Right, yes. <3
Let us talk about the things we love about Scott Hunter, Kip Grady, and their relationship, because they deserve it and so do we. :) <3 Here are just a few of mine:-
the incredibly cute dorky and inept flirting that nevertheless leaves them both charmed with each other <3 <3
Scott being the opposite of whatever a Karen is towards Kip in his customer service roles
the blatant neurodiversity going on throughout (I totally go with the headcanon that Scott is autistic and probably has OCD and Kip has ADHD); the compassionate way the show at least (I admit I've not read the book) treats their respective blatant anxiety disorders <3
the way that Kip gives Scott new horizons and a new way of looking at the world and brings him confidence in himself as something other than a hockey player - it's no coincidence that he initially is interested in this hot man falling asleep over an art history book
the way in which Scott ends up growing and building himself and risking *everything* for Kip, and changing hockey in order to make Kip happy <3
the way in which while Scott initially comes out for himself and Kip, within a month he's clearly locked into being out for other players and would-be players and being increasingly politicised <3
on a shallow note: François and Robbie are both breathtakingly hot ;-)
the enormous kindness and sweetness both have; the way their break-up in ep1 is done so calmly and maturely with so little resentment even while they're both breaking into pieces
Scott's speech in ep 6; dear God, it's so fucking relatable <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
the way Scott demonstrates how devastating homophobia in hockey - he's so terrified and he's an astute man for all his anxiety and lack of intellectual confidence - he's a wake-up call to any idea that being gay isn't enough to be Really Fucking Marginalised in sport (and thus gives perspective because when Scott has this much to fear when he's a white non-immigrant and the captain of a pretty friendly team? aaaaaaaaaah :( :( :( )
Carter Vaughn loves (and is protective of) Scott, and I know from those who have read the book that he loves Kip, and I mean <3 <3 <3
Elena Rygg loves (and is protective of) Kip, and clearly warms to Scott even while gently calling him out on the mess their first attempt at a relationship is becoming <3
two words: George Grady.
the epic joy Scott and Kip give each other... just... aaaaah!
knowing that Scott gets welcomed ultimately by George and by Kip's friends; knowing that Kip and Carter are going to become friends
the way that Scott's courage gives Ilya the courage to come to the cottage; like most skip fans I also love hollanov, so this is totally part of the joy for me :) :) :)
Ep5 and Ep6 skip are pure queer joy and... just. I'm a queer trans man in my late 40s. I wen to school under section 28 in the UK; for most of my life even while we didn't have the Hayes Code here we sure as fuck didn't get mainstream tv queer romances with happy endings, let alone two (TWO!!!) wonderful queer couples in shows like this (and then more to come in future seasons! hooray!!). It is HUGE. <3
All of this, and also how unconditionally they love each other. Even when things go badly and being together isn't the right choice for them at that point, they still love each other and want the best for each other.
There are several moments in the show where their story sidesteps the typical romantic tropes that are usually based around some miscommunication. Like, after their failed visit to the art gallery, I expected one or both of them to get defensive and for them to have an argument to try and preserve their ego. Instead, Kip's priority is comforting Scott, and Scott immediately acknowledges that the way he behaved was not okay.
Also; the way they laugh when they're in bed together 😭
