HEATED RIVALRY 1x3 & 1x4 Watchalong!
Added 2026-01-13 18:00:13 +0000 UTC
Comments
Yep. That was the icing on the cake. He was already weirded out by the intimacy of the earlier moments where Ilya is being nice. Then the first names put him over the edge.
james
2026-01-20 01:09:25 +0000 UTCOh no you missed a key part! Them calling each other by their first names is what freaked Shane out lol
Gambit
2026-01-17 02:35:44 +0000 UTCIm ngl I font think I can wait another week for yall 😅 respectfully😂 fully aware you have to run a business and you want to space the episodes out, BUT this shit is too good ! ...im more mad there's only 2 more left....ill just rewatcg it with yall😬
JMK BlaQ-IfJesusNmalcomXhadAbabyIdMiraculouslyComeOutOfKeisha
2026-01-14 08:05:59 +0000 UTCThe Scott-Kip episode is fast and a lot, but is my favorite so far. I stopped on 5 so coincidentally I'll be watching the last two along with y'all.
Tyr
2026-01-14 03:46:57 +0000 UTCI've waited so long for this. I love Scott and Kip. They are the mature hot couple. I love Shane and Illya, but I need men lol. And Scott was so sweet and determined to have at least a taste of what he wanted. It hurts that Kip was taking a step back from who he was. I read their story and it was my favorite book.
TheJoestarWithTheStrawHat
2026-01-14 01:39:47 +0000 UTCunfortinately according to the book, Illya did have a few other guys after Shane, not many, because he still preferred Shane
TheJoestarWithTheStrawHat
2026-01-14 01:35:46 +0000 UTCI think them saying each others first names for the first time was as close as they could get to saying I love you at that point. And I think Ilya was more ready since he basically planned that whole day with food and making sure he had ginger ale, while Shane really didn’t have the time to digest just how close they had become
Laura Marie
2026-01-14 00:59:08 +0000 UTCQuick note: Ilya and Miles weren't interested in each another at the bar. Ilya recognized Miles as one of Rose's close friends (from social media), just like Shane recognized Ilya's teammates. That's why they both immediately scanned the club for each other. IIlya would not have been interested in Miles. Once he met Shane Ilya restricted his sexual partners to women only. He was only sexually intimate with one man, Shane. We see an example of this in episode 2 when he turns down Sasha (the coach's son).
Kris
2026-01-13 23:34:03 +0000 UTCWhen they are talking on the couch, rather than playing games or trying to spark jealousy, Ilya is genuinely trying to gauge Shane's feelings. Having accepted his own deeper feelings for Shane, Ilya uses his own sexual history as an example, hoping that by opening up, Shane will do the same. Ilya genuinely wants to know whether or not Shane is interested in women. For Shane, it wasn't the discussion about women that made him run. I'm sure he didn't like it, but that wasn't the reason he left. It was the intimacy of the moment, especially the use of the first names (for the first time)—it made their connection too 'real' to ignore. As long as Ilya kept him at arm's length, Shane could safely harbor his feelings without ever having to confront his own sexuality or risk the consequences an actual real-world relationship with Ilya could have.
Kris
2026-01-13 23:11:27 +0000 UTCBUT, yes the big shock factor for shane was the extra Regular existence together, that normally ilya is the one to resist, like when shane kissed his forehead he Immediately left, thus the 6 month ghosting to follow. Ilya Prepares for having shane over, a cutesy diet friendly meal, and his favorite drink stocked and ready. And he wasn’t the one to initiate their second round. So they almost each did an entire 180 with eachothers personalities or at least the performance of their growing feelings. Then to top it off, apparently it was Shane thinking of ilya while being active with Rose. so ilya probably actually got laid, or didn’t but that was him just thinking of his boo bear. I was inbetween with my emotions on ep 4 because poor shane has been on the receiving end of the cold and warm treatment, BUT Ilya has gotten to a point of opening up or at least relaxing and the first time he acts on it, he gets left abruptly 😭💔. so much happening at once, love watching my favorite films with you guys!
Renitaa j
2026-01-13 22:52:10 +0000 UTCso i know this one Just came out, but i infact need the next reaction Yesterday 😭!
Renitaa j
2026-01-13 22:43:58 +0000 UTCWhile Kip/Scott’s relationship is undeniably captivating, the sheer weight of obstacles Shane/ Ilya have and continue to face resonates with me on a much deeper level. There is a profound difference between the maturity of Scott and Kip (who met at 26-early 30's) and the raw, formative struggle of Shane and Ilya, who began at 17. Scott/Kip have both accepted their sexuality (even though Scott is closeted), and both benefited from constant proximity to one another brought about by living together for months. Shane/Ilya’s connection was limited to only briefly seeing each other 2 to 3 times a year when their teams compete. Shane has not yet accepted his sexuality, in fact, I think in the book it states that he just doesn't think he's met the right girl yet. Ilya, accepts that he is bisexual, but doesn't think that having a relationship with a man is even remotely possible due to his ties with Russia. Especially considering the fact that if he were outed and lost his American contracts he would be forced back to a very dangerous situation in Russia. A major key distinction lies in their careers. Scott, who is close to retirement, and Kip, who has a career outside of the MHL, face less severe long-term consequences from being outed, which don't get me wrong, would still be devastating.. A revealed long-term relationship between MLH Rivals like Shane/Ilya would place their careers under intense scrutiny. Every game they played against each other would be microscopically analyzed (by teammates, fans and the hockey league) for bias, potentially leading to accusations of throwing games, professional ostracization as "traitors," loss of prime-career contracts, and possibly Ilya's forced teturn to Russia. I just feel that the stakes for Shane and Ilya are unique. They are trying to navigate their relationship while battling internal acceptance, international political danger, and the intense scrutiny of both being active MLH players. However, despite facing these numerous obstacles throughout the years, Shane and Ilya’s profound love and passion for one another continuously sustains their relationship. To be clear, I deeply respect the immense difficulty of Scott and Kip's journey and their love for each other, and I'm not attempting to minimalize their experience. My only goal is to highlight a few key differences in their situations.
Kris
2026-01-13 22:16:44 +0000 UTCJust a note! Shane freaked out bc that was the first time they said each others names and it became too real for him, so he gets with Rose so he feels “normal” and they only date for 1 month
Sondria Lacewell
2026-01-13 20:32:08 +0000 UTC
