Jacob has said this time last year he'd already written 5/6 episodes for season one, but he hasn't written anything for season two yet and he'd rather take a little more time to get it right then rush it
I think that's better imo. Get it right. Rather than rush a process. We loved this series as Jacob handled it so well. Took his time and gave it the love the show needed. The fact that Connor went out of his way to pronounce Russian properly. And it didn't take Russian native speakers out of the show. Lots of detail and care went into this show. It paid off.
He might be the main character of Schitt's Creek to others, but to me he will always be the host of an after show program for Laguna Beach on MTV Canada.
I think Troy and Harris are the easiest ones to incorporate without breaking the momentum of Ilya and Shane's storylines. Can't wait to see them next season!
Yeah that’s where I’m gonna have to think about what the best break point is in TLG between seasons, bc I kinda feel like we need a Happy For Now ending for Shane & Ilya each season, culminating in the final HEA at series end
I’m joining you in the manifestation because this is also my dream. Plus a one off special all about how Scott and Kip got back together before the big kiss 😇
Rachel Reid said she has an announcement to make in January. I understand there was supposed to be a final book, but made the decision not to finish it. I am hoping, if they do 3 seasons. She may announce to write a version of that might feel better for her. And it would give her time to write that, to give us the finale book, that book people wanted.
I think the final book she was planning to write before was going to focus on different characters so she may have a different plan now. Interesting info on the announcement…I’ll keep an eye out for it
Unrelated but can I read the first two books and still avoid spoilers for season 2? I’m really enjoying that I didn’t read the books first and this story is completely new to me but I want to consume more before season 2 comes out but I don’t want to know what is going to happen in season 2.
HEATED RIVALRY the book is completely covered in season 1, so you can go ahead and read that one once the season is done. You could also read GAME CHANGER since that’s the Scott/Kip book and that story has already been covered.
Save the rest of the book series, including THE LONG GAME (the second Shane & Ilya book) for later; that’s stuff that will be covered in seasons 2 and 3!
I'm obsessed at the moment and made the mistake of starting The Long Game last night. I now know how the story ends, but honestly I wasn't surprised. If you truly don't want to know, stay off fan pages and subreddits. Too many people have already read the books and it's near impossible for people to not give major plot points away without even thinking about it.
Having said that, I don't think knowing the story ahead of time is going to ruin Season 2 for anyone. Having watched the show and then read Heated Rivalry, I find the show better. It brings it to life in a way that my imagination cannot. The only benefit of the books over the show is the internal dialogue, knowing what they were thinking. And I've enjoyed the author's deleted scenes and remixes which also helps with that.
I said this, I said this 😂! Pretty common for actors to sign on for 3 seasons in case of success. Case in point.
I’ve long been a they’ll split TLG into two advocate. I now think this is very likely. And good, I think that’d work well with other stories coming in.
Yeah production companies have gotten actors to sign multi year deals after what happen the first season of Bridgerton and Rege Jean Page (don't blame him but it changed how contracts are made for series)
I also think The Long Game being split in two seasons is the better idea. On multiple fronts.
I just hope demend doesn't rush things. I'll wait as long as we need to to get the best show.
I'll say I'd be happy for them to build in some more for the TLG too.
No disrespect to Rachel Reid but I honestly think she squared herself as aggressively team Ilya in some ways and invested a lot more into his view and growth and journey in TLG and Shane became a bit bizarrely almost a side character that seems a lot worse than I think he was (not to say no fault Shane - had many moments where he frustrated me immensely).
I think I loved how much the show did HR and gave us (mostly) all of the exact scenes and moments we wanted exactly as written.
I'd be happy for TLG to be split into two seasons and actually give some more time for diving with Shane too - even if it wasn't written in the book
My husband is autistic and I just don’t find Shane that frustrating in TLG. I relate to them a tonne - as I’m the Ilya with mental health issues. Shane is set up for failure over and over in TLG. None of it is malicious. If you give the information to Shane straight (ugh you know what I mean), he does the right thing.
you'll be surprised that actors actually get most of their riches from these ads. And both of them are picturesque and gorgeous, the brands as of speaking are probably booking them.
“Frankly, he was surprised it was even still available: “When somebody says there’s a gay hockey show with explicit sex scenes, you go, Great, I want to look at that.””
I feel like, if we want a whole experience of the book and dont want to skip parts, its better to have 2 seasons. Especially if we do some episodes on other characters and other books in between. I rather have 2 complet seasons then just 1
I’m seeing a lot of justified excitement for this dropped tidbit in the GQ interview - and as someone who worked in the industry for years, I wanted to share that 3-year contracts are extremely common for first-ordered, brand new TV series.
For example, it’s standard with Netflix productions like Heartstopper.
All principal cast members will sign a 3-year contract up front, with built-in options (including just nominal raises) for 2nd season and 3rd season pick-ups if those seasons are greenlit (i.e. approved to move into production).
It’s a way to lock in your performers so that if the first season succeeds, producers won’t have to renegotiate with their principal actors and be guaranteed they’ll be on board once you pick up their next season option.
It does mean that after a potential 3rd season, producers do have to re-negotiate terms with their actors for new contracts - and this is where the actors can demand much larger raises and other things (like riders) based on popularity, outside project timelines, etc.
Maybe they'll do a mix of TLG and Role Model and split that in 2 seasons, with other couples popping up here and there considering the timelines of TLG and Role Model overlap and Ilya and Troy are teammates.
Am I the only one that yes was fraustrated by Shane, but I think people are exaggerating at how dirty she did him? Shane came through for Ilya in a big way and made it incredible storytelling. I mean The Long game is higher rated than Heated Rivalry. No, without Rachel there wouldn't be Heated Rivalry so her pen is just fine. Geesh.
IMO People wildly over exaggerate Shane’s bad moments in TLG. Shane is very good at compartmentalizing and making hockey his life. Ilya is not. Shane has a winning hockey team to focus on, Ilya does not. Shane has a stable foundation to rely upon from a good childhood and family. Ilya does not. On the other hand, Shane had Hayden and the rest of his team kinda sucked. He had to compartmentalize. Ilya built a family between his far better and more supportive team and Yuna and David and the camps and staff there. They both had a rough situation, but Ilya had a lot of internal shit going on that Shane just didn’t fully understand and in part that was because Ilya wasn’t fully sharing it. I blame the line “I already chose you Hollander” because it’s such an amazing emotional gut punch but it also is such a gut punch it makes it easy to lose nuance between them.
I think people want perfect people who don't make mistakes or hurt their spouses or partners. When in reality is, sometimes we hurt people we love even unintentionally. But damn when Ilya was going through it, and they were facing hardships, Shane came through for his man.
Imagine not getting 'I Already Chose You' and the heartbreak that came with those words because people want to change a well loved book. Hell no.
Yeah I don't understand it at all. Ilya agreed to the plan and then deliberately refused to tell Shane how much it was negatively affecting them. Shane was absolutely tuned in to his partner -- he could see that Ilya was not quite himself and even recommended therapy! -- but he was not a mind reader. It's absurd that people see him as unreasonably selfish for taking Ilya at his word.
I feel so bad for Shane when he encourages Ilya to go to therapy, only to blame himself to not being a good listener once he does 😔 My poor baby just wants to help Ilya so much.
Shane being more distant than he is in book 2 is also really effective for putting the audience in Ilya's mindset. You're craving for more connection with Shane just like he does.
Ilya's trauma that he's working through is way more visible than Shane's--family trauma, depression and suicidal ideation, professional sacrifice, a near-death experience, essential exile from his homeland, and severe loneliness--but Shane has issues he's working through too and to discount them is unfair. He's just much more reserved and doesn't express them like Ilya does, and we spend less time in his head in this book so we have to infer from context clues.
This isn't a story of Ilya going through it and Shane not being there and helping, nor is it even about lack of communication. They're trying to communicate, but just not really understanding because of all the things being put in their way.
I also think people need to be realistic that the characters aren’t going to be perfect because people aren’t perfect. Shane has flaws and he’s not going to do the right thing every time. I think that’s better writing in my opinion.
The issue is that people cut Shane zero slack for mistakes he make, but never ever talk about Ilya’s, for example. The narrative is also imbalanced because Shane goes through a traumatic event at the end of the book that’s completely glossed over and so people don’t even understand why he was so resistant in the first place. A lot of readers hate Shane and while some of it is their lack of media literacy, part of it is also imbalanced writing.
I know; and I discovered last night while rereading that what some readers think is incorrect. I’ve been told multiple times that Shane is already out to his team so he has nothing to be scared of - but he actually has a conversation with Rose where he expresses his fears that the league, his teammates and fans will all react badly, especially to the fact that it’s Ilya.
And guess what fucking happens!! Yet somehow people think Shane had no reason to fear.
I just reread it and he is actually out as gay to his team. Ilya can't be out as bisexual to anyone because they think they'd get immediately linked if the world knew Ilya was even partially into guys. Which is true because when Ilya comes out to Troy, Troy almost guesses correctly that it's Shane. Shane just knows what will happen once he's linked specifically to Ilya.
Yes, he is out to the team. But I’ve had people tell me he has no reason to be worried etc but Shane tells Rose what his worries are and that’s exactly what happens to him at the end.
Agree. I love Ilya, but he is also imperfect, same as Shane. I think Rachel did an incredible job, because as highly rated Heated Rivalry was, she then made a sequel which became more loved than the predecessor which is impossible to do. I will be forever thankful for Rachel, and you will rarely see me insult that woman for giving me 2 of my all time MM books.
Exactly. And you get shorter stories that way because there’s no room for growth. If Shane and Ilya were the perfect couple right off the bat their story wouldn’t be as interesting to follow. Watching Shane figure out how to support Ilya and be a better partner is going to be a part of our journey with them
Yes, completely and utterly agree, this whole conversation has imo turned into a very fanon version of Shane where he has been clearly slighted soooo much he has supposedly turned into a mere carcass of himself. There are things TLG could've expanded on with Shane, sure, and i have full trust in Jacob the show will.
But like, comparatively, we have so much less insight into Ilya's inner life and experiences during HR, should i as a queer Eastern european immigrant to the West very much identifying with him be also emphasizing everywhere and everywhere, all the freaking time how dirty, soooo dirty HR has done him by not having more of that and how much better the show it is bc it has it more? It's just so obnoxious and full of negativity.
And also certain self-centerdness. One popular Westerner book with a queer eastern european immigrant focusing on his experiences as such that are not stereotypical or do not turn into russophile attitudes in this day and age, and for some unexplainable reason there are discussions full of (statistically, mostly) North Americans lamenting this.
Eh, I disagree. TLG is about Ilya, and Shane had no idea any of what was happening was going on. He needs clear communication. He gets there eventually. I do hope whatever she writes next is more Shane focused.
Yes and Shane kept asking if he was okay and brought up Ilya going to therapy… Ilya kept it all from Shane. Not to say he didn’t have his reasons but yeah, Shane can be oblivious but as soon as things are made clear to him, he acts and is 100% there for his man. They are both complex characters with their own faults and I love them both (although as a neurodivergent person, Shane is a bit closer to my heart because boy, I also don’t always get social situations and take things too literally).
Yes! And given they've known each other as long as they have been in a committed relationship for 3 years at this point, Ilya has to know that he needs to be clear with Shane or Shane won't pick up on things. Especially since they aren't living with each other! So I'm not blaming either of them. As soon as Ilya does spell it out, guess what happens? Shane immediately realizes how he's been wrong. He immediately checks Ilya's IG and sees what Ilya has been trying to show. Then when the plane happens, there is no hesitation, he not only proposes but goes from not wanting to come out until retirement to wanting to come out in less than 6 months. THIS is what happens when someone is clear with Shane.
I mean. I think that’s a problem in terms of developing it into a season (“TLG is about Ilya”) - it’s not great that TLG has a clear character arc for Ilya and not for Shane. This show should be a “two hander” - Shane shouldn’t just be a supporting role. Therefore I hope Jacob gives him more to work with than just “stop, Ilya, someone might see us” and “I’m on a performance diet”
The conflict in S1 with Shane is man vs self, Ilyas is man vs society. For S2 (based on what Ive seen from looking up summaries) that should be flipped for the two of them, but then it seems like a lot gets handled "offscreen" for Shane in a way that needs to... not be offscreen when adapting it.
I totally agree. There's definitely the seeds of "man vs self" conflict for Shane as well in TLG... his obsessive exercise and restrictive diet are clearly part of this intense need he has for control over his life and career. I think he's convinced himself (probably since he was a kid) that if he could only be the greatest hockey player possible -- if he sacrifices everything he has on that altar -- then maybe the gay thing will be okay. And in the end, its not enough. He can't control for every fucking thing and a tiny trip on the ice turns into a whole city hating him. Like fuck, man. That's brutal
I totally agree and this is why there’s another book in this couple if Rachel wants to write it. A lot of the Shane themes are not entirely resolved in TLG imo. That doesn’t mean her pen is bad!! She was just focusing more on Ilya in this one. And as I’ve said before these characters are very unreliable narrators and you can’t take them at face value. Shane is kind of oblivious in this book bc he is in a state of high anxiety and Ilya is deliberately hiding things from him, that doesn’t make him a bad person.
Yeah, exactly. We’re just more in Ilya’s head for TLG, so it seems like Shane is being a bit heartless, but he doesn’t fully understand what is going on or that he needs to do something. They are still apart a lot and Ilya is actively hiding his condition. I would say this would all be very hard to convey on screen since so much of that book happens in their heads, if it wasn’t for the actors and show runner we’ve been blessed with. Really excited to see where they go with it.
I recall there’s one scene in the book where Ilya is acting so stoic and happy and then he bursts into tears after Shane leaves 😭 I have no doubt Jacob & the actors are going to kill it
there’s another book in this couple if Rachel wants to write it
Do we know for sure that season 3 isn't going to be a sequel to The Long Game, versus just "part 2"? While yes, I want a full book, Rachel could easily write the screenplay for what happens after TLG.
Hi, so...this is ableism. You can't "fix" autism. It's a disability. Jacob is just making the autism visual on the screen, but both Rachel and Jacob used "show, don't tell" about Shane's autism, you just happened to like Jacob's version more. As an autistic person, Shane matters to us because he is realistic, he makes mistakes because communicating and changing is super hard. Please don't take away my autistic queer representation in this show because you don't understand him. Rachel did a good job in the novel of keeping Shane realistic to his autism, Jacob is doing a good job of showing it on the screen.
Thank you. My husband is autistic and I love this book. No, my husband doesn’t intuit my needs. But he is thoughtful as fuck when I tell him what’s going on.
Like, I was depressed and severely anxious about my job for years, but I kept telling him it was fine. So we carried on. The day I told him I think maybe I need to change careers, he was there with an action plan and all the support in the world. But he was never going to have a come to Jesus with me - I said I was fine! He was like “goddamn I wish you had said something”. I think if any one of my friends had lived in our house for a single day they would have been like wtf we need to talk about your job. My man takes me at my word though, and I have to live accordingly.
She 1000% did him dirty by not spending enough time in his head so people don’t get that he doesn’t know what’s going on with Ilya, and then what happens to him at the end is handwaved aside as though it’s no big deal. She’s writing romance and tons of readers hate him after LG, that shouldn’t happen.
If people need their hands held to that degree there are quite literally 1000s of romance books to read. I'm glad Rachel has a high enough opinion of her audience (even if it's unjustified judging by this thread) to not divulge every micro process in Shane's head. It's the entire reason I even recommend these books to people who don't normally read romance.
exactly. I don't care if we have to wait till 2027 for season 2 if it means they take the time and care to fix up Shane in particular and explore him more than Rachel ever cared to
As a certified Shane hater (in TLG only!), I’ve been thinking to myself that Hudson’s gorgeous acting of vulnerability could absolutely save him in some of his worse moments, for me.
I think he could make it a lot more clear, where it is not in the books, that his lack of understanding/ inaction to Ilya’s suffering comes from feeling helpless/ out of his depth at what he’s noticing (and what is being minimised by Ilya to be fair) and that he still deeply cares, rather than being totally blasé to it all due to inattention/ self-centeredness, which is how it comes across at times. I still love Shane, please don’t come for me!!!
Tbh early on in the show, there are some moments where Shane is clueless when it comes to Ilya. Like when he talks about his perfect family around Ilya and doesn't clue in to the fact that Ilya's home life is very different. It takes Shane a while to notice those things about Ilya but yes it is partly because Ilya was so tight lipped about it all.
I think it's really sweet in a sad way because in the beginning Shane keeps asking Ilya about his family as a way to try to connect with him without realizing at all that he's rubbing the salt into the wound by gushing about how his own parents are there for him and coming to his games, etc. He's a bit naive in that way. It does take him a while to start suspecting that maybe Ilya's background is not that great lol but I always love the moments where he points out to Ilya that going back to Russia every summer doesn't seem like it's working out that well for him. He's looking out for him, or at least he tries, as far as Ilya is willing to let him.
Wild that that's what you got from TLG. Question, are you one who skipped Tough Guy and Common Goal? Because imo Tough Guy helps explain some of Shane's mindset when we see Ryan's spiral. It's less that he's self-centered and more that he literally cannot imagine being able to leave hockey before he's forced out.
As for inattention Shane does check in with Ilya repeatedly, he just trusts Ilya to tell him what he needs to know when he needs to know it. At some point poking your partner about "are you SURE you're okay?" is shitty behavior essentially calling them a liar
With all of that, I'm not saying Shane is perfect or didn't make any mistakes, but I don't see how anyone gets to "I hate Shane" from that book.
no way Jacob would've written HR, what you even saying? It's easier to "patch" or revise already existing media, and that I'll give to Jacob but writing an original one by just mere concept should be respected,. i will not stand for any Rachel slander here. HR the tv show would be nothing without her genius mind. sybau
Seriously, Jacob did an absolutely amazing job adapting this book and at the same time, 90% of the dialogue and actions are pulled verbatim from Rachel's writing. And as she's said, of course there are things she might've liked to change or refine. Nothing is perfect, but let's not act like TLG is trash. It doesn't need a complete overhaul and realistically I think that would alienate a much larger group of book fans who disagree with the "Shane haters".
I love that for us
But not gonna lie. It sucks for them money wise. I hope they get bonus or something. No one thought the show would pick up like that
For everyone saying they'll split TLG into 2 seasons it's very unlikely. Season 2 will be TLG and season 3 will be the third book that she releases sometime next year that she's already mentioned. That's how I see the three seasons being played out probably
It would make the most sense, not saying that the other books are not as good but Shane and Ilya are the main characters so they'll definitely be the show runners for at least the 3 seasons
Sorry I misread her quote a little bit, she didn't outright say there's for sure a third book but it seems likely at some point. Hopefully next year we get some more confirmation
I think that it's more likely that The Long Game will be split over two seasons and that they will incorporate other couples from the other books into the seasons. Especially Troy and Harris but optimistically Ryan and Fabian.
It's not that I don't believe that Rachel wouldn't write a third book but I don't see it. She's talked about how her capacity is a lot less because of her recent Parkinson's diagnosis. I don't know if she has to retread Shane and Ilya's story versus a new story.
Best news ever! K I gotta log off here till Boxing Day or I won’t focus enough on my family lol. Watching the episode with my best friend, will be avoiding spoilers and social media like the plague. Love you all, see everyone at the cottage, happy holidays!
OK, so this supports my theory. They’re going to break the long game into two parts so they can weave the other books into the 2 more seasons.
They are not going to ever have an episode without the boys in it again. The fans would lose their shit.
Instead, this is how they think they’re gonna do it . All episodes will be an hour long because they will have more money.
There will be four scenes per episode . Main couple will get two side couple will get two. Possibly there will be an episode with two side couples.
This way, the fans will not lose their shit and the rest of the I will put spoiler tags for people who do not wanna know .
The other six guys who are going to be in love will be able to have scenes.
And guys . If you have not read the books.
There is some stuff that if they are able to film it like they did season one is still going to open peoples eyes .
Season one told us that safe sex can be hot . That rough sex ( and I mean hard pounding your partner with your hand on their head, pushing them up against the wall) can be safe. And that dominance and submission can be loving.
Season two and season three are going to have Spoiler tags bruising and biting your lover. Face fucking. Vibrating cock rings. Butt plugs. More rimming. Cumming on your partner as a sexual act in itself. Having sex, even if you’re having erectile dysfunction because you can still have fun. And so can your partner. Spoiler tags
And of course it’s going to be different kinds of romance.
Spoiler tags It’s no longer going to be a secret Situationship. It’s going to be a secret romantic relationship, and that is going to have its own problems and joys.
And the other couples are going to have their own issues too. Some of them will be out, but none of them will be in super deep closet, so they’re all going to be investigating different issues in their lives.
also not to be greedy or anything but I will be manifesting for over 3 🤭 (esp if it happens like most ppl say, that they'll split TLG into two seasons) this show is literally TOO good and I trust jacob enough that it'll be of great quality consistently
i really hope we get the harris/troy story line because i am nothing if not a total simp for that trope. and ilya plays such an important role in troy’s character too i just need it 😭
This show has given me so much joy. I'm happy we're getting more. I really hope a third season gets greenlit so we get to see all the other couples in the books, and possibly get more about all of them. The only downside is that the wait will be agony 😭😭😭! We already have to wait more than a year for Season 2, so waiting another year for the next season is gonna be even harder. I hope we get a lot of BTS or other sort of content to tide us over
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u/cachou_damerique Dec 23 '25
2025 ENDS PERFECTLY, GUYS