I've seen some people saying the 3rd episode of Heated Rivalry was unnecessary. They wanted Shane and Ilya. And I do understand their wish and, obviously, their right to have an opinion, especially because now we'll all have to wait one more week to see Ilya again... However...
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! xD Hunter and Kip are amazing!
From a person who hasn't read the books or known anything about them (besides being a hockey mm) -- so, from someone who doesn't have a previous attachment to these characters -- this episode was the best so far.
The scenes were well-made.
The characters are cute and consistent.
The story built at a nice pace.
And the most important: these two main topics - being gay in the hockey world and being "closeted" by someone who isn't ready to come out - were treated nicely enough for the amount of time they had.
So, all in all, the best ep so far.
And for future reference, this is my favourite scene so far:
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Was it my favorite episode? No Scott and Kip aren’t my favorite to begin with.
But I love the episode with how it is in conversation with the first two and how that’s setting up for the rest of the series.
One of the things I have gotten from the series and from people discuss it online is that the viewers are trusted to understand important details without having it being directly pointed out. There is leading to the point, but not a lot of hand holding.
While we are are viewing this episodically in the end this episode will exist as part of an entire whole.
The first two episodes sets up the feeling of danger and risk of coming out. These young guns are hiding so much of themselves due to the pressures of the league and the homophobia from their countries and the league. So we don’t actually have to be shown much else for it to be believable that Scott is terrified of stepping out of the closet.
We also see how Ilya and Shane can’t make full and genuine connections and have to hide parts of themselves.
When Scott Hunter is a tense up tight spring of anxiety you know how badly he wants this and how terrifying it is for him.
Scott is taking the plunge that Ilya and Shane haven’t dreamed of. And it’s wonderful but it’s not easy. There’s emotional fall out, Scott doesn’t get it right, and he is still absolute terrified even tho he has all the love he has been craving and a very supportive partner. We look at this and we know it’s not enough.
And it ends with Scott and Kip separated fully understanding where the other is coming from and not able to cross that line to reconnection anyways.
When Scott voices what hockey means to him at the end of the episode, his entire world, his new world is crumbling down around him. He can not go back. Because hockey was enough at one point, but now we can see his hopeless excitement and devotion he has for the small domesticities and understanding. He wants that, but what if he looses the only thing he ever had? Something he was given. And things that are given can be taken away.
Scott leaves the episode alone and hurting because he wasn’t able to open himself fully and let go of his previous safety nets. While Kip is embraced by his father and friends. Kip isn’t happy. He’s heart broken. There was a darling man who wanted to give him the world, encouraged him, and appreciated everything he did. But it’s not enough.
Which means Ilya and Shane can’t hide forever. They can’t be in love and acknowledge it and keep it a secret. Kip rejects the idea of waiting until Scott leaves the NHL.
This episode was staring Kip and Scott, but I promise it was about Shane and Ilya as much as any other episode. The episode is asking us as the audience to engage in the themes and then ask how what we learned will apply to Ilya and Shane. And that’s why Scott triggering Ilya is so important. It is a full circle moment. Ilya and Scott are breaking circles.
Also I really love how awkward and clunky Scott and Kip are. They are older than Shane and Ilya, but Scott has so much less experience and Kip has so much self reproach that it makes them hard to connect in a normal way.
Additionally. Real quick, I promise. Kip is in a way and audience member with us in his denial of Scott’s flirting. Scott is this big akward guy, who is the captain of one of the best teams in hockey. And he might be the best player, and thus the biggest example of what a man should be in the NHL.
The show is asking us if we believe a man like that can be gay? That if we trust the looks Scott gives Kip and the single flirting as real.
And it confirms that we should. We should trust what we are seeing and I think that’s important to go into the next episodes with.
For any of my divas who have read “Give Me More” from the Salacious Players Club — I’ve realized why I love Hunters character so much
Hunter’s personality is entirely how I imagine Ben (Soldier Boy) would be once he “settles down.” Although I don’t think he’d ever quite be as settled as Hunter is in the book. More so just how Hunter is with Isabel, that’s how I imagine Ben would be with a significant other. Like that drive to be better, to change to “deserve” them. Still being rough around the edges and reserved in a way that makes things tough sometimes, but soft and adoring toward his girl. Like she’s the greatest thing in the world to him but he can and will fuck you up if you give him the slightest reason to do so. I also (as I’m sure many of you know) always picture him settling down with someone younger which, to a much lesser extent, is also a lot like Hunter and Isabel.
Anyway, sorry for the ramble but I had to get it out of my brain. Totally recommend that whole series, but especially “Give Me More” if you’re into a throuple/developing three way relationship between a husband/wife/husbands best friend. 10s across the board.
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I was wondering something. I have never like lianne, and my opinion on her still hasn't changed after the books. Sure, she did go to rehab and has been sober for years and started a new life. But personality wise, even veronica thinks so, she is very much the same: self-focused, dismissive and prone to blaming her problem on others and guilt tripping. I did like how protective she is of Hunter and is a decent mother to him. But she is still the same women who spent the majority of veronicas childhood drunk, and advocated for veronica and Duncans relationship, despite knowing that there was a chance that they might be siblings. She even threatened celete and Jake when celeste tried to break them up. Which is a whole level of disgusting and gross. I get, kind of, not telling them, but doing every damn thing to make sure that they stay together? Why?
Veronica might have reached a kind of truce with her mother, but honestly my opinion on her hasn't changed. Like, at all. What about you guys? Has there been a change in your attitude towards her? Do you guys like lianne more now, or less? Really interested in hearing others opinions on this.
