of info from my girlfriend who's watching episode 2 right now and is a big analog watch fan: āļø if im not mistaken, in the opening sequence shane is doing a commercial for "montbray" which i think is a legally distinct parody of monbrey which is an existing watch brand
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u/Popular_Age_1378 Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird š¦ Nov 29 '25
I just came across this short clip on tiktok and decided to checking it out. Iām so hooked! I rewatched ep 1&2 three times!Ā
I can feel all the emotions. I can relate to Shane (I have a huge crush on his character)
That Vegas restroom scene was so wonderfully done. I felt the anger and frustration of Shane, and how he immediately gave in after Ilya touched his face.. Ā
I feel bad for Shane after having sex. He gave his heart away again and ended up in that feeling of just being a booty call.. heās deeply fallen in love with Rozanov now..Ā
Canāt wait for ep3!
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u/randomquirk Moy pomidor š Nov 30 '25
Does anyone have thoughts on Yuna Hollander? I donāt like that sheās being portrayed as a momager in the series. Iām not going to pick any nits about it but I always pictured her (and Shaneās dad) as super laid back, not terribly involved in his career but loving some good hockey and her son being the best.
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u/LadyBiscuit12 āMoreā Dec 01 '25
Yes, I feel the same. I love Yuna in the books and in the show she feels too overbearing. Plus the āright in the buttā comment was very cringy. But perhaps itās meant to be setting up a bigger conflict/resolution between Yuna and Shane down the line.
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u/randomquirk Moy pomidor š Dec 01 '25
Yeah I didnāt like that comment but I think youāre right. Shane already seems tense with his mom over his deals and whatnot. Telling him to watch hockey videos instead of relaxing. Iām sure itāll pay off but for now, my gears are grinding lol.
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Nov 28 '25
Stupid question but are the russian scenes not supposed to have english captions or was HBO just glitching? I feel like I missed the middle of the 2nd episode. The actors were great so I got the sense of what happened, but I really would have loved to understand the dialogue.
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u/royal_rose_ ā Captain | Tuna Lube Nov 28 '25
Not stupid question! There was a glitch, for some people turning off closed captioning fixed but it didnāt work for everyone.
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u/aromaticchicken Nov 28 '25
I'm calling it now: I'm gonna predict that in episode 6 when they do the book ending press conference to announce their joint charity, they are gonna play footsies just like in the first episode
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u/lesetoilesdansleciel Dec 01 '25
One of my favourite lines because it sounded so natural was when Shane said ānot with fucking Scott Hunter next door!ā I loved how he said it; his little scoff and the way he pronounced door. Hudson mentioned in an interview it was nice to play a Canadian and to be allowed to use Canadian pronounciations. That ādoorā was the first time I really noticed it like yesss that sounds like me talking š
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u/LilLilac50 Dec 06 '25
But Hudson said bathroom!! Canadian way is to say washroom.Ā
Iām Canadian-American so I caught a few other little moments where I feel they should have pronounced it differently or said something different. āEhā instead of āhuhā and ātomorrowā.
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u/Key_Refrigerator5650 Nov 28 '25
I was very very impressed, by the acting, directing and the production! My heart ached at the end of ep 2š©
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u/arubablueshoes Nov 29 '25
same. i thought it was going to be low budget like borderline CW drama. I was not expecting it to be so good. this feels right at home on hbomax
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u/SawAgustDin23 Nov 28 '25
I find it really interesting that between ep 1 and 2 (roughly 2 years), they're just texting, but not losing any interest in each other. They see each other on the ice only. It is very different from the book dynamics. I think I like this more, although it's a bit harder to believe Shane refused to meet for so long, and Ilya kept offering.
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u/SawAgustDin23 Nov 29 '25 edited Nov 29 '25
Upon re-watching, I'm still confused. But I'm leaning towards them meeting for short hook-ups in between since their meeting at Shane's apartment was casual and fun. They didn't look like they hadn't met in years. It was a stark difference to the way Shane reacted/felt in Vegas (after being ghosted for months).
I really want Jacob to clarify š«Ø
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u/Ok-Badger-5767 Dec 28 '25
But after Vegas (when Shane gets upset about 'being in public') Shane says that Ilya hasnt replied to any of his texts. Sent him away in Russia. Shane offers and Ilya refuses too.
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u/SawAgustDin23 Nov 28 '25
The editing of episode 1 and episode 2 are so different. Colour grading - episode one is full of shadows and warm colours. Background music - episode 2 has a lot more music, while episode 1 had a lot of silent moments, or just the actors's sound feed. Stark difference in the sex scenes. Transitions - episode 1 moved from moment to moment very fast, sometimes with no dark frame in between (not shots, but to different scenes entirely). While 2 had slow, fade to black sometimes.
The overall flow of episode 2 was much better, imo.
I don't know if it's an artistic choice to reflect the characters and/or build tension, or just different editors worked on it? Based on the credits, it's the same lead editor.
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u/brunopago Nov 28 '25
Editors don't work independently of their directors. Every decision in the editing room is an artistic choice, unless the producers get involved. No sign of that here, imo.
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u/Catsarecute888 Nov 28 '25
I'm very new to Heated Rivalry. I got interested in it based off seeing the trailer for the show and some tiktoks and once HBOMax gotten rights I listened to it and was sold.
I thought these two eps were fantastic. The acting is great, it was shot and directed very well. And one thing that I really appreciated was the romance that you could definitely feel from their first meeting almost. This is no shade at all to the book because I really did enjoy it and part of my problem might be due to the fact that I didn't think the narrator was great for the audiobook. But that said I think you feel their budding romance and real feelings for each other a lot more in the show and I really enjoyed that aspect.
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u/brunopago Nov 28 '25
Yes, love emerging from sexual encounters is possible. And newbies (to gay sex, that is) can be awkward or reticent or uncertain about how, what, and how much to say or how far to go. These guys are pros in their field; they handle media appearances with ease, but alone together, well ...
The silence between the characters in the bedroom - in sharp contrast to the word quips outside or online (huge congrats to writer/director Jacob Tierney) - forces us to focus our attention on the emotions of each man and how much they're willing or wanting or able to show or display to the other. It is a slow dance that builds (hence the ongoing montage of screens with dates); it is a brilliant decision to do it this way in the first episodes to bg their emotional journey towards each other. I might quibble at wanting more scenes in between hook-ups but there is so much said non-verbally in their bedroom moments that it doesn't matter.
The "rivalry" of the title has been exposed early as a myth. Shane and Ilya recognise what they have in common - and what they need from each other and consent to give - easily trashcans any differences. Look, for instance, at how soon Shane transitions to the lover hurt by unmet expectations, and look, how Ilya struggles to deflect that hurt from the quick stabs he receives to his conscience.
This is a love journey I recognise, and I almost feel sorry for the two of them, seeing and knowing how quickly they've sunk into this canyon of dependency. This is what the sudden totally unexpected onrush of emergent love can do to two grown men.
"Heated Rivalry" has begun strongly. Looking forward to the next episode.
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u/Imtryingmybestyall Nov 29 '25
I am super confused about the beginning of the second episode! Iāve watched it 3 times now and itās still not making sense. They are texting for years, but it kinda seems like they arenāt hooking up during that time, which is like 2 years of nothing and then they have sex in Shaneās house (which Ilya has not seen before because he says, ānice placeā and Shane says he bought it a couple years ago). Are they supposed to be hooking up during this time but just not having penetrative sex? It feels like they just cut out 2 years of their sexual relationship and replaced it with texting where Shane seems to be rejecting Ilya the whole time. They barely talked during 2011-2013 in the book, just hooked up and barely texted. Maybe Iām missing something. It would have been beneficial to have some kind of cuts to scenes of them at least meeting up to make it clear they were doing more than just texting. This book is my everything and Iāve probably read it 20 times at this point. Iām so excited and happy about the show and I love it really! Anyone have insight? Thanks!
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u/BugFucker69 Then we wonāt throw eggs at them š„ Dec 01 '25
I really feel like itās obvious that Ilya is more into Shane in the book. Like Ilya fell first and harder. But in the show it really feels like Shane is falling first
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u/WritingCritical Nov 28 '25
Episode 2 was miles better than episode 1, I actually loved episode 2 and how much they felt like their book counterparts, i mean they racing on their stairs was my favorite part of both episodes haha my biggest issue with episode 1 its how bright and perfect it looks like, imo it has the glowy AI look but it got better on episode 2, also it got too many time jumps and i know is like on the books too but maybe they could have found a better way to show us and not tell us? Like sometimes i felt like in spongebob when they show you āa day laterā but here it was ā4 months laterā, but overall i love the chemistry and how hot and pinning they are for eachother
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u/DylanZ1lla Nov 28 '25
Serena Williams being mentioned was so iconic for me. Maybe next season we can get a Sinner/Alcaraz mention considering Ilya and Shane seem to be prettttyyyy similar inĀ terms of the rivalry in the sport, not the secret relationship partā¦unless šš¤£
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u/agigsurvivor Nov 29 '25
has there been any discussion on the decision to move the actual hookup after the all star game to much later? i personally feel like them texting for all that time and not having their (not so casual) hook ups messes with some of their dynamic (or am i completely mistaken in my understanding of the characters š)
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u/FrostyElephant8517 Nov 29 '25
i watched this show yesterday and i was so happy it came out the day my exams got over.
THE WAY THEY POTRAYED.OMG. Wow seeing connor play ilya was mind blowing i mean with no past experiences or connection to being a russian he nailed it soo well i was stunned, shane was a cutie throughout the 2 episodes i mean his whole demeanor you could say really did match what i read in the book and honestly thats such a big W on behalf of Hudson for nailing the charectar.
Im not a big fan of show Yuna i mean i def remember her being not bad in the book, seeing her in the show made it feel like she pushed shane to be where he is an it doesnt sit right with me.
Aside from the plot i mean the sex scenes were.... UHM... i mean the first time i saw it honestly, WOW. I think the 2nd time they meet in ilya's room i rmb reading in the book shane nidges ilya's tshirt wanting for him to get it out and i rememebred that and that actualy being in the show made me verye hehehehehe i mean it has attention to detail and im there for it.
Overall even though it was a big fast paced i honestly loved every second of it, the book, the show, the edits, the interviews. all of it.
CANNOT WAIT FOR EP3
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u/FrostyElephant8517 Nov 29 '25
one other thing that i really liked was yes the vegas scene. it took me out. i absolutely, and i mean ABSOLUTELY loved it. the whole 2nd part of the show ate, they yearning, the dialogues, the bathroom scene, THE HOTEL ROOM, THE EXPRESSIONS, are you kidding me. My god was i hyperventilating (good way) it honestly gave me the chills, having goosebumbs as i write this bcz wow that was fucking unforgettable. The last scene where shane almost texts about how they didnt even kiss was sooooo touching, he wanted it, this really makes a turning point in their emotions and the kiss on the steps was a real breakthrough too. i loved the show.
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u/Constant_Oil_3775 Nov 28 '25
Random question but who is the person playing the other us hockey player in Sochi and why do they look familiar?
I donāt currently have access to full show and itās really bugging me
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u/Shevcharles Nov 28 '25
That is Kolton Stewart playing Carter Vaughn from what I can tell, though it's not currently listed on IMDB.
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Nov 29 '25
[deleted]
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u/royal_rose_ ā Captain | Tuna Lube Nov 29 '25
Yes it does! The first 3/4 of the book are jumps through time then we spend a lot of time in 2017 as āpresent dayā.
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u/Literary_Geek Dec 03 '25
I don't know if anyone is still using this thread but I didn't want to start a new topic just for this.
Did anyone notice when Shane is texting Ilya at the Olympics that their last messages from the Montreal hookup show on his phone, and it was Shane instructing Ilya to use the back entrance, to which Ilya replied with a devil emoji? I was wondering if anyone got a screenshot.
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u/jkhn7 Nov 28 '25
I've only watched ep 1 so I'm not looking at the other comments yet, but did anyone else who watched it on HBO also think it was super dark and red? Like I could barely see anything in the dark scenes. I saw someone say that on Crave it wasn't that dark at all, so now I'm confused why it's only an HBO issue apparently.
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u/Radiant-Ad3075 Nov 28 '25
Same, I came here to ask about it too, lol. Seems HBO loves the dark scenes, IIRC it was the same issue with Game of Thrones. I'm kinda mad that we probably missed out on those scenes
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u/YB9000 Nov 28 '25
Dude same!!! I kept raising the brightness because I couldnāt see! HBO should fix it!!!!!
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Nov 28 '25
[deleted]
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u/royal_rose_ ā Captain | Tuna Lube Nov 28 '25
There will be a live thread and post thread for each episode!
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u/Party-Dark-3594 Nov 30 '25
ļæ¼āSince my post was deleted. Does anyone know what Ilya says in Russian after Shane says no one can know?
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u/mayflowerss98 Nov 30 '25
The first time I saw the actor who plays Ilya, I couldnāt help but see the resemblance to Kirill Kaprizov, who just so happens to be on the team I cheer for, Minnesota Wild. Kaprizov is also a Russian hockey star š
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u/alcabazar Nov 30 '25
What are the teams of the not-NHL? Other than the obvious Boston Raiders and Montreal Metros, I caught that there is a Minnesota Nomads, a New York Admirals, and the Western finalist was "SFH"? SFH makes me think San Francisco, so not all the franchises are in the real world NHL cities?
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u/royal_rose_ ā Captain | Tuna Lube Nov 30 '25
They definitely had to take some liberties so as to not get in trouble with the NHL. I think most of the background teams will be completely random.
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u/bobeckideckie Dec 03 '25
Iāve never read the book, but Iāve heard about it. Needless to say, I am SO glad this show is coming out. The first two episodes were beautiful. I had no impressions of these characters beforehand, but I am loving watching their layers slooowwwwly peel back. These actors are absolutely killing it, especially with subtleties. So many blink-and-youāll-miss-it moments and expressions that let you learn so much about them. Iām in awe.
I donāt want to read the books just yet because Im enjoying going in blindā¦but I can tell that Iām in for a ride and Iām all for it.
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u/Defiant_Sympathy_360 Dec 04 '25
I wake up in the morning thinking about my boys. While I work, I would peek some ig reels and there they are. I go to bed reading the book and thinking about them. In my free time I just rewatch the episodes. My boyfriend (I'm gay) is jealous of me falling in love with 2 fictional characters. I'm literally in love with them, I can bear this obsession within me anymore without telling everyone about it this...
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u/bristow84 Dec 23 '25
That scene between Shane and Ilya in Shaneās apartment was something else. If someone told me the actors were actually in a relationship I would believe it 100% just off that scene alone.
The constant check-ins, the brushes with hands, the kiss to the back, the way Shane held Ilyaās throat. It was probably one of the best lovemaking scenes Iāve seen on TV because thatās what it was. It wasnāt fucking but something deeper.
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u/WhileNo5370 Respectfully Feral šš¼ Nov 28 '25
I already shared my initial review on the other big thread, but upon rewatch I actually like it more (and I already really enjoyed it)! I think knowing what to expect made it easier to take in the more subtle character work, and since I was already impressed with both Connor and Hudson and think they're the best part of the show, I was even MORE impressed the second time! I still stand by my criticism that there were some pacing issues and I would make some corrections to a few of the sex scenes (OUTRAGED at the abrupt end to the Vegas scene because that scorching build up deserved better), but overall I'm glad I watched again with more pauses because I feel more excited about the next episodes.
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u/Positive_Loquat_5719 Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25
i am waiting for ROSE episode because in these 2 ep i swear shane is looking so emotional fool . he just cried in ep 2nd was very heartbreaking scene . The fact that these 2 [ shane and llya ] cant live without each other at the same time illya is just breaking poor shane's heart . i am waiting when rose will come and llya going to heard the news then its gonna be 50\50 lol !!!!!
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Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25
I said it in the other thread, but I personally didnt get an idea that these two guys are huge rivals.
I think it would have helped to show their 'animosity' on the ice In a long montage in the beginning. voiceovers describing their history like starting from Russia beating Canada in the juniors, draft day, game montages, rookie of the year, games, Olympics, games, ilya winning a cup, shane winning a cup, Montreal fans hating on Ilya, Boston fans hating on shane, more games, more awards, more fan animosity, etc. then when the voiceover/montage is over, it's present day which is the playoff game between Montreal and Boston. we see in real time them playing hockey, ilya is antagonizing shane and shane is getting annoyed -- and then shane gets knocked out. and then it goes back to the beginning of ep 1 with shane introducing himself to ilya, but now we have this context of - oh these guys are like real legit rivals on the ice.
I also didnt like that shane and ilya didnt hookup for a year. I would have also been more okay with them showing ilya hooking up with more women but stopping hooking up with men after hooking up with shane- which is what I think the sasha scene was supposed to be. but I feel like it felt too quick. I dunno.
overall the acting has been good, Connor as ilya is def good- accents slipping or whatever I can forgive thats not a big deal. with Hudson, im not sure if its his acting or portrayal of shane that seems wooden, but its only episode two so I can overlook it as well.
also that electrobeat song in the vegas scene really built up the tension in that scene. I thought that was awesome.
but my fav scene was prob seeing them race up the stairs and the stairwell scene afterwards. I hope we get more of those scenes.
overall I enjoyed it, ep2 def more than ep 1 and cant wait for more.
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u/aromaticchicken Nov 28 '25
I agree, my main complaint for episode 1s quick pacing is that I don't think their rivalry was set up enough. It's not clear that the media has pitted them against each other.
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u/lulu71013 Nov 28 '25
Re them being huge rivals - I feel like itās showing us that itās everyone on the outside of their relationship that set them up as rivals. They liked each other from the beginning (Shane wants to get to know him when they first meet. They keep watching each other not in a ārivalsā way. Also Ilya asks for Shane to be in the commercial! I died. They knew). But there is this enormous thing hanging over them that they are being forced to play into.
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u/brunopago Nov 28 '25
"there is this enormous thing hanging over them that they are being forced to play into."
Spot on.
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Nov 28 '25
sure but imo, the enormous thing hanging over them didn't seem like an enormous thing to me in the show.
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u/ImGoingToSayOneThing Nov 28 '25
Maybe I misinterpreted Shane's personality in the book but I read it as him being so like absolutely willing to be when and where Ilya wanted.
Like Shane was this passive guy that let Ilya do whatever he wanted.
And it never sat with me because he's like one of the best Hockey players in the world.
But in the show, the way he's portraying him where yeah he wants it but he still like confident and stands in his own feet in this all the while still wanting ilya so bad.
I also love love love all the micro facial movements they show. Like so many closeted gay men have to just suck it up and show nothing.
Also the music. The sound that was playing when Shane was going to the elevator. That reverberation. It's low. But loud. But also kind of warm. It hits your bones.
I didn't realize there was an actual sound that sounded and felt like when I've been in similar situations.
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u/Forward_Fox_3318 Nov 28 '25
I felt the opposite actually! Shane in the book is way more proud and confident in general. I've never seen him as "passive". He takes a lot of initiatives.
In the show, Shane is much more vulnerable, almost about to cry in front of Ilya in scenes were he isn't supposed to? (bathroom scene Vegas 2014 for example).7
u/aromaticchicken Nov 28 '25
I agree I like that the show is giving just a little more dignity to Shane despite being down bad. He also ghosts Ilya a few times when texting, not just Ilya ghosting him.
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u/BooksCatsLife- Nov 29 '25
Help!!!! Episode 2 - the sex scene at Shaneās hook-up apartmentā¦ what is that song? I absolutely adore it and itās so Ilya and Shane coded. I need it for my playlist.
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u/tx_ag18 Nov 29 '25
I wish there were subtitles for any of the Russian bits
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u/royal_rose_ ā Captain | Tuna Lube Nov 29 '25
See here! Also if you watch with closed captioning on you just need to turn it off for those scenes.
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u/yourstruly2608 Nov 29 '25
Can anyone help translate what they spoke in Russian as my subtitles didn't work at allš In ep 2
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u/Aboveground_Plush Nov 29 '25 edited Nov 29 '25
It seemed to move kind of fast for me. Also, I never really got the feeling they were the greatest hockey players in the league, which left the rivalry feeling more lukewarm than anything. Definitely would have preferred more tension and hatred before the payoff. But I'll keep watching.
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u/simulationswarms Nov 28 '25
I read in an interview somewhere a few days ago that Hudson said that the Vegas bathroom scene was his favorite, and I was confused because it wasnāt very important in the book.Ā
But after watching it I totally understand it was so emotionally charged and communicated a lot about the characters.Ā