HEATED RIVALRY S1 FINALE ( EP 5-6 ) FULL LENGTH REACTION
Added 2026-01-16 10:48:17 +0000 UTC
Comments
One of my favorite uses of music in this episode is at the bar during the All Star Game. I could be wrong about this, but I'm pretty sure the tense techno music that usually plays internally as part of the score (usually when Shane and Ilya interact) becomes diagetic for the the first time as it plays on the bar's speakers. Shane and Ilya's internal world is becoming more apparent to the outside environment
Chloe Grover
2026-02-11 05:12:44 +0000 UTCI think season 2 is going to be PHENOMENAL. I love love loved this season (obviously) but without getting into spoilers their second book is imo a much easier story to adapt to film. Jacob Tierney straight up has said he didn’t think this book was necessarily adaptable but loved it so much he had to try. On the other hand, The Long Game is a story I can much more clearly see on screen than Heated Rivalry which is literally 50% smut scenes and extremely internal in terms of where the conflict is coming from. I would love to see you dig into some more queer media/ coming out stories. Someone recc’ed Heartstopper on the last vid which has a big mental health element that I think will resonate for you. Also definitely falls into pg-13 so less water bottle action by a longgggg shot.
Natasha
2026-02-10 00:48:01 +0000 UTCIn the last episode, it’s been nine years, because it’s summer 2017; they started hooking up in 2009 (met in 2008).
jo
2026-02-09 16:54:46 +0000 UTCthis article (written by a relationship therapist), about the equality in their relationship, has a quote about this: “In an era where emotional fluency is often conflated with constant verbal processing, this restraint feels radical. The fantasy the show offers is not that one must articulate every internal state to be loved, but that someone is watching closely enough that words are not always required.”. https://www.out.com/voices/heated-rivalry-radical-relationship-equality
jo
2026-02-09 16:11:42 +0000 UTCthey are like 25 years old (25/26) here yes, but, keep in mind, they were groomed since elementary school to be elite athletes, never got to do normal developmental stuff like most kids do (and Ilya has trauma during really critical developmental stages). He had no one modeling or normalizing feelings or expression (like Shane does). I think we can see in the show that there are times when Ilya lets himself feel, and it’s VERY overwhelming & vulnerable, where he could get hurt so badly, maybe he’s not sure he could tolerate it. Usually people’s defense mechanisms are wisdom from their system of what they can endure at that point.
jo
2026-02-09 16:01:20 +0000 UTC@ 31:35: this bums me out a bit, this reaction. First of all, as someone who’s had a parent die, I wasn’t trying to “open up” and feel feelings and have done sort of processing convo in the midst of trauma and shock and a need to keep myself together to deal with the business I needed to take care of. Ilya might be safe to feel feelings alone with Shane in Tampa, but not in Moscow with his brother. Also, I’m weary of folks continuing to judge and minimize all sexual connection as avoidant - if nothing else I hope this show has pointed out how these two human beings have shown each other so much care, tenderness and expressiveness through their sexual experiences together, which is a way that it’s been safe to show how they feel for the past 8 years. Yes, it might be comforting and self-soothing for Ilya (and many of us), but that doesn’t make it less than or devoid of real intimacy or communication. We really privilege people talking about and showing feelings like that’s always the best healthiest way to interact and sometimes that’s just not what works for people.
jo
2026-02-09 15:56:18 +0000 UTCThank you Cherrie!!, did they already confirm Season 2 will be coming out next year?
Raymond Walker
2026-02-01 09:46:54 +0000 UTCThis was a really great reaction and I'm so glad you watched it all the way through. I also love that you didn't talk through the whole thing and you just reacted to what you were seeing when you did talk. At least you paused it. But I really enjoyed watching this for the 15th time with you! I cannot get enough of this show. Guess I'll be watching season 2 with you next year! 🥰
Cherrie
2026-02-01 05:43:21 +0000 UTCI live in Ottawa, Ontario, where Shane Hollander is from and where Ilya plans to play next and dude, it's been SO wild living here while our city is having this major pop culture moment 😂😂 Our NHL team, the Ottawa Senators, are even holding a custom Hollander 24 & Rozanov 81 jersey sales with proceeds going to the Ottawa Pride Hockey organization. My wife plays for this 2SLGBTQ+ queer league!! I think I am going to get a Rozanov jersey haha!
Kara
2026-01-21 02:11:44 +0000 UTCThank you so much for the reaction to this series. It's my favourite show ever and I'm loving your genuine reaction to it so much more than some other reactors who have been over the top and less understanding bc of their biases. <3
Noora
2026-01-19 13:27:29 +0000 UTCI would love you to go back and watch episode 4 with the monologue in mind. Especially with making sure the food and everything is perfect but it’s never enough. Just like he did with Shane and he still ran away, that’s why his face was so hurt when he left. Like others have said, they didn’t have words but you can see them falling at the beginning of episode 4 by their actions. They are more engaged with their texts because that’s the most practical way for them to communicate.
Jasmine Garner
2026-01-19 02:07:53 +0000 UTCThank you for writing this out! Well put and very important context for everyone to understand.
Henry Leor
2026-01-17 16:04:18 +0000 UTCIt's really important to distinguish between Scott’s oming out and the current situation facing Shane and Ilya; the stakes are fundamentally different. Scotts revelation was spontaneous, but his exit was timed. He came out once his professional goals were met and was ready to retired. His 3-4!year delay after his breakup with Kip proves he wasn't ready to come out until he knew that his professional legacy was safe. This doesn't make his coming out any less beautiful and brave, just different than Shane and Ilya's situation. Shane and Ilya are both active MLH rivals in their prime. Their relationship doesn't just affect their personal lives; it invites scrutiny regarding the 'integrity' of the game. Every play between them would be analyzed for bias or 'fixing,' potentially costing them the trust of their fans, teammates and the league. I mean we see Shane's own mom ask "did you ever let him win", so you know others will question it as well. In the book Shane is aware that he could likely survive coming out as a single gay man. But coming out as Ilya Rozanov’s partner would make every game they play against each other a spectacle that undermines their teammates' hard work. Furthermore, for Ilya, this isn't just a PR risk—it’s a safety crisis. If he were to lose his American contracts he'd be forced to return to a state-sanctioned danger zone. It's extremely important to note that Scott's courage in coming out directly enabled the relationship Ilya and Shane now share. Without his bravery, Ilya would not have envisioned a future with Shane, the cottage would be out of reach, and their love would never have had the chance to bloom.
Kris
2026-01-17 08:13:32 +0000 UTCHonestly, yours is one of my absolute favorite reactions to this series! I’ve watched quite a few because I'm totally obsessed with this show, but you actually understood the characters and their dynamics. I really appreciate that you didn't overreact to the early intimate scenes like some others do; you stayed focused on the emotional storyline, which is exactly how this show should be watched! Thank you for such a thoughtful reaction to this beautifull story!
Kris
2026-01-17 08:08:59 +0000 UTCThank you for these 🥰🥰
Sruppa
2026-01-17 06:17:36 +0000 UTC**Kip /Scott (26/29-29/32) (then-now) It's been about 3-4 years since Kip/ Scott broke up. **Shane/ Ilya: (17 -26) (then-now) By the time they go to the cottage they have been "together" for 9 years, however during that time they only saw each other maybe 2-3 times a year when they're teams competed (maybe a little more if there was an award show or tournament). Sometimes it's hard to believe (probably because the actors look older),,but when they met they were only 17 years old whereas Kip/Scott met when they were 26/29 years old.
Kris
2026-01-17 06:07:28 +0000 UTC🫡Ill get right on that, thank you for being here and supporting
Raymond Walker
2026-01-17 05:50:59 +0000 UTCIt was so satisfying to watch you watch the rest of this today, especially once we got to Ilya's Russian monologue scene and you realized you were getting what you'd been asking for. Thanks for getting these up for us so quickly! Now just go back and watch the full credits :)
Colleen
2026-01-17 05:43:28 +0000 UTCidk how many times i’ve watched ep 5 AND reactions to the end of ep 5 but i cry every single time😭 scott and kip are my goats
Zaria Middleton
2026-01-17 04:32:43 +0000 UTCOh boy, you are keeping us fed!! 🙌 🤩🥹 Can't wait for this one, once I get done with your 3-4. Thank you 🙏☺️
Christopher Luttrell
2026-01-16 11:21:59 +0000 UTC
