Heated Rivalry Episode 6 (FINALE!)

We're back for one last deep dive of episode six of Heated Rivalry, aka the FINALE!!!! How did we get here so soon??? 

It's been an absolute blast recapping these with you. If you've enjoyed our show, consider following us into the new year. We'll be back every other Tuesday with more book goodness. 

We're also on Instagram and Bluesky at @readirectpodcast. Emily is everywhere at @emilyrojasreads and Abigail is on TikTok @fabigail11. We love you see you soon!!! <3

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome, Housekeeping, And New Listeners
• 0:23 Season Finale Setup And Scott’s MVP Speech
• 4:19 Bar Reactions, Book Breadcrumbs, And Season Two Hopes
• 8:41 Airport Pickup And Flirty Car Banter
• 12:15 Cottage Arrival And Softness Replaces Secrecy
• 17:30 Burgers, Family Talk, And Quiet Vulnerability
• 21:45 Bonfire Confessions And Ilya’s Mother
• 26:05 Morning “I Like You” And Playful Jealousy
• 31:05 The Couch Bombshell And The Non‑Plan Plan
• 35:45 All‑Night Strategy: Ottawa And The Foundation
• 40:25 The Love Confession And Sunrise
• 44:35 Domestic Firsts And The Parents See Everything
• 48:05 Coming Out At The Table And Acceptance
• 52:10 Mom’s Reassurance And Next Steps
• 56:00 Credits Glow And Found Family Tears
• 58:10 Season Two Speculation And Book Universe Links
• 1:13:20 What’s Next For The Pod

Transcript

Abigail: 0:00

There's a time, look, there is a time and place for everything under the sun. Absolutely. Yeah. And sometimes you need to be railed from the back with your face pushed into the mattress by the person you love. And sometimes you need to look each other on the eyes and grab each other's faces and soft. Welcome to the redirect podcast. I'm Abigail Freshly. And I'm Emily Rojas. The Redirect Podcast is the show where we shift the conversation back to books. We discuss themes from some of our favorite books and how those themes show up in our real lived experiences. On today's episode, we are recapping the season one finale of Heated Rivalry. One last before we get to that. You can also follow us on Instagram and Blue Sky at Redirect Podcast. You can follow Emily on all platforms at Emily Rojas Reads. You can follow me on TikTok at Fabigail11. And if you really, really love the show, share our show with a friend. Sharing our show with our friend is by far the best way to grow our community of book loving nerds. And I just want to say to that end, welcome to all of you who have found us through the heated rivalry recaps. We're so glad you're here. And um we had this really nice message from a listener who reached out and was like, I know this isn't your normal content. I'm gonna stop you right there. This basically is our normal content. Welcome, sister. So just stick around. Um we do crazy stuff like this all the time. And um if you listen to our back catalog, Emily talked about heated rivalry for like 12 episodes in a row before the show came out. So true. I was trying my best, you guys. Welcome, you're home here, and let us know what you'd like to hear. Yeah, I was gonna say the same thing because also our posting schedule has been really erratic, but normally we do post uh every other Tuesday. So once we hit the new year and we're not recapping this anymore and like working extra overtime to get our recaps out as soon as humanly possible, we'll be back to that. So and a first step in the new year is people we meet on vacation. So even more good things. Yes, people we meet on vacation on Netflix, and I'm gonna make you. I sent you a TikTok and I was like, I'm gonna hold you down and force it down your throat. I'm gonna make you read the Bridgerton book that this new season is um based upon, then I'm gonna make you talk about the adaptation. That's fine. That's fine. No, it is what it is. I'm gonna make you okay, so welcome. Alright, so the finale. In the cottage. We're not in the cottage yet. So wait, so as had been teased, you and I watched this together. The vibes were uncontrollable, the energy in the room was uncontrollable. I'm not kidding, and Ab Gil can attest. I think I started crying during the Scott Hunter speech and did not stop. Like, tears did not stop leaking from my eyes until the very the credits like that. I feel like non-stop I'll relate to that. Tears never came out of my eyes, but I had that horrible feeling of tears in the back of your eyes, like you're about to cry the whole time. The whole time without the actual relief of crying. It was even worse. It was funny. It was so nice to watch with someone. Yeah, it was the perfect way to end the season for sure. Okay, so we opened the episode and we're on like MLH Network, and it is Scott Hunter receiving the MVP award after winning the MLH Cup, and it's a very sweet speech where he reflects on his journey that he recently came out, and he honors Kit by name. Yes. I'm already losing it. He said, I realize I may be that thing that hockey players like to throw around as an insult. And that was so like I made a whole post recently about books you guys should read after uh a heated rivalry, but this made me think of one I didn't recommend, which is not a romance, but it's the Bear Town trilogy, which I've also talked at length about. And that line in particular really reminded me of those books because that's a thing that comes up, and um like the jokes you're laughing at and not knowing who's around you to hear them, and you might think they're harmless, and they're obviously not. Um, and so that just made me think about uh Benjiovich. So uh shout out to anyone who's also read those books and has had their lives ruined. But yeah, that just kind of the power of words. The power of words comes up multiple times. So at the beginning of the episode, Scott's saying, When I was a teenager, I realized I might be that thing that gets thrown around in the locker room or on the ice is an insult. And then, jumping ahead later in the episode, when Shane and Ilya are sitting at the table with Yuna and David, and they ask, Have you talked to Scott Hunter? And Ilya's like, Well, I talked to him, I didn't tell him about me and Shane, but what he did was really brave, and I think it changed things for me, for us. So the power of the words of words to keep someone in the closet for like 15 years, and the power of the words of words to help like free people from the closet. It's just yeah, it was really special. Yeah. And I also really liked starting the episode with the speech because something I was thinking about when I watched it this time, which was I think the fourth time I've watched it, I was thinking about how the show is kind of this episode is book-ended with two different coming out stories. And so you're starting with Scott, and he does it in this like big public way to everyone all at once, and like that's one way to do it, and then you know, Shane and Ilya, it's just to his parents, and there's no plans to tell anyone else, and like that's also an okay way to do it, and how like the right way to come out, or right, you don't ever have to do it, yeah. Like, you don't have to do it at all. So I just like that because I think there's a worse again, we always say there's a worse version of the show. There's a worse version of the show and Scott Hunter's story that leaves the audience thinking, like, oh well, the only way I can have a happy relationship is if I'm out to the whole world because Kip didn't want to be with him, and like you know, they couldn't keep it a secret and still be happy. And I think I actually think the time jump in their story does this. I think the speech does this, and I think adding the speech here and then ending with um the conversation with Shane and Ilya and Shane's parents like does this and communicates what you're saying. Like, you don't have to come out at all, you can come out in this big flashy way, or you can just do it quietly to a few people in your life, and you can still deserve love and it could happen. Still could be aware, it could happen. You could, you know, it's like a real experience that there might be someone in a queer person's life who it's never safe to come out to them and they shouldn't be pressured to have to do that. Yeah, so so I really like this as a start, it set the tone. Yeah, I also wanted to to pitch something out there we can pick up when we get maybe towards the end of the episode, but okay, we also during this are panning over to Kip at the bar um with his homies, with Elena there giving him support, which love her. Um, but we see a few other people, and I wondered um if this is a little bit of a breadcrumb for season two, if we're gonna get more of Kip's friends. Um, we were discussing this in person the other day, but Kyle is one of the four fellow servers at the bar. The Kingfis, yeah. The Kingfisher. And he is uh one of the main characters in one of the other game changer books. So I wonder if if Kip in the Kip universe, Kip Cinematic Universe is not done yet. Yeah, I'm really interested. And I also wondered also, like, is this just like they don't want to have the budget to build out that whole award ceremony and show Kip in the audience? So they're like, well, let's just put him with his friends in the bar, you know. Like, because then we don't have to have an audience, we don't have to have a seated auditorium. We could just have sort of a spot on like the sound stage, yeah. So I'm very interested, and we can yeah, I would love to see it. Right, because I think I said to you, I looked over at you and said when we were watching it, uh Like why isn't he there? Why wouldn't Kip be in the audience? Yeah, yeah. But yeah, like why wouldn't he bring Kip as a date? I don't know. Yeah, I don't know how that works. Maybe the MLH, they don't allow dates. It's just place they make you have a roommate. No dates. Bring your roommate, okay. Bring your roommate. Um then we cut to. Okay. Uh Shane tapping his fingers on the steering wheel nervously, waiting for Ilya at the airport in Ottawa. And we see Ilya walking up with his rollerbag. He's looking great. He looks so good. So good for just getting off the plane. Yeah, it's never looked that good in my life, let alone getting off the plane.

unknown: 9:04

It's amazing.

Abigail: 9:06

Gets in the car and says, Yeah, is this a Jeep? Like, he's instantly making fun of him. And I just I something I love so much about the relationship, and this continues obviously into the long game, is like just because they love each other now doesn't mean they ever stop being like a little bit like mean playing playfully mean with each other or competitive with each other. Like they never stop competing on the ice and they never stop messing with each other off the ice. And I like that because it's like that's just how they are, and it's just fun, and it's fun to see them interact more. That's like no stakes. It's like they're just making fun of his car. Like, is this the car you try? And he's like, You're so lame. No, it's British and it's practical and it goes really well in the snow. Like, okay, ow, you guys. So they're getting into the flow of it, they're driving down the road, and the song comes on in French. I notice it this time, and then it fades to kind of be like the radio song. Yeah. And I realize it was like a nod to a reminder that Shane speaks French and that he would be listening to French music in the car. Up this song because I saw the title. I didn't notice the title the first three times I watched it, but it's in French, it's the anarchy of happy days, and some of the lyrics are it's always warm with us, we exist now, and that's it. You can jump away from fear, and it's just talking about like the how it's anarchy, happy days, and like you can just let yourself go and have happy days. And so I just I think the music in this show is used frequently to communicate things, and I liked I liked this, so yeah. Because then they kind of start the slow like chess game of how this trip is gonna go, yeah. So, um, so Shane starts going over all the details of like, you know, I don't that's really private. I it's really private, I got a lot of groceries, and uh we can just relax. We don't have to leave. And Ilya's like, is that what we're going to do? Realize? And he's like, I love that. Because I think for him, this was like part of his thing of like making a joke to see because it's kind of like wait, I just need to like double check is all that I am to you sex? Yeah. Is this just a sex vacation? Is this a sex case? Or are we going to like spend time together? And he does that by making a little joke. Yeah. And then Ravine takes it seriously. And instead of being like, you're an asshole or something, yeah, he's like, Yeah, I would like to relax with you for once. For once. And I know that was so important. We also get uh check off Shane's parents here because he says, Not even your parents, and then Shane's like, well, I told him I'm on this silent retreat, like a meditation thing. And he and then Ilya starts laughing because he and he was like, What, does that sound fake? And then he says, It would if it was anyone but you, which is so cute. And he just and he picks up his hand.

SPEAKER_01: 12:06

Oh yeah. And you know, Ilya.

Abigail: 12:07

I want to say something. This is my fault. Uh-huh. I asked for hand holding. You did this. Yeah. I don't know if I said it on the on the microphone, if it was recorded by at least text or you can't do it. And I was like, I want hand holding. I need hand holding. And I got a pornographic amount of hand holding. I got triple X-rated handholds. Correct. It was too much. More than one. It was a lot. It felt more pornographic than the sex in the show. I was like, I'm feeling overwhelmed by the hand holding. I can't look at it. Um, there was a lot of things. I believe when they held hands, we did pause the show for a moment. Because I was like overwhelmed by the hands. Correct. And then uh, there was something else that was said. Oh, yes, Ilya's like things after Shane says the thing about I would like to relax with you for once, and he said, Okay, I'm gonna be a little vulnerable, I'm gonna be honest. Then Ilya's like, okay, let me try. So then he was like, Thank you for inviting me. And then he was like, I'm I'm happy too, but also kind of terrified, right? Terrified, right? And he's like, I can be honest, like I'm kind of scared. Like, what if what's it gonna be like this? What's it gonna be like when we're together for an extended period of time? Yeah, and it's not just like hurried sex or like hurried intimacy, worried about being caught. Yeah, there's none of that. You're just going to be together with no one else there. And like, what if it sucks? That's it, yeah. What if you were wrong? What if we're not we don't yeah. What if this thing between us isn't what I thought it was? What if I find out that my feelings for you are stronger than your feelings for me? Yeah, like this is really scary, and so I liked that too. Yeah, then they get to the cottage and Shane's grabbing Ilya's bags, and he's like, I can't carry my own bags. He's like, I can't believe you played with bruised ribs. He's like, Whoa, you can't. Okay, maybe I can. And it's another moment of like, yeah, I know you. Like, no, you know, you know me, and I know you. Uh, of course you were playing with bruised ribs. Um, and like just Shane being again, like being kind of ribbing him, but also like sweetly carrying his bags inside for him. It's just really nice. So you get inside, and Shane starts being so weird. And he's like, I got you Cokes, the water's really good. You can have a well, you can see my well, and um really good water. Yeah, and he's like, walking, I can make us some lunch. Um, and he's like walking around and he's all awkward and whatever. And Ilya's like, I'm so nervous. Whatever. So he comes over and kisses him. Pause here. I would like to say another thing that was pornographic in this episode was the face caressing. There was a lot of face covering the chin holding, there's a lot of like face stroking, cheeks, and I made a note here. It was a lot. I made a note here that in this show we talked about this that for the first like four episodes, sex was the language, but now they have built emotional intimacy, and their sex reflects the intimacy that they have built because it felt so different this episode. Like any of their sexual encounters felt so like friendly or just like yeah, familiar. And they're like talking during sex, they're having conversations midway through sexual encounters instead of it being like, shut up, stop talking to me. So exactly, yeah, totally. It's all it's converging now, which is another reason why it was important we had no sex scenes last episode. I totally agree, I totally agree. Um they're like making out on the couch, and they're giggling, and yeah, they knock over a lamp, and then Shane's like, okay, well, it might not last that long because it's been a long time. And then Ilya's like, same me too. And then he's like, Yeah, wait. Really? And he's like so giddy. He's so happy. When he realizes that Ilya hasn't been with anyone since the last time they were together. When so what that's probably like six months or something. It was a few months at least. Because yeah, yeah. There it's summer, and the all-star was the last time they saw each other. Yeah. So that was like midway through the season. So okay, yeah. So yeah. Anyways, he's just so happy. Yeah. Yeah, it's so cute. And then Ilya's like trying to play it off. It's not a big deal. It has nothing to do with you, probably. Like, but it does. But it does. And then that's when Shane says, Okay, I have an idea. Let's be honest with each other. Like for the next two weeks, let's just be honest about what we're thinking and maybe about how we feel. And then Ilya's like, I'll try. So then he's like, Well, let me show you to your room. So then straight from the books, which I loved. It was like I loved it so much. You know, I have two bedrooms. He's like, Well, I need a room that's a king room with an on-suite bathroom and a view. Yeah. And Shane's like, well, issue because oh, by the way, they're holding hands during this. Yes. And they're standing really close to each other. Sometimes you get everything you ever wanted, and it's too much. It's just painful. Yeah. So then he was like, Well, that's an issue because uh this room's not available to the guests. And then he's like, then like Ilya tackles him and he's like, Yeah, no, I'm just the bellboy. I'm just the treat the staff. And then Ilya goes, I think I know how the staff likes to be treated after all these years. It's just so much. Like, it's just too much. I felt like I was gonna have a heart attack at this point. Me too, me too. Cause they're just again, it's the same thing. Like, this is the first time we've ever seen them be just like silly and have fun and like flirty, and it's just so nice to see that they're like relaxing, yeah. And so then Shane tries to close the blinds before they like have sex, but Ilya's like, no, and he puts them back up. And it is the exact mirror image of the first time they were together in the hotel room in the dark, but now the room is full of light, and it's the first of a series of moments that are recreated from the first episode. Yes, in such a masterful way. When I found that out um when I saw the TikToks, thank you to the TikTok editors for catching this because I did not the first time we watched, obviously I was overwhelmed, but watching this again and knowing that it's like, oh, like I know, I know. We've come so far. Now the windows are open, it's daylight and they're together. And it's significant because we're getting season two, yeah, to have this moment where Ilya is the one who's like, no, let's keep the like, let's open the shades. Yeah, let's keep the light open because we know that that's gonna be more Ilya's thing. Dynamic. Sure. Yeah, in the books. So then we cut to Shane making burgers and Ilya comes out and he's like, Why are you making so many burgers? He's like, Well, the recipe was for eight. I'm gonna pause you really quick. Do you really need a recipe for burgers? I think um some men, unfortunately, not to gender or stereotype, but I would say many, many men need a recipe for everything. Okay. But I would say if I was making burgers, no, I would not need a recipe. Yeah, okay. Well, the recipe was for eight, and he's like, you cut in half, you cannot do a man. Then he says, leave me alone, and Ilya says, No. Sick. Because it's just like okay, no, I'm not gonna leave you alone. Uh okay, and then they're eating. They're eating okay, another small detail that doesn't matter. But after you've established that you don't need all eight burgers, why are you then putting The burger on a bun. Now the bun is gonna be soggy. You can't store them in the bun. You can store them in a thing and then put it on a bun when you want to eat it. Yeah, yeah, correct. Don't take tipping uh sorry, tipping to cooking tips. Books. That's what I almost said. Cooking tips from Shane. Um he he doesn't know what he's doing. Uh okay, so then they're talking, and Ilya's like, David and Yuna, yes, and they're talking about his parents. And when when I just watched it now to take notes, I started at episode five. And in episode five, um, Shane starts asking Ilya questions about his family. And Ilya instantly shuts him down and is like, Stop, you asked too many questions. But in this episode, he's the one who initiates this little like, I'm gonna ask you about your family for the first time, and I know their names and tell me about them. And I just really liked that because it was like he's starting. This is like where I think he starts to open himself. I mean, he obviously starts from the beginning opening up, but you see it happen of like last time they were hanging out, he's like, I don't want to talk about our families, you know, but now it's something that's okay to talk about, and so yeah, he's easy to do it. But it's also really funny, like he's also still giving Shane a hard time. Like, oh, you get your boring from your dad, he's like, your looks from your mom, and then he was and then Shane goes, he works for the Treasury Board of Canada, and he's like, Oh, okay. Oh, crazy. He played cop hockey for McGill, and he goes, McGill, no way. He's like, What the f is McGill? Which is so funny.

SPEAKER_01: 21:33

So funny.

Abigail: 21:34

I think uh I get that some people want to be nice to their their significant other 100% of the time. I'm not one of those people. I enjoy a good like exchange of insults. Yeah, like it's fun, anyways. Yeah, so and then he's like, Well, so do they know? And he goes, Wait, about us? No. And he goes, No, yeah, about you. About you, yeah. And then Shane is like, uh, no, no. I mean, I maybe I would have, but and Ilya goes, Oh, so this is my fault. This is my fault, yeah. Which when I watched it this time, I didn't get the impression that Ilya really thinks that it's his fault. No, but he's acknowledging in the moment that Shane's queerness is so intertwined and wrapped up with his love for Ilya or his relationship with Ilya that he feels like he cannot come out as gay without sharing about Ilya with his parents. Well, yeah, and I think it's also, again, this is uh from the long game context, but in the long game, the kind of part of the calculus is like if we're both out and people know we're both queer in some way, and we're also spending time together, people are gonna take one look at us and know because it's gonna be so obvious. And so I think that's part of it too. Like, they'll start paying attention to me if they know for sure I'm gay, and they might notice the way we are with each other, even if it's just these little moments, and I don't want us to be outed, so I'm just gonna keep everything a secret. But I like what you're saying too, like they're just so connected for him, especially in the show. I think the implication, unlike the books, is he's never had uh an intimate relationship with any other guy, and so I think um, yeah, it's like these two things are so connected for him, I'm sure. So well, in the show in the show, did he not say in the show that he had been with the guy in Mexico? Or is that just in the book? No, that's just the book, yeah. Okay, I don't think I don't think that is I mean, yeah, that hasn't been said in the show. So I'm gonna just I'm gonna assume that it didn't happen. Okay. I'm gonna assume that it was just him and Ilya, so So then he goes, you know, Hollander or sh is it his Shane or Holland, I don't remember. But he's like, I don't know. You can tell your parents you're gay without giving them a list of the guys who are fine. And then Shane's like, yeah, I don't, it doesn't really matter though. You know, whatever. Yeah. And you see that Ilya has been have he had his hand on Shane's leg when he's telling him this. And then he's kind of like Shane walks away to clear the plates. You get him like a couple beats of Ilya like looking out over the view, and it's not he doesn't seem like disappointed or like let down. It's more like he's finding out some useful information to me. Yeah, I think it's too hurt. No, I think to me, he's like, Okay, I'm gonna bring this up later. This is what I interpreted. This is gonna come up again later, and eventually, if this turns into a real relationship, I'm gonna encourage him to tell his parents about us. Like they seem cool, they would he says he thinks they'd be good about it. Um, they're probably good parents. Knowing Shane, he gives off as we've discussed, only child with parents who love each other and are really good parents energy, and so yeah, I took it as him being like, okay, yeah, one day I'll I'll get him to open up to his parents about us or whatever, or about himself at least. Like Ilya's framework for family is bad.

unknown: 24:52

Yeah.

Abigail: 24:53

So, you know, he's like also trying to interpret how things could go with his parents based on his own experience. Coming out to his dad probably would have been impossible. Sure. Yeah, obviously. So yeah. Then they're by the fire. Great scene. Um so good. They're out by the bonfire, and Ilya's like, so we just look at the fire. He's like, yes, that's what I do. But he ends up loving it. Yeah. Um Shane's phone dings and he gets a text, and Ilya's looking at looking at him like hello. So like, hello. Who are you texting? Uh-huh. And he's like, oh, it's just Rose. And he's like, oh, just Rose. Yeah. He's like, Ilya, are you jealous? Are you jealous? Like, I'm gay. Yeah. And he goes, not so gay, you couldn't f Rose Landry. And I thought it was so great. Because we've really mostly just seen Shane being jealous of Ilya or like women he is with or whatever, not the other way around. And that was really, really cool. It's another vulnerability. It's vulnerable to be jealous. It's like to be honest about your jealousy. And um, I don't want you talking to anybody else. And so, yeah, that's a vulnerable thing for him to show. And so I liked that. Yeah. Yeah, he was like, it was a disaster. And he's like, a disaster how? And he was like, I'm not going to get a deed. And then the the loon makes a sound, like it's howling chirp thing. And he was like, What the f is this? So then Shane and he and Ilya have like a little back and forth about he's making fun of him for being scared of the loon, whatever. And Shane I hate you. And Shane says, No, you don't. I was gonna say that. And this is where I started writing my steps towards them actually saying I love you to each other. This to me is step one, because I mean I'm sure there are more steps before this, but this is like the the saying it out loud. I hate you, no, you don't. Okay, that's the first step. I have your number. I know you don't need to. Very soon we're gonna get to I like you, and then you know, like we're taking these steps one at a time, and I just liked how, yeah, it starts here. It's this moment of like, I hate you, no, you don't. Yeah. And he doesn't argue. It's like, okay, yeah. Yeah. So then we see Elia laying down by the fire a little later with his head in Shane's lap. And Shane is like, okay, I'm gonna ask him about his family. He's like, Have you talked to your brother? Is that a good thing? I'm sorry that having I hope I I'm sorry your family sucks. Yeah. And then that must be hard, even if they suck. And then Ilya said, My mother didn't suck. So this is really big. He's never talked to Shane about his mom except to say that she did. Mentioned it offhanded one time years after they had already been hooking up, you know. Like it took a long time just to get there. Yeah. Um, I also noticed I also interpreted this as another like mirroring scene because in the tuna melt in tuna melt gate when Shane has like this one moment of vulnerability and he like leans against Ilya, Ilya's like scratching his head and like stroking his hair. And in this scene, it's reversed, and Ilya is stroking and or in Shane is stroking and like scratching Ilya's hair while he's talking about something vulnerable. Yes. And he is like talking about his mom and how she passed away and how she died by suicide, and it's a very special and vulnerable moment. And this was also the last scene they filmed. I don't know if you've seen that really. So yeah, it felt like that makes sense. Like their emotions were probably very close to the surface, and they're both very emotional here and like serious, and so uh yeah. Yeah, Shane reaches down and grabs his hand, and he's like, Do you want to go inside? And he's like, No, no, I don't want to go inside. I'm happy here. I'm happy being vulnerable with you. I feel sick to my stomach. I know. It was just so sweet. Yeah. Yeah. Then the next morning they wake up together and Ilya says, Good morning, and Shane says good morning, and Ilya says, I like you. And this is my step two in the steps of the love confession because it's like, okay, I don't hate you now. I'm okay. I'm I feel vulnerable with you, I feel safe with you, I like you. You know, that's gonna be my next step. I'm working my way up to you. Which was kind of honest, but not fully honest. Yeah, because it's especially impactful to me, the the working up to it is especially impactful because we, the audience, know that Ilya has already confessed that he loves you. Exactly. But he doesn't know, and so we're watching him sort of like, okay, I'm gonna get a little closer to saying this in a way that you'll actually understand, but I do have to. Yes, yeah. So I like you, okay. We're good at that. Okay, okay. Okay, maybe tomorrow I'll get to something else, you know. And I think at this point in the episode, I was ready for like a tension break. I was ready for like a humor release because it was so much it was an onslaught like attack of love, yes, and high emotions, and so we get that. We get to the video game sequence. So they're sitting there, they're playing some hockey game, and Ilya picks Montreal, and uh, they like are ripping back forth. He's like, I'm on the fing game. Which I think is so cute. They're just like being boys, you know, yeah, and like hanging out together. A clip from the those straight guys that are recapping like the hockey podcast, recapping this, and they were like, like, hey, are you guys realizing something about yourself? But one of them was like, This would be so cool because that's your boy, like you can just go on a boys' trip, but then you're also on this romantic vacation, but you guys can like play, like you know, play hockey together and like hang out and be boys, but then like you're you can also like have this romantic and I was like, okay, but I get that like this is what you see here, they're just they're just boys, yeah. Like they're just they're also friends, yeah. Yeah, yeah, okay, but you know, yeah. All right, report back in a few years, report back in a few years. Um but yeah, like this was fun. But also, this is like don't see like when you build true intimacy in your relationship, it's like you're just kind of hanging around being goofy, yeah. Yeah, it's not all serious all the time. It's not all romantic and serious all the time. Yeah, yeah. Or most of the time. Yeah. Yeah, most of the time, really. It's more just like hanging around. Yeah. So um, Hayden calls. He's like, oh, Hayden just had a baby. Okay, Shane was a terrible friend. Wait, just like, uh, what's it? Your friend's wife just had a baby like a few weeks ago. To be fair, they've got a lot of people. It's hard to keep up. And so he calls, and then Ilya is like he's like starts messing with him and like like touching Shane and like then he goes on mute and he's like, stop. You know, doing that Shane thing where he's so like next door.

unknown: 32:09

Exactly.

Abigail: 32:10

I was standing outside like an idiot. And and then so then Ilya's like, okay, fine, how about this? If you get I won't touch you, but if you get hard, and Shane is like, I'm not gonna get hard. He's like, Okay, then no problem. Okay, then what's the problem? Okay, narr narrative. He did. He also puts himself up on the like he moves up on the couch and like widens his stance. It's like, okay, well, like, okay, yeah, you're so opposed to this. Also, like, but you're making your access a lot easier. Shame. Yeah, it's you, brother. Be be real. Yeah. Know thyself. Yeah. So, um, anyways, that's a lot of fun. Although, if I was Hayden, I would know exactly what was going on. Yeah, what it Hayden though, like, again, Hayden and follow-up questions, they don't go together. No. So he's probably just like, I don't know, he's probably in the gym or something. I don't know. Whatever. I don't care. I don't care. I don't care. He's got like 12 kids worry about it. Hey man, are you with Lily? Most realistic, like, male friendship, or when your friend has a lot of kids, he's like, I don't care.

unknown: 33:21

I don't care.

Abigail: 33:22

I've got these 12 kids, I got a newborn baby at home. Um God bless Jackie. Yeah. Talk to you later. God, yeah. God bless Jackie. So yeah. And then he says, Go ahead. He says, I love you by a love you man or whatever. He said, Love you. And then yeah. And then uh later, like well then Shane like tackles him and he's like, Yeah, oh my god, I hate you. Or something. He's like, Why was that so hot? And then Ilya says, Because you like being baby. And he's like, That's not what this is. Yeah, he's like, maybe that's that was so important to me. Maybe that's what it was. Maybe at first, maybe at first, but that's not what it is now. Yeah. Again, that was so important to me. That was so important. And you know, Ilya's worried about that. Like, is this just some like experimental thing, or you're getting it out of your system? And because you like kind of like living on the edge a little bit in these like sort of safe ways, but you know, like it does this just a sex cation. Is this all I'm good for? And then like mirroring back to the conversation he had in Russian on the phone of like his family always wanting more for him. What can he give them? You know, and it's like that's what his that's what he's learned about close relationships. That's that someone's always wanting from something from him, and maybe that's really all this is. And it would be safer for him to just know that now. So he makes a joke about it, and Shane doesn't let the joke slide, you know. Again, he doesn't let it slide. He says, This is not this is, and then Ilias says, Well, you love Hayden. And this to me is step three because he's testing it. Well, like, do you love Hayden? And like maybe he'll say no, like, or like maybe he's gonna say, I love you, but he doesn't, so he's like, Okay, I'll still we're still not there yet. But it's kind of testing the waters again, yeah. Like and messing with him. Oh, so you love Hayden now and jealous again, which is fun.

unknown: 35:20

Uh-huh.

Abigail: 35:22

Okay, then the the hardest to deal with scene for me, I think, in the entirety of the show. Actually, no, I mean I think we're worse than Tuna Mel Gate, but yeah. All right, so they're sitting on the couch. Well, first they're outside playing soccer, briefly. Oh, I skipped that part, didn't I? Yeah. Ilias says I'll be a free agent next season, or like I'm my contract up. Yeah, he's trying to like say something without saying something again. Yeah. And he's about to do it again on the couch, the senior referencing. But but yeah, he's just like, I don't know. Like, I'll I could maybe come play in Canada. It's just like planting the little seeds, but they don't really talk about it. Okay, why are you bringing this up? He's like, I would like to not have a Russian passport. Right, but you could I guess what what is said in the book and not said in the show is that it's harder for a Russian to get American citizenship. I guess, yeah. Um, I mean, yeah, it's hard to get American citizenships. Period, yeah. Period. Um, but I don't know about Canada, so I'm imagining maybe there's more of like a pathway for uh people who work in in Canada. I don't know. But yeah, he's like just planning the seats. My contract's gonna be up after next season, and maybe I could go somewhere else. Think about that. Tell me what you think about that. Then there's a when he says that he kind of wants Shane to be like, yeah, we could see each other more. Or yeah, we wouldn't be rivals, but like he's not ready to go there yet because again, like Ilya started this whole openness thing, and he's still kind of reeling from Shane shutting him down during Tune's Upgate. Yeah, that sticks with the plan. We're still post we're still post Tune'em Upgate. Um, and this is still a new dynamic they're navigating together where they're like spending this much time together and they're being honest with each other, and it's not easy for either of them because they've had so much years of practice of not being open. Yeah, and so this is another layer coming off. It's still not and I love it, I love it. Honestly, when I was starting re-watching this episode, I was like, are we gonna have that much to talk about? Because there's not that much plot, like it's a lot of just conversations, and I just love it because it feels so realistic. Obviously, this is a credit to the book as well. They don't just go straight to like this big, massive love confession. There are all these little moments leading up to it that make it feel so real and so earned when we do get there very soon. Yes, and the weight of the 10 years leading up to this is so extreme. It's like you're just feeling how long this has been building up. Like, and there is a lot to talk about. There is a lot of obstacles in their way, and so it's not so easy just to be like, oh, we love each other now. So I just like this that they start sort of moving, it's like a chess game or something, like they're each making their little moves and lining everything up, and then we're gonna get there, you know? But it's it takes time, it's not like an instant thing. So okay. Then they're on the couch. So then we cut to what happens on the couch. Yeah, they're sitting on the couch, and their little toes are touching, and they're like reading or chilling out or whatever. And Ilya's looking at his phone and he just out of nowhere goes, I could marry Svetlana. And then the look on Shane's face. The horror, the absolute horror. It's like he just got drafted into war or something. They just called his number. They just called his number. He was just like, What? And then he's like, it's just he's dead in the eyes, and he's like, you know, it would shit daughter of goal wheelie, Sergio. She has American citizenship. And he's like, Yeah, yeah, you've told me, yeah. He's like, Yeah, it would just be for passport, you know, we're friends, whatever. Yeah. And then she would do it. Shane is like, yeah, but you could find someone you want to marry for real and still get the passport. You like women. You like women. Like you could do You have that as an option. Yeah. And actually he starts tearing up at that point when he says that, you know, because it's the pain of knowing that that that Ilya could choose that over him. And that he can't choose that over Ilya. Yeah. He tried. He can't do it. Um, also he understands, I think, like that's a real that's a real issue, you know, like you're really concerned about having to go back to Russia when you're done playing hockey, or like, you know, God forbid he gets injured or whatever, his career's over. Yeah. Um, and then what? Like, he has no fall back. Back to Russia. He would have to go back to Russia. And so, yeah, and like just saying, well, you could find someone, you know? And is that what you want? Is you that what you want is to get married? Because maybe I can't give that to you. Yeah. Um, so there's like so much in this moment. It's such a loaded exchange. And this is very classic Ilya again, being like, I like girls. Yeah. Do you like girls? Like, I can marry Sylana. What do you think about that, Shane? Yeah. Sort of testing. So Shane starts tearing up a little bit, and then Ilya's like, you know, everywhere I go, all these women love me. Beautiful women everywhere. And Shane goes, Wow, that must suck. Or like, whatever. Tough light for you. No, it does. It does. But the thing is, I have this problem. Yeah. All of these women, and I'm always always wishing that they were this slow hockey player with beautiful freckles and a weak backhand. A weak backhand. And this is step four, by the way, my five steps to confessing love. And Jane is like he still hasn't like let himself accept what he's saying. Because all he's hearing is he's still defined as a problem. This is still a problem. It's a relief that they're telling he's telling him the truth, but then he goes, Well, do you want that problem to go away? And Ilyan goes, I don't ever want that problem to ever go away. That has got to be like five and a half, four and a half. Yeah. I don't ever want that problem to ever go away. Yeah. And then Shane's like, And the relief on Shane's face, like, don't marry Svetlana. The relief. Because then he can reciprocate it too. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 41:30

It's like, oh shit.

Abigail: 41:31

Like he's scared. And then he yeah, he says something also honest, like, I don't want you to marry Svetlana. We'll figure something out. Don't vary Svetlana. We can we can figure something else out, okay? And like the okay is like, right? We're on we're in this together, right? Yeah. We're saying the same thing, aren't we? Even though we're still not really being open about it, we're saying the same thing. We want to be together now forever. Don't marry Svetlana. We'll figure it out. I wrote in my notes, we can figure something else out, okay? And then proceeds to stay up all night figuring something out. That's what I wrote. Like almost exactly what I wrote. It's like, I get it. He's like, I'm I I get it. Like that would consume me. I would be like, I have to have a game, I would have a whiteboard, I would have, you know, notes. There's urgency here. We have to figure something out now. We've decided we're gonna figure something out, so I'm gonna be figuring something out now. Yes, yes, and it's so relatable. I'm sitting up in bed, and then as soon as he has the plan, not being like, I can't wait till morning, he just turns the land button, wakes him up. By the way, this would piss me off. Don't do that. Plan off. Do not wake me up. I'm going back to Russia. Yeah. Leave me alone. Now I want the problem to go away. I didn't know the problem was gonna be waking me up. You are the problem.

unknown: 42:44

You are the problem.

Abigail: 42:46

Um yeah. So he stays up, he's just sitting there in the dark, like staring, thinking he wakes up, Ilya, and he's like, hey, also, okay, you can play for Ottawa. We went on and on about all the king's beds. This is not a king bed. This is like a double bed, by the way. A king bed, you have like a full arm's length at least between you and the other person. Yeah. And that's the way it should be, you know? But this close, that's that's a full, maybe. Maybe a queen. Yeah. Maybe like why do we have to include that in the script? Just like small note to the to the to the no-on sweet math set artists. Yeah. All right. Like, just cut that, cut that line, anyways. But it was fun. It was fun. Um, yeah. So then he's like Shane lays out the plan. He's like, okay, you can. We can change the narrative. And he's like, What is narrative? It's totally holding there. What is narrative? And he's like, Okay, you play for Ottawa. There's young guys coming up, frothing at the mouth. Like, let them hate each other. Let them hate each other. Like, what are we gonna do? Like, or we're not wrestlers, we're not gonna like hate each other till whatever. And so he's like, Okay, uh, you play for Ottawa, we start a charity, we come up with a story about how like I came to you, and Helia goes, or I came to you. Or I came to you. He's like, fine, whatever. They're just competitive, and it wouldn't be bull either. It'd be like something cool that we both really like. Something cool.

unknown: 44:09

So cute.

Abigail: 44:11

And then, you know, maybe if we stand out in public together, it's not so big of a deal. And we're two hours away all year long. We can see each other all the time. Yeah. And uh, you know, then when we retire, maybe maybe we could really be together. I want to die. And then Ilya goes, You think that far ahead? And then Shane goes, About this I do. And then he says, and is that what you want to be together? And then Shane goes, I do so much it scares me. And then Ilya finally the dam breaks. And it's like he turns his head, he starts crying, and it's like the weight of being loved and wanted fully hits him, and he the relief that like the relief has just like broken the dam, it's all flowing out, and he just can't hold it in anymore. He's been trying so hard for so long to hold in his love for Shane, and he just can't do it anymore. Yeah, and he doesn't have to. Yeah, he doesn't have to. Oh, so then Shane Yeah. Hey, we have a million reasons to not to be together, but I stand up all night thinking of a plan so that we can. And maybe it's still gonna be really convoluted and complicated, and we have to play the long game to get to this hypothetical happy future. But I love you so much, I'm gonna figure it out, and I just love that about them, and it makes me sick, so like, yeah, and also like it's never too late. Like, we're 10 years into this situation ship, and whatever, sure, it was all lost time, but like you know, like we can't do this anymore, right? Yeah, so then Ilya starts to the future doesn't have to be lost time, yeah. He sits up. Well, Shane's comforting him because he's like, Yeah, what's going on? Why are you so upset? Yeah, yeah. And then Ilya starts murmuring to him in Russian, and then he looks at Shane and he's crying and he's chokes out over his tears. I love you. Yes, and Shane just goes, Holy sh, holy shit. Which by the way, I mean terrible reaction. Yeah, don't do that. But he says, I mean, because he's ready to walk it back. He's like, he was about to be like, I mean, never mind, and like, no, I don't, like, what that was a mistake. I didn't mean that. Yeah, and then he starts crying again and is like hugging him and goes crying in the walk. Because he's being loved. No one in his life tells them he loves them that that they love him, except for like Svetlana, you know, right? He has nobody who loves him, yeah, and Shane finally said he loved him, yeah. Like, and it was more than he ever. It's again his eldest daughter. Like, I thought that I'd never find that. I feel like it's more than he ever imagined he could have, and now he has it. I thought that I'd never find that beautiful, beautiful life that's the innocent life life back. Exactly. And so then then Shane goes, Does it fing kill you too? And he said, Not anymore. Not anymore. And then you just see this like beautiful moment. I saw someone on TikTok, forget the creator, I'm sorry. But the person they said the the same sound or the same song that plays whenever Shane goes out to like meet him while Ilia's watching the sunrise and smoking a cigarette, it's the same song that's playing when he finds him on the rooftop in Vegas. No. Dare you? Dare you, but it's the inverse of that moment again, right? Yeah. Yeah. Cause he's like, or it's the same too. It's not the same, but it's like the same as found you. You were looking for me. Like I found you. Yeah. Like they're always finding each other, but this time they can stay. Like neither of them are running off. They just sit there and they watch the sunrise. It's just being in the world. It's quiet. It's like a being in love. Being seen. Being like known. Yeah. Montage. And then they're in bed together. Yeah. Doing what could only be described as making love. Yes. Unfortunately. Very romantic. Yeah. Very romantic. And then Shane says, How do we let this happen? Yeah. And Ilias says, we are both very dumb and irresponsible. Yeah. And then it's a deal, right? Yeah. Oh. But this is what we were talking about earlier. Like, they're mid sex now. And it's not, it's like they're they're also having a conversation about the relationship. Exactly. The sex is now reflecting the emotional intimacy. Yes. Like they're they're being very sweet with each other. It's very soft. And they're also talking and like they're talking about their feelings. Grabbing eye contact. The face straight. Face grabbing. Oh god. There is a time and place for everything under the sun. Absolutely. Yeah. And sometimes you need to be railed from the back with your face pushed into the mattress by the person you love. And sometimes you need to look each other in the eyes and grab each other's faces and soft. Correct. So don't misinterpret what I'm saying personally as well as narratively here. Yeah. Yeah. Immediately following a love confession and watching the sunrise and having a plan to be together for the first time in 10 years. That is the time for tenderness. Exactly. And then immediately after I assume Ilya is like staring at the ceiling. They're like cuddling. Also like tears in his eyes. They finally have an aftercare game plan. Yes, right. They're not going to be a few. I don't care if it's your situation. You still have to have some sort of aftercare going on. Yeah. No. So there's a few. We didn't want to kiss. Okay. Yeah. And Ilya staring at the ceiling. Ilya staring at the ceiling with tears in his eyes. And it's like, I again didn't pick up on this the first few times, but his eyes are like misty. And it's like you can almost just imagine him thinking, like, again, like, oh, I have this now, and I'm never gonna have to lose it. I can't believe this is real. I can't believe this is real. I can't believe this is really happening. And this is the moment, and it's what he decides to say. I don't think we talk about this enough as a society. Yeah. But it actually is terrifying to be loved. Yeah. Oh, you're seeing like I just have been extremely vulnerable with you. Your potential to hurt me and crush me like a bug is now so high.

SPEAKER_01: 51:00

Yes. Like, and and it's inevitable. I'm trusting like it's it's not even like it's just a fact. It's gonna happen now.

Abigail: 51:07

Because if we stay together forever and you die, right? It's over. That's gonna crush me. Yeah. No, it's like though there has to be risk. You know, I I risked everything. I'm risking everything in this moment. Exactly. You're gonna kill me. This is gonna be the thing that kills me.

unknown: 51:22

Yes.

Abigail: 51:24

Yes. I I literally why I love lost time so much. I saw an interview with Lucy Dacis where she was basically saying this of like love is in like inextricably intertwined with grief. And like you either mourn the time that you didn't have together, or you mourn the future you might not have together, or like you know the person's gonna die one day or break up. Like, there's no way to exist with loving someone without there being some kind of pain eventually, and that is a really vulnerable thing, and it's also like what makes life worth living for some people. So it's just like, yeah, dude, like love. Anyways, then Shane says, What was your mother's name? Which just Yeah, okay, chill, by the way. Like, this is a lot for me. Can you see that I'm doing I'm processing a lot? And he goes, Irina. And then he shares this idea that their foundation should be hockey camps, and then the money goes to like suicide prevention and mental health. Yeah, which is again. And I'd like to say, I think this is part six of the telling someone you love. I agree. You know what? But now we're taking it to another level because he says, I'm gonna show you. She would have loved you. That's what I'm saying is now. Oh, that is, yeah. That's part infinity. I don't even know what that's. That's part you that's expert PhD level. Yeah. She would have loved you like I love you. She she would have loved you like I love you. And his voice is like cracking. And he's looking at him, and he's just and now he's mourning the fact that his mom is never gonna meet him. Yes. This one person in his life who did love him, um, and who he loved, and she's gone and she'll never know Shane. But again, like what a monumental thing it is for Shane to do this because I'm sure he has like the things, you know, he could have done autism awareness. I think the first recipient of that should be himself. Yeah, he needs to be more aware. So he like he he's just sitting there thinking about you again, you see Ilya crying, whatever, post-sex crying, love it. Anyways, he's crying, he's thinking about how much he loves Shane, but also implication, Shane was lying there thinking about how much he loves Ilya, and hey, I know this would mean a lot to him. Why don't we start this foundation that's gonna help with suicide prevention? And we name it after your mom. Yeah. And then, okay, so he says she would have loved you, like, I love you. And then Shane says, say it again in Russian. Which again, I knew this was coming from the books, but in the books to me, it's like funny. It's like, uh, you know, whatever. And this Connor says you'll always be famous. Yeah. His little voice just cracks and he says it so slow, like he's he, I don't know, like he's thinking about every word and he's like feeling the weight of every single word, and he says it in Russian. And oh, it's so sick. It is so sick. Yeah. Okay, this again, just like the just like the video game thing, we need I need a tension break now. This has been a lot. I needed some sort of release.

SPEAKER_01: 54:32

Set me free.

Abigail: 54:33

And we got it. With Ilyad doing a little handstand in the water with his water shoes. Watch this, watch this. Hey, like, hey, check out how long do you think I can do a handstand?

SPEAKER_01: 54:44

We're just so religious. Hey, how long do you think he's like showing off his cross?

Abigail: 54:49

Rate this one. Rate my hands. Are they pretty straight? Yeah. Just so fun. They're just playing. And then he says, um, you know, give me kiss. Give me keys. And it's just like oh, it's just sweet. It's like, okay, yeah. For the first time, they're just together. Like nothing else. Yes, and phone mentioned because he's like, check off stones. He splashes water on him and Shane's like, what if I have my phone in my pocket? Some country is right next door. Sending out something. Okay, well, first of all, you're sitting on a rock in the middle of the water. If you brought your phone, I fear that's on you. I feel like that's not my phone. Come on, brother. Yeah. So, anyways. Whatever. They're walking back up to the house. They're walking back to the house. Shane is like, Do you want pasta? Or do we have pasta from last night or hot dog? Yeah. Um, and he's like, hot dog. And he's like, well, then they drift defrost for a little, what are we gonna do with the time? And then they start kissing. Yeah. And then Shane's dad sees them through the window. It's like a horror movie. Yeah. It's like pans over Shane's father. Oh my god. I think what I'm doing is jumping back in the lake and drowning myself. And that would, yeah, I would just walk away and you would never hear from me again. But you know what? Props to Shane's dad, because he does the only reasonable thing you could possibly do in this moment. Yes. Which is to leave immediately, get in your car and drive away. Get the hell out of there. Yeah. You have that is great self-awareness. Yes. You know what? Shout out to Shane's dad. I should, I I've got to leave immediately. Give them space. Yeah. They'll come to us. So he just drives away. This would I think I would actually die. I genuinely can't imagine anything worse.

SPEAKER_01: 56:36

I can't imagine anything worse.

Abigail: 56:38

Okay. No, because the story for the listeners. When I was like 11, I rode in a car with my crush and my parents, and I was so nervous that my crush is in the car with my parents that I started blacking out and I got a nosebleed. So that would happen to me for sure. Like, yeah, I would have a stroke, like a genuine stroke.

unknown: 57:03

I would die.

Abigail: 57:04

I don't I can't imagine the late like my parents don't know I'm gay. They don't know that I'm in this tenure situationship with my rival who they hate. They hate him and they remind me of that at every turn. And I have this really good relationship with them, but there's this like huge, massive thing about me that they don't know. And now they just saw me kissing my arch rival, who again they hate. So now I've been like I mean, I would have I would have an aneurysm about one of those things. If there's only one of those things. Correct. So he's right to freak out. He goes, Yes, Ilya, this is my fing nightmare. And then Ilya's like, maybe it's time to wake up. Okay. Yeah. And then he's like, okay, I can go over there and talk to them. He's like, Do you mean to come with you? And he's like, Yeah. Would you do that? You would do that? He's like, of course. Of course. Love. Oh, I know. He is. He helps him calm down. He helps him make a plan. Yeah. And to me, this is like, again, I feel like Ilya's already come to terms with this earlier when he's asking him. Like in his mind, he's like, okay, well, we'll get there one day. So I think he's like, yeah, okay, they'll be good. They'll be fine. And I'll go with you. Look. Well, two things. One, Ilya is like, I know about fed up families. This isn't gonna be that bad. This isn't one of them. Yeah. Look, I know ball. My brother, like, called me an F slur, and we almost got into a physical fist fight at my dad's funeral. So, like, look, it's not, it is not gonna be as bad as that. Correct. Um, second, this is so important to me, is that he's like, Look, I don't mind going with you to your parents' house because I don't care so much about what your parents think of me as I care about supporting you. So of course it's not a problem. I'm not worried about being judged by them. I'm there for you. Who cares? Yeah, and that is totally, totally agree. So they drive over, Jane's freaking out, Ilya's trying to calm him down. They get there, they park. And he looks over Ilya, he's like, Maybe you should wait in the car. That was so funny. And Ilya's like, Hello. No, you're being d you're being stupid. That that's stupid. He doesn't even say anything, and I just love that. Um, they also were holding hands in the car ride over, and Ilya was kissing his hands, which I realize you glazed over, but that was more pornographic hand holding. Um, so then they walk into the house, and Shane says, Hey, it's me, Shane. Hey, it's me, Shane. Genuinely, I think they know your name. Like, I think they do know their only child's name, but I respect the introduction. And he goes, Um, uh I've something like, I'm sorry you had to find out this way, whatever.

SPEAKER_01: 59:54

Or he goes, and this this is Ilya.

Abigail: 59:55

I meant to tell you. Rosinoff, uh you know that. You know that. And we're love our Ilian, no, it's gross. Which it is. That is gross. Correct. Yes. Then uh Yuna says, but you hate him. And he says, No, I mean, I get that, but no, I actually I love him. And her her face is like I mean, I I mean I get it. I do get it. They are being this an onslaught of information. Correct. Like I want to, you know, say they should have reacted perfectly, but also this is if it were me or any normal human being, no matter how supportive you want to be to your kid, this is a lot of information to take in. And I do feel like their reaction was probably as best as you could hope for given the circumstances. Because like I thought you hated him. Now you're telling me we're lovers, and more information is about to come out. But like this is crazy. Like, this is so hard to understand. So uh yeah, I think they're doing the best they can. And he's like, Can we just sit down? So they sit down. Yeah. They start talking about it. Having a coffee or something. What you know, we thought you might be gay, whatever. Just crazy too. Don't say that. I would be like, oh, great. So the whole time when you were like, hey, meet any nice girls, or like whatever, you thought I might be gay and you made me feel that way for nothing. Yeah, yeah. I hate you guys. But again, okay. And then uh the freaking, yeah. So then Ilya's like, they're just like, so how long has it been going on? Oh, the all-star game, like, no, before. And they're like, how to when? And they're like, or rookie season? And Ilya's like, no, before. And he's like, not helping. And then it's like, so you guys spend in love since your rookie season? And they're like, oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Just say yes, guys. Just say yes. And then and then Ilya's like, we, you know, just you know, just and then Shane is like Ilya? Ilya and then he goes, just I love them so much. And then Yuna goes, oh, okay. And then Shane's dad's still not getting it. So classic dad behavior. And he's like, wait, what? And what? How? Lovers. And he goes, Shane goes, we are no one is allowed to say that word. Ah, I just love them so much. So and then Yuna's like, Shane, you didn't ever let him win, did you? Which again, on brand for her, and I do understand that. And she he says, Do you let dad win at cards? And she said, I'd rather die. Okay, okay. I just love it. Um, and then they he said, you know, they say, like, Ilya, you had such a reputation as a ladies' man, and he's like, you know, it's not true. Ilya's bisexual, whatever. And then he says, Well, I've only been in love with that. Their faces are like, can't compute. Yeah, like wait, wait, what? They do that now? They let that happen. And then, yeah, he says they've only been in love with one person. And then uh Shane says, same here. And I think I saw an interview where Jacob Tierney described them as high school sweethearts, and I love that for them. And I've never thought of them that way, but it's like, yeah, they are. They were just like little teenagers when they first met, and then and they grew up together and they figured it out. You see the mirror image of the press conference scene where their foot their foot touch under the table. That was sick. That was sick. But in the light, you know. Yeah. And it's just so sweet. And they're together now. Like, again, that scene is so important at the press conference because they see each other and they're there for each other, even when people are pitting them as rivals. And it's like the same thing here. Like, we're on the same team, you know. No matter what people think about us, whether it's my parents, whether it's like the whole world, whether it's the press, whatever, we're on the same team, and I see you, and I'm here for you. And this is the inverse with Ilya being there for Shane, but oh, it's just so nice. Yeah. So then, so then Yuna is overwhelmed by this information. Valid, probably. Oh my god. And it's not like she's upset, it's just like, oh sh, I thought I was his great mom. Yeah. That would be really hard. Yeah. Oh, they're in love, and they've been in love for a long time, and like they've only ever been with a lot of people. It's been going on for a decade. Yeah. So she goes outside and she's taking a moment, a breather. Yeah. Shane goes outside, brings her her sweater, and they have such a like a heartbreaking conversation, but also heartwarming. Where Shane is like, Mom, I just I want you to know. This I want you to know, I tried. I tried really hard, but I can't help it. And all of a sudden it's clicking to her, and she's like, Whoa, no. She was like, Shane, you have nothing to apologize for. I'm sorry, I made you feel like you couldn't tell me. And hug, and she says she loves him, and she says she's proud of him. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because it's like, again, it's like the problem scene from earlier. Shane still sees himself as a problem. Yeah. And he's like, I really tried, mom. That would possibly break me forever if I had a child and they said that to me. Um, and so I do understand her being overwhelmed. Because it's like, man, there's nothing wrong with you. There's nothing wrong with you. And maybe if they thought he was gay, they could have been a little more vocal about that. But yeah, like they tried their best, whatever. And that, yeah, that uh the acting by Hudson Williams and being like, I just tried so hard. And it's true, he did. Like, he tried really hard with Rose, he tried to end things with Ilya, he tried not to like end up here, and now he's accepting it, but he still isn't fully like settled into that yet. Of like, hey, it's okay that I am this way, it's okay that we're in love. And um, this is probably a really big stop for him of like, there's nothing wrong with you. This did not go according to his plan. Yeah. You know, everything we know about Shane as a character is that he would have liked to have a meticulous plan to control as many variables as possible to explain what's going on with his family. That all went to hell when his dad walked in on them. So this is out of his control. It's all out of his control. Okay. So that's really scary. He's really on his back foot. He's very vulnerable. Um, so then she's like, okay, well, what's the plan? And we cut two back inside. I know. I love her. I do love her. I love her so much. She's like, okay, I've processed this now. We're gonna make a plan. She goes, enough. We're gonna be okay. She goes, okay, enough. Yeah. What's the plan? Because now I'm gonna support you. I'm gonna mommage you into having a successful long-term relationship with my new son, Ilya. Yes, we're getting Pride Month brand deals. Yeah. We're gonna get you two on a reality show. Let's go, lesbians. Let's go. Hey they. So they go inside and they have pasta. Ilya is fing up with the pasta. I get it. He's like eating before everyone has theirs. Shane's like, chill out a little bit. Relax. And he's just like, he does a little dance. I don't know. He's like, this is going great as far as I'm concerned. No one's throwing me into the wall. No one's calling us any flurs. This is great. I need to call the cops. This it's legal to be gay here. We're in Canada for God's sake. It's actually fine. This is awesome. Yeah. Like me and your dad were. Okay, wait, actually, pause. When Shane was outside talking with Yuna, what do you think Ilya and uh what's his face? Yuna and David. What do you think David and Ilya were talking about at the at the table? Probably something dumb, like hockey or like I don't know. They're just talking about dad stuff. It's so classic when you're alone with your like some dad, like a friend or your partner's dad. You're like, they're just talking to you. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So dad's sitting down, eating pasta. She's like, you know, I think we reached out to the premium brands, and she goes like full, full Chris Jenner.

SPEAKER_01: 1:08:20

She's like, I think they're gonna, they're gonna get on board with this once they wrap their minds around it.

Abigail: 1:08:25

And Shane is like, hey, Shane's like, three steps back. We aren't ready to come out yet. We just want to have a future together. And they're like, Well, how long, like, what are you guys gonna do? Like, just not like keep it a secret, you know, for like, and they were like, Yeah, probably. And they're like, Well, that's sad, you can't do that, whatever. Like, and then Shane starts having a meltdown. Yeah, yeah. And he's just like puts his head down on the table, and his parents, this is like such an important scene to me. It's yes, his parents look at him and they're like noticing what's going on, and then Shane look and Ilya looks over. And then Ilya like, Shane, Shane, and he like puts his hand on his leg. He's like, Hey, it's okay. You're here with your family, you're here with your boyfriend. We're all good here, right? Like, okay, calm down, let's do some grounding. It's okay. And to me, the important thing is how affectionate he's being to Shane, and like steady he's being for Shane in front of Shane. In front of his parents. Like they kiss, yeah. He's grabbing his face again. Yes. He's like saying boyfriends for the first time. They've never even had that label conversation in front of his parents, correct? And his parents, I think that's the moment that his parents are like, yeah. I see it. Yeah, like we're seeing someone care about our baby like as much as we do. The way that we do. Yeah. And like this is real. We trust him, he's accepted, he's part of the family. And then like it's immediate.

unknown: 1:09:58

Yeah.

Abigail: 1:09:59

Like, you know what? It's fine. It's like, that's my son. These are my two gay sons now. My gay son. And they're both part of the family. Yeah, because then they say, since uh Yunus says, since her rookie season. And she's almost like choked up with David's like. Yeah. And David's like, before. The summer before.

unknown: 1:10:15

Summer before.

Abigail: 1:10:16

God, they're so they're so mom and dad. I know. Yeah, it's like, oh, that's because this is a lot for them, obviously, like we just said. And Yunus just had to come to terms with like, oh, he didn't feel like he could tell me this. But then he she gets to also see, oh, but he is so loved, and like that's all I ever wanted for him. And so, like, yes, maybe this was a difficult thing. He didn't feel like he could talk about it. Probably it was really hard for them, but now I'm seeing him and he is being loved, and somebody who gets him, who sees him in this like anxious spiral that I know my son goes into from time to time, and like, yeah, almost just like changing of the guard, too. Like, Julia is the person who comforts him now. It's not really, it's not me anymore. Like, this is we're just gonna be there for them. Yeah, this is and like, oh, it is that serious. Oh, yeah, like yeah, whatever. Oh, so then they walk them out, and they're talking about like plans for getting together later in the week, and Shay's mom, he was like, Okay, we'll just text before you come. And he's like, Oh, it's fine, we'll just come over on five and five. And Ilya goes, please text. And then David goes, We'll text. Keep your phone. He's like, Oh, check your phones. Yeah. Please. Oh, and then that's it. They get in a car, and then that's it. That was jarring, by the way. We both were caught extremely off guard by the end of the day. Not expecting that. I was not ready. I was not ready. I get it. When you don't know if you have a season two, you kind of have to end it there. And it works. Like I said, I think this this framing of the episode works really well. And um, yeah, it's it's a really happy place to end it. It's like a hopeful place, it's not perfect. Um the good the credit scene is them like driving back to the cottage together, just like talking. Ilya's crying at one point. That was very difficult for me to find out. I saw that too. I didn't I didn't notice that either the first time we watch it. He has a family. He's got a family now. Yeah, he has a family. He's gonna be okay. He has someone made him pasta. Someone made him a home-cooked meal, and also I was just thinking like I cannot wait for season two when he's like obsessed with uh David's chicken par. Me too. They're just like hanging out all the time. Oh my god, watching Shane play. But I was just thinking too about like the the domestic like the intimacy of being domestic together, and like they've never even before this trip ridden in the car together before. They haven't been able to hold hands, like they haven't eaten a meal at the same table. Like all these little I mean, they had their little tune-amounts or whatever, but obviously that was a disaster. But it's like the little like yeah, the intimacy of a life together, yeah, and the quiet little things that they never got to do before, and they're getting to experience together, and like meeting parents and calling each other boyfriends, like it's all happening here, and it's just really nice to be like have this moment of them in the car, yeah, doing something they never got to do before. And in the book, when they get back to the cottage, Shane is like freaking out a little bit, and yeah, uh Ilya brings him some vodka, and and Shane is like still reeling, and in Ilya's internal thoughts, he's like, This was actually one of the best days of my life. Yeah. You know, like I got to be with a family, like it was awesome, yeah. It was awesome, like I'm so happy, and like also just chill out, Shane. Like, yeah, we have a plan, we're gonna figure it out, it's gonna be okay. I get it, but it's also like it takes a little time. Like, the reminder is they still have another season before Ilya can leave Boston to go to Ottawa, and then then after that, they can announce the foundation. The foundation. So, like they still have a long way to go. Yeah, they have a lot to do. I did see someone suggest uh to get to season two that if they're gonna have two seasons, they could make season two kind of those like in-between years, um, and like the slowly like coming out to Hayden, starting the foundation, and then maybe introduce like one of the other couples, and then have season three be more the actual plot of the long game. And I kind of like that. Because there is those like in-between, you know, there's a year of playing in Boston, then there's like an 18-month jump too, where they're like slowly unveiling their you know, this master plan that they've just discussed. Yeah, but Connor's story did say that season two is gonna be based on the long game. I know, I know, but who knows? Who knows? Who knows? I mean, I just don't know if that's that a way of saying, like, yeah, we're gonna do the long game, or is that a way of saying we're gonna stick to Shane and Ilya? You know what I mean? And not like the other books, but they might be there, but like, you know what I mean? I don't know. I mean, this is a good way to transition to our thoughts about season two. Um totally. I think I need it now for we're not gonna get it until 2027. For sure, yeah. So I I recognize that. 2026, we're gonna have to do something else for a year. Bleak. A bleak year. No. I mean, it is. We talked about this. No, I'm only gonna be able to do it. Is releasing a book, right? They have finished the first draft of their next book. Fuck, okay, that's not good enough. It may be 2027. That feels like a 2027 book. I'm saying we're in a drought right now, and I'm scared. I'm scared. Somebody, please help us. Help us. Oh my god. Yeah. So, but you know what? Rachel Reed's gonna be announcing a new book in January. I think that's true. So maybe that book will come out in 2026. And we can talk about that. I mean, you're gonna force me to watch Bridgerton. We got people we meet on vacation, we got the project I marry me. Open your mind. All right, but okay, before we get to that, we'll talk about what's next for us in a second. Let's talk about what's next for the show. Season two. I think so. We we're gonna wait till 2027. They're gonna start production. Sure. They're probably gonna be like writing, doing stuff beginning of this year. Sure. Beginning of 2026, production, mid-2026, and then they gotta like edit it, do all the stuff that you have to do for TV shows. What I want to know is are they gonna be filming in LA for any of it? Because if so, what if I could be an extra on the show? Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. Yes, you need to be an extra on the show. They're gonna have a budget for extra. Where did they film? I think this one this was filmed in Canada. It's a free production. It's gonna be in Canada. It won't be in LA, yeah. Whatever. Anyways, I think season two uh could follow. So we we have had Ryan Price mentioned. Mm-hmm in the We've had Kyle mentioned. Well, yeah, light, potentially. Um if Ilya goes to the Centaurs, which is so funny. I just realized the other day the Ottawa Centaurs as a play off of Ottawa Centers. I realized that the other day too. Like, I'm really that dumb. I was like, why is centaurs so weird? And then I was like, oh, senators. Uh-huh. So um they'll change that too. They've changed all of them. They'll change all of them. Yeah, they'll make it more different, but yeah, but he'll go to Ottawa. He goes, he goes to Ottawa, and then we'll be introduced to um the boys from Harris. Yeah, Harris. And also um, well, Wyatt isn't one of the main characters, but he's one of the he's the goalie for Ottawa, and he's like ally to some of the gay boys in the NHL, so or at NLH. So um there could be that plot. Um, I think there's a potential that will weave in some of the other characters. So if you haven't read the books, the other books, there's an opportunity. And Ilyaf features prominently in all of them, or like at least somewhat as like a supporting character. So we could get that. Um I hope we get the camps. I mean, I do too. I'm micro dosing the long game again to help me transition off of as kind of like a methadone clinic type thing. Yeah, maybe I'll do that. Yeah, right. I'm trying to transition off meth. So I'm going on methadone. Sure. Getting my infusions. I understand. So I'm doing like a micro dose of the long game. But I'm like, oh my gosh, the camps would be so fun. Because then you have all the supporting characters of the different counselors or the coaches, sorry, at the camps. Um plus you have Ryan Price walking in on them, kissing. Yeah, that's important. We've got um the couple with like the the trans hockey player, like that they don't have their own book, but that could definitely be a subplot, um, something fun to explore. And that's what I'm saying. I almost do feel like like you could do at least a big chunk of not explicitly outlined in the long game, but those like middle years that are kind of glossed over. I feel like you could do that as a TV show. Um we know they do time jumps. Whoa. I mean, they could start season two with the middle years and then pick up with half the long game and then finish the long game in season two. Or even role model. Yeah. Yeah. Which is kind of like I mean, I don't think they're gonna deprive us of Shane and Ilya. No, they're stars, they're stars. But I think we will get I do really believe we're gonna get Ryan Price content. I think we will get Ryan Price, and I think we will get uh role model. I think we'll get role model. And then maybe that leaves common goal plot as part of season three. I don't know. Or maybe they diverge from canon. Yeah. I don't want to put them in a box. I do think the original text is really good. But You know, I think the show. I trust them. I came into this with zero expectations, actually negative expectations. Yeah, now my expectations are. And I am believing with high expectations, but also with the most insane amount of trust I've ever felt in anyone adapting a book I love into a TV show. Like I just trust them. I think they understand the world. I think they understand the characters. I think they got it. There is like a respect for it, and I believe in them, and I will watch anything they do with this. If and if it diverges, I will still support it. So I'm ready. This has been so much fun. This has been so much fun. What a great way to end this year. And yeah, so so up next, we're going to be when is the release date if people will be on vacation on Netflix? January 9th. Yeah, okay. So I was thinking our episode would have to come out the 13th. If you want to talk about the movie. Yeah, we can talk about two weeks. Book the movie. And then we I'm gonna make you deeper to Jim. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Can't wait for that. Get excited. So pumped, you guys. I'm so excited. Open mind, open mind. I think you're gonna like Benedictine a character more than a big one. I'm sure I will. Benedict is more Anthony. I'm telling you. I believe you. I just, yeah. I I my beef is with Colin. And Sophie is a really compelling main character. As the thing. Yeah, we'll do that. We'll be here. We'll be around. We'll be talking. We'll be yapping. We'll be reading. With Laugh Love. I'm sure we'll be updating you on the long game as season two develops. So thanks for being here, you guys. Alright. Happy New Year. Happy New Year. Bye. Bye.