Episode 2: we didn't even kiss

#slowburn #angst #textingfic

This week on Sex Sells, em and rainbow discuss episode two of Heated Rivalry, "Olympians", exploring the growing connection between Shane and Ilya and why Ilya runs from it. 

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You can learn more about the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics through this tiktok by Yesterqueers, this Wikipedia article about the Principle 6 Campaign, and this BBC article from 2014. No Olympics LA talks about how hosting the Olympics only serves to exacerbate the problems of a city caused by capitalism and climate change. 

Intro/Outro courtesy of magpiemusic on pixabay

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Hello everyone. This is Rainbow They She.

SPEAKER_01 0:12

And I'm Em, and this is Sex Cells, a Heated Rivalry Podcast, Episode 2. Yes, we are talking about episode 2, Olympians. Hashtag slowburn, hashtag angst, hashtag textingfic. Now you and I just had a quick little check-in with each other because I refer to these as hashtags. Now, if you weren't with us last time, we do these as a reference to AO3 fanfiction tags. And we're like, is it just tags? Is it hashtags? And I think the hashtag thing is very leftover from millennial days of like Twitter and whatnot. So, but you said, you know, it's a millennial show. So it kind of works. It's a millennial period piece, so I think it makes sense to do something very millennial coded. And speaking of texting, hashtag texting fake, why would we tag it such a thing? Well, there's a lot of texting.

SPEAKER_00 0:59

Yes, I think this show does such a good job with texting. First of all, nobody is reading their text out loud, which I hate to see. I don't read. I know who reads their text. I mean, some people I think need to read out loud a little to like read. I think that that happens sometimes, but like it happens in shows that like I think Netflix does this a lot because they're like, well, everyone's using this as a second screen, you know, they're all on their phones. And Jacob Tierney said, fuck that shit. Pay attention to my show.

SPEAKER_01 1:24

Seriously, and I I don't know about you. I think texting fics are a bit polarizing. People either love them or hate them. I really love them. I think it's such a fun way to convey character and story through a very little amount of words.

SPEAKER_00 1:37

The thing with a texting fic or even a social media AU, and I guess you this just applies to fanfic in general, but specifically with these mediums, because you're really only getting the character's words, if the characterization is right, it's so good and it can be so juicy.

SPEAKER_01 1:51

And it's a fun test as a writer. I like doing that kind of like challenge. But anyway, that is a big theme of this episode because we have a lot of long distance going on. We don't have a lot of Shane and Ilya together, but we do get some.

SPEAKER_00 2:04

Well, and we have the texting so heavy at the beginning, and we have Ilya really pursuing Shane, which contrasts that with like the middle to the end of the episode where Shane is being ghosted. Ilya ghosts him completely. And I I just how jarring that is for Shane, because like Ilya's the one texting him first, and he texts back immediately, like every time. Shane sometimes doesn't know what to say, and so he won't reply.

SPEAKER_01 2:29

Yes, I feel like we learned so much about these two characters through the texting, and we'll get into it a little bit later. But I have a note of how like the cold open is three years and three minutes, and and the texting does a lot of heavy lifting. But one note I had, especially about characterization and just this little detail of I love how you know Shane is chewing on his hoodie string while they text, but Ilya is also chewing on his necklace as they flirt. And but yeah, Ilya spends how many years playing cat and mouse with Shane, who is clearly still very nervous of doing the deed. And I don't know if we know maybe it's the gay thing, like maybe, oh, if we go, if we penetrate, then it's really real.

SPEAKER_00 3:04

Well, and I think there's also I think we see that Shane doesn't know what Ilya wants from him entirely. I and I I don't want to get into it just yet, but that texting scene that we get after like Monsh 2 ends and like the game before their like their hookup, that I think really shows why Shane is acting the way he is and why he's so reluctant. But I want to point out that the very first text we get is Ilya saying, still mad about Vegas, which I think is interesting because it's a reference obviously to the end of episode one, but also this second episode ends with Vegas and ends with a Vegas that is very different. Vegas is bad energy for them. They shouldn't go. No, it's it's a bad time. And you know what? Has Vegas good energy for anyone? Really? Unless you're rich. And and also the fact that we start with a text and we end with a text.

SPEAKER_01 3:56

Oh, please. There's actually a specific scene that I feel like really foreshadows the the last scene. And so, but we'll get into that in a second. But yeah, I just think it's so funny. Like, Ilya must be so determined because Shane really brick walls him for a while. And I think it's partially fear, and then I think it's partially autism because like Ilya sends him an address out of the blue, and Shane goes, What's that?

SPEAKER_00 4:17

Yeah, and he's like, It's a place where you can get what you want, and then this is when we get the dick pick, which whoa, a dick on my screen.

SPEAKER_01 4:22

Oh my god, and him like putting the phone down. I also love him and his friends sitting in their hotel beds just having phone time together. That's very real. Shane and Hayden, I think, are j they're BFFs. They're platonic soulmates for sure.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

Absolutely. And I love like Hayden like sees that Shane like put his phone down and then he picks it back up. And I'm sure he thinks, like, oh, he probably just got like, you know, like a boob shot or something. Like he probably thinks he's sexting with a woman. Obviously. Because like, spoiler alert, Hayden is like so dense.

SPEAKER_01 4:52

Not, I'm telling you, people are not observant, especially straight men, no offense.

SPEAKER_00 4:55

But you're not, yeah, absolutely. And I also want to say, I think we we see a moment where like they play Ilya and Shane are playing a game against each other, and Shane kind of like looks over at Ilya in the box, like I think that's what that's called. Um, we don't know hockey. Um, but they're like he looks over and Ilya isn't looking at him or acknowledging him. And I think that's part of Shane being like, oh, does he only want sex? Like, does he not want to do like the flirting that we've done before? And I think what's happening in that moment is Ilya really took to heart when Shane said like anyone could see us at the end of last episode. And so he's like, Okay, you don't want it to be obvious, you don't want to take that risk. I really want you. So even though I'd be willing to take that risk, I'm not going to. And I'm just gonna keep it to our text where we have some plausible deniability. I also just want to say, talking about mirroring and the way that the show does it so well, is this episode mirrors episode four, like the beginning. I mean, honestly, like the beats of episode two and the beats of episode four, I think really align in a lot of ways. It's just like it's literally a mirror image of it, and we'll talk about that more when we get to episode four. I just wanted to highlight it here because I just I think it's great.

SPEAKER_01 6:00

Something to come back to later.

SPEAKER_00 6:01

Yes. Um, and I also just want to talk about Monsh 2 for just a second, the song by Wetleg.

SPEAKER_01 6:06

We just have fun with that song. It's so fun. And also the millenni the millennial soundtrack. I mean, he really nailed it.

SPEAKER_00 6:12

Yeah, I also I pulled up the lyrics for the song because I think it's like really fun and I think it like it kind of like I think the lyrics really are appropriate for what's happening happening here. It's just like nice try, get out the way, in our way, you bottom feeder. And like it kind of feels like that mirrors like Shane kind of like being a little dismissive towards Ilya. You think I'm pretty, you think I'm pretty cool, you wanna fuck me. I know most people do. Like, I'm not gonna sing it because of copyright purposes, but I do sing this song all the time. Um, and so I just I thought that was really fun, and that's just a a great song. We haven't talked about the soundtrack enough, um, but it's badass.

SPEAKER_01 6:48

Yeah, and I'll I'll wanna come back to that scene when we get into more of like the filmmaking part of this episode. Uh, because I have a fun fact for that scene. But anyway, to go to the sex thing right before the game scene, so I really feel like this scene really foreshadows the end scene because we have Ilya, you know, texting him sexy shit right before the game. And I think this plays into what you were saying, too, of like Shane might not understand what Ilya is trying to get from him. Um, I think Ilya's wondering, and and he can we kind of get this confirmed, he's like wondering if sh if Ilya's trying to fuck him or fuck with him before the game.

SPEAKER_00 7:23

So Ilya texts Shane, how many times can you come in one hour? Come see you in because millennials, baby. Um, but and Shane first types, we are about to play a game against each other, which I always hear in my head with the same cadence of Scott Hunter's right next door.

SPEAKER_01 7:40

I get he scolds Ilya so many times. He kind of scolds them when they meet up later. Yes. But yeah, he's like, we're about to play a game. And then he starts to type out, I think, a very honest, are you trying to fuck with me? And he backspaces that, and then he finally lands on a very earnest, I don't know, maybe twice.

unknown 7:56

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 7:57

I love it so much. It's it's really, really good.

SPEAKER_01 8:00

And Ilya's like, you suck at sexting. Yeah. Well, you know what? Sexting is very hard for the autistic community. Okay, I can only speak for myself and Shane, but it yeah, there's like such a like thing you have to, you kind of have to put on this like charm and flirt. And like sometimes it's just I feel I just felt very seen. Like, I don't know, maybe twice.

SPEAKER_00 8:20

Yeah, I have had very few successful sexting endeavors. It's usually just like me trying to think, like, is it being like, is this sexy? Is it sexy to say this? And yeah, I think for Shane, again, he's like really in his head about this stuff with Ilya. And he really, I it's like that's the the are you trying to fuck with me before the game is so interesting, and like really shows that like Shane, the thought must go through his head, like, is he only doing this to like win to beat me? Is this about the rivalry? Exactly. There's that rivalry thing hanging over him. Meanwhile, we've seen Ilya's face while he's been texting, and importantly, Marlo has seen his face. Oh my god. While he's texting. And he points it out. And I love Ilya's like caught look when Marlo says, like, this girl really riles you up. And he's like, and then of course, the fantastic Russians do not do this. Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_01 9:07

Line. Marlo, they really got a quintessential hockey player-looking guy. That was great casting. Yes, absolutely. Um, but and then Shane ends it with, If you're lucky, I'll text you after the game. Born to be a bratty bottom. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 9:22

Yeah, and there's some there's moments of like Shane like sending something, being like, Well, that's gonna be the last one. And he goes to put his phone up, and then Ilya replies, and he brings it back down so he can keep it going. And then it's when Ilya says, Are you hard right now?

SPEAKER_01 9:34

Yeah, are you as hard as I am?

SPEAKER_00 9:35

Oh yeah, are you as hard as I am? Which is just like Shane, this man wants you so bad it makes him look stupid.

SPEAKER_01 9:41

And then of course we skip through the game because no one cares about that, and we have Ilya meeting Shane in like the behind his apartment, so he's like, You will murder me. And Shane's like, maybe. And then he starts to scold him, like, why are you trying to sex me before a game? What the fuck? But like, and I didn't catch this, I think, as much in the first go around, but this is all a part of the mating ritual. Shane is kinda like, maybe he was a little flustered, but he's kind of putting on being mad.

SPEAKER_00 10:07

I think we get that moment in episode six at the cottage where like with the phone call with Hayden and Ilya sucks his dick, and Shane's like, why is that so hot? And it's like you like to be bad. Like, this is part of it. Like, he kind of likes this, you know, this like scandalous, like you're meeting me at the back door of my apartment.

SPEAKER_01 10:24

And can I just say, because this isn't like explicitly stated, but I noticed because Shane like checks his phone at some point and we see the last few texts, and he tells Ilya to use the back entrance, and Ilya sends a devil emoji, and then Shane sends back an IRL emoji. I just thought it was cute. I that's very funny. And then last thing under the hashtag texting fic that I just want to bring up is um we see Shane looking at his phone much later on while in Russia, and I felt like the phone was a little too old looking for 2014, but then I thought, like in 2014, those kind of phones were still circulating, and I honestly think it's so on brand for Shane. Or maybe it's a travel phone. This is too much thought for a tiny detail, but this is what the podcast is for.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

Yeah, no, I see that. Like Shane being the type of person to kind of like me, like use his phone until he literally can't use it anymore. Despite the fact that he is rich enough to own two apartments in Montreal in a big city. Um, and I mean I don't know the cost of living in Montreal, but I guarantee you it's not gonna be not gonna be cheap. You know, we don't see the brand deal stuff as much in this episode. We see him like on the screen, but it's like he's making that money. Yuna has made sure of that. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 11:37

So moving on to uh our next section, just talking kind of about some filmmaking things, going back to Monsh 2, uh, that opening scene with that song playing, they're both on a run. And fun fact, they're in the same location and running towards each other. So it's a metaphor you don't even know about. Yes. Unless you're really into the show and find out fun facts like this. But I just think it's so cool how, you know, this will come up again and again about how this was just supposed to be a little Canadian gay show. It didn't have a big budget, and I really think sometimes, and and I I believe that projects should have the money they need, but I think a smaller budget can force a level of creativity that can be even better. I think sometimes people can really rest on, well, we have a big fancy camera and we have all the money in the world, but like, and now I have found a way to bring up obsession in this podcast. Yes. I we watched the movie Obsession, it's really hot right now, and that was a movie that was made for $750,000, which is very small and is now grossing over a hundred million. But I just think like sometimes the director with that's pure of heart with five dollars in his pocket is is the thing that I want to see over the big budget blockbusters.

SPEAKER_00 12:47

You know, I think I'm I'm gonna bring up Tim Burton, which is gonna seem strange to people, I'm sure. But like he is a director, like he he had some success early on, kind of had like a blank check thing, could make a lot of movies. Um, but like towards the end, like towards the latter half of his career, I feel like he really started to rely on CGI and the technology that you can buy when you have lots of money, because that stuff is expensive, especially at the time he started using it. And I think his movies got worse because it's like the heart isn't there, and like, and not to say that CGI can't be like artistically done or beautifully done or anything, but I think when you rely on it and you take away those practical effects, you take away some of the mu movie magic.

SPEAKER_01 13:23

Some of the heart, yes, like some of the artistry, and this is a totally different kind of example, but even like going back to YouTube, like when YouTube was first coming out in 2007, 2005, but like in the late 2000s, you know, a lot of creators were being born, but making shitty quality little videos with their friends, but like people loved it, and then all of these YouTubers got better camera quality, but it felt like as the quality went up, the actual quality of the stuff itself went down.

SPEAKER_00 13:50

And not to say that you can't have good camera quality, I think that's something a lot of the budget for the show, I think, went towards a really like cinematic camera, which I think is why we get so much like beautiful imagery from the show. And I think they used that like I don't know what it's called, but they use like a big like digital screen. So not to say that technology can't help with the production, it's just to say that you don't need a big giant budget to make an impactful story. Exactly. You know, like doing what you can with what you have sometimes is going to get the best result. On the filmmaking aspect, not even just the filmmaking, but the storytelling aspect, you mentioned that the first three minutes we cover three years, but it doesn't feel rushed, it feels very natural. It's like, yeah, this is, and again, I think part of it being like Shane being reluctant and Iliad pursuing, it's like we see these like three years going by and I just I think it's good.

SPEAKER_01 14:40

Yeah, I agree. And I know some people were people were like, whoa, like this is crazy, like time movement, but it's like, well, the story spans 10 years and we've got six episodes. So I think with what he had, I think that was a really cool way to handle it. Okay, so next up, we're gonna dive into the first sex scene. There's two in this episode, and gosh, do they each have very different vibes? Like literally opposite ends of the spectrum, I feel like, in every way. Yeah, and we so we talked about how you know they meet up in the back of his apartment, and so they go up and they have this banter, and it's the whole like, come here, no, you come here. Like they have been waiting for this.

SPEAKER_00 15:19

I love and the looks on their faces, they're so excited. Also, I just want to note Ilya has a problem with the amount of sh uh pillows Shane has on his bed at all times. Well, he just loves to give Shane shit. Yeah, I love it. Well, even like in the first episode in that first sex scene on the bed, like when Ilya like backs up onto the pillows, he has a pillow behind him that he like moves to the floor because he's like, I don't need this fucking extra pillow. And I also love Ilya like walking into Shane's room and being like, Did your mom buy all these pillows? Like, he does not want to think about Yuna Hollander. That woman scares him.

SPEAKER_01 15:51

Oh my god, very good point. And also, yeah, Shane is just like fun to make fun of.

SPEAKER_00 15:56

Yeah. And then he and he says, I hired a decorator because Shane doesn't know how to decorate his apartment or uh style his own wardrobe and he has the money to pay somebody to do that for him. Yes. I think Shane would be the kind of person who would sleep on a mattress on a floor.

SPEAKER_01 16:11

Yeah, probably. If there was health benefits. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Um, so I just want to get into. So we, you know, the sex scene begins, and Ilya puts Shane's legs up. So his knees are next to his ears, like the whore he is. Yes. And can we get some commotion for the implied ass eating that's happening here? Let's go.

SPEAKER_00 16:31

And I love that the camera stays on Shane's face and his reactions.

SPEAKER_01 16:34

And his expressions and reactions are so fucking hot.

SPEAKER_00 16:37

Yes. Yeah. Very, very good. I will say, they they show the condoms at one point, though, like ream of condoms. Right. And Ilya has the like, do you think it'll be enough? Uh-huh. Um, like, you can only come twice. I don't know how many times you think I can come.

SPEAKER_01 16:51

That kind of like Joe comes up in shows sometimes, and it's like, in our defense, that's how the condoms come. Sorry I didn't separate them out one by one.

SPEAKER_00 16:58

Yeah, sorry I'm not that autistic. I will say, like, I was kind of hoping we would see at least like the cap of a bottle of lube or something. I d I'm just, I like so many people use lube for sex, and we never see it. And I guess maybe it's just not sexy, but it's like, I don't know, maybe people would see it as sexy if we got to see it happen. Because I just don't think the ac eating is enough lubrication for what they're about to do. I think the lube is implied.

SPEAKER_01 17:22

Oh, yeah, but it's how many people have no idea how gay sex works. That's true. Well, don't get your gay sex lessons from a TV show, kids.

SPEAKER_00 17:29

Yeah, or even fanfiction, for that matter.

SPEAKER_01 17:32

Um Although, honestly, the first time I gave a blowjob, the guy was very impressed, and I only knew how to do it because of fanfic.

SPEAKER_00 17:39

That's true. You know, sometimes you can learn things. We can learn if I think foreplay is fine.

SPEAKER_01 17:43

Yeah, yeah. You know, learn you learn your foreplay from fanfiction. Don't listen to us. We're just two randos. Yeah. But no, boys, again, I really hate to inform you, this is lovemaking. And we want to talk about the the sexy consent in this scene. Yes. It's just a lot of, you know, it's just him checking in a lot. Is this still okay?

SPEAKER_00 18:01

Ilya is being so gentle and caring and soft. Like, again, he goes, he's going into caretaker mode. I'm gonna repeat that phrase over and over again in this podcast because Ilya is a caretaker and you know, get and as the top and as the more experienced one, you know, I do think it's kind of your job to kind of like make sure that the person who's never done this before is okay. And he like checks in so much to the point that Shane gets annoyed by it. But like the third time we see him check in, Shane's like, oh my fucking god, just fuck me. I'm f I'm so good with what's happening. I'm so good, I'm gonna come untouched. Please keep coming.

SPEAKER_01 18:36

Well, and the framing of this scene, the song choice, which like there's some lyrics where it's like, what the hell are you?

SPEAKER_00 18:42

I wrote them down, where were you? Stay right here, it's you, what the hell are you?

SPEAKER_01 18:47

It's romantic, it's romance, the fading in and out, which people on Twitter is like fading in and out of consciousness as they have sex. But I think it makes sense because again, despite what people may say, this isn't a fucking porno. We're not seeing, you know, the balls clapping against the ass cheek shots. You know, we're coming in between positioning and like it's just a very intimate setting. And I also even the lighting, like it's very warm between them, and then there's cold lighting kind of right outside. Like you're really in it with them.

SPEAKER_00 19:17

Yeah, it's very much like the again, the focus being so much on Shane and his reactions, and then a little bit on Ilya too, it's really showing the effect they're having on each other.

SPEAKER_01 19:26

Yeah, and then Shane coming untouched, again, I think a very fanfic type of thing. Yes, yeah, and Ilya like noticing it. I will say, calling him Hollander in bed. Well, here's the here's the thing is because now when he does it, I only think of Chris Fleming doing the impression of Hollander. That's unfortunate.

SPEAKER_00 19:46

Yeah, that kind of takes me out of it a little. Yeah, well, I think even the first time I was like, oh my just don't say each other's names. Give each other a pet name or something. Like, I guess that was that bitch. I yeah, I guess I guess a pet name would still be like too close and too romantic. But yeah, so yeah, the coming untouched and then Ilya coming right after. Yeah, that's very fanfic of them. And then like the autistic uh um thing that Shane does of like, no, the bed's all dirty.

SPEAKER_01 20:11

No, but you know what? Let's talk about this with fanfic. I saw a tweet about this and I agree, where it's like, why in so many fanfics do they immediately like wash the sheets after sex? Who's doing that? No one's doing that. No one in real life is actually doing that. So it's so funny to me when Shane is like the is complaining that the bed's dirty and Ilya's like, what? Shut up. Like, yeah, I agree. And then he goes to take a shower, which is understandable because your dick was in a butt. Yeah. That's fine, take a shower.

SPEAKER_00 20:37

And I think we've seen that like at the end of at the second sex scene in episode two, like it cuts to Shane standing up and Ilya on the bed and his hair is wet. Like, I think he just likes to like shower after sex. Like maybe it just makes him feel like more, you know. And maybe you could say there's a metaphor in there of like gay sex makes him feel dirty and he has to clean up or something.

SPEAKER_01 20:56

But along with the sheet thing, I do also see in fix, like, there's always an immediate shower. Like, let's we lay in our grime. I don't know about you. Yeah, a lot of people do. And Shane's little smile on his face, he's just like basking in it afterwards.

SPEAKER_00 21:10

Shane is so blissed out. Yeah, because when Ilya comes back from the shower and like they like they're having some cuddles, there's like actual a little bit of actual aftercare in in this sex scene as opposed to the next one. For about 30 seconds. Because Shane says, like, that was so damn hot or so fucking hot or something, and Ilya says, worth the wait. And then Shane doesn't really reply. He just gives him like a soft, gentle kiss. And Connor's story, The Man That You Are, the look in Ilya's face of just like the like the sweetness and the gentleness kind of like fades away a little and it's replaced by fear. He's like, oh shit, oh no, yeah, my heart, I'm going dokie dokie. Oh no. Oh no, dokie dokie.

unknown 21:52

Sorry.

SPEAKER_00 21:53

But yeah, it's you know, to make light of a very like, I think very serious moment for Ilya. And I Think that look that we see is why he behaves the way he does moving forward.

SPEAKER_01 22:05

I think it certainly contributes to it because I think it scares the shit out of him. Because again, for him, I think he really was approaching this at first as like, oh, this is gonna be a fun, naughty, dangerous, I shouldn't be doing this with my rival. But now it's like, oh, but also I love to hold him tenderly and kiss him softly.

SPEAKER_00 22:21

And I will say, I feel like as the audience, we have seen from the beginning that Ilya like has deeper feelings for Shane. I think it's not just that he wants to fuck him. Like, I think the the look on his face when Shane is folding his pants, it's like that's in you find him endearing.

SPEAKER_01 22:36

Well, and then the stare scene immediately after, first of all, something about it really brings me back to my situationship days. Something about like Shane in his hoodie, post-sex, just like waiting on the stairs for the cab to come.

SPEAKER_00 22:47

And Shane like clutching Ilya's jacket to his chest. Like he doesn't want him to go. He wants him to stay and cuddle with him all night long.

SPEAKER_01 22:56

Yeah, and they share a real for Ilya's like, remember when I made you come hands-free? Such a good trick. And they share a gentle little kiss. And I believe that was improvised.

SPEAKER_00 23:05

Oh, was it? That's from my understanding. Yeah, I've seen from interviews. I think Jacob, like, I think he was a little like, oh, is that like too much too soon of the lovingness?

SPEAKER_01 23:14

I thought that that felt very real. And also like, I mean, you love to say, remember when we had sex about 12 hours after we do it?

SPEAKER_00 23:21

Uh sometimes I'll say it an hour after we do it.

SPEAKER_01 23:24

Sometimes 10 minutes. Sometimes immediately after. So I just thought that I felt that very endearing.

SPEAKER_00 23:30

And I think this perfectly sets us up to talk about the Olympics.

SPEAKER_01 23:34

Yes. So and they and they do talk about it. They talk about it, I think, here, where uh Shane is talking about how, you know, his parents are sad they can't come, and then he asks Ilya if his family's coming. And Ilya says his dad probably, maybe his brother, conveniently leaves out the mom. Shane doesn't ask because they don't have that kind of relationship. But it's like another moment here where I think Ilya's reminded of this big difference between them.

SPEAKER_00 23:56

I also think this is another moment of Shane not understanding what Ilya is saying, or rather what Ilya is not saying. Like, I don't think Shane ever really thinks about the fact that Ilya doesn't talk about his mom. And he doesn't think about what that means. Um, and Ilya clearly like doesn't want to talk about it. And that's why he brings it to the sex place of like, remember when I made you come hands-free? Like, he's like, We're not, I can't do this with you. I can't get into this, especially when I'm about to go home and represent my country that if they knew who I really was, would have me arrested, potentially worse. And like, if if it ever comes out, I can't go home. And Ilya just like lives with that. Um, so let's talk about the Sochi Olympics for a second. I have a few things to say about it. Get into it. You did some research. Yeah, so the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Russia is a very homophobic country. I think at the time there was only like 16% of Russia's general population believed that queer people should have rights. Um, and I got a lot of information. There's a TikTok from Yesterqueers, who they do a lot of really cool stuff. If you like queer history, definitely check them out. And they did, based on because of this episode, they did a video about the Sochi Olympics. And I just wanted to bring up a few like real life things that very much inform why Ilya is acting the way he is. So um, you know, there's always an Olympic village, and I think at the previous Winter Olympics, um, they had the first pride house um for queer athletes. Um, Russia said no, you can't have that. There was a judge who ruled that it was extremist propaganda. Oh my god. Yeah. Um, there was an LGBTQ activist in Russia, Nikolay Alexvy, um, who requested Russia to lift the ban on pride parades, but the courts upheld the ban. They said no way. Um uh Russia passed legislation um that made it so pride activists couldn't talk about queer rights in public without being arrested. Um they also passed a law allowing Russian police to arrest foreign visitors and tourists they suspected of being queer. And I think a Dutch couple was arrested. Um, yeah, uh the M M is is shocked to hear that, um, as we all should be. Um, and I think it's very important to point out that the International Olympic Committee, who is in charge of the winter and summer Olympics, and I think maybe the Paralympics as well, they basically did nothing to protect people. They like said they like, you know, they had words, of course, but no actual actions to back it up. They're like, no, no, no, we've talked it over with Russia. It's cool, everyone's gonna be fine, like it's okay, like no, no queer people are gonna get like arrested or anything. A lot of people in the international queer community, like they called for the IOC to do something to like uphold their principles. Yeah, exactly. Whenever an institution has principles, um, it's just flowery words. It's just words so that they can like convince you that they're cool, um, but they actually mean nothing unless they're enforced. And the IOC wasn't enforcing them. And and so people were trying to make statements. I think a few queer athletes, including Brian Poitano, came out pr uh before the Olympics um to as a statement. And the IOC said the Olympics weren't a place for making political statements. They love people love to say that. Bitch, first of all, everything is political, the personal is political. And you're telling me that in international competition when countries come together to compete against each other for their national honor, isn't political, isn't an inherently political thing, and people can't make political statements. You can bite my fucking ass, IOC. Isn't Russia banned from the Olympics now? I I think maybe because of the doping thing. Yeah, not because of anything having to do with their like human rights abuses.

SPEAKER_01 27:38

Well, and all this really informs when Shane runs into his buddy Scott and Carter. Uh, Carter is the one who says, like, oh, that guy must be really brave when Shane brings up his friend who's in the uh ice skating section, which I feel like that's a crazy assumption. I don't think all male figure skaters are gay. No, I think and But maybe just the presentation of it.

SPEAKER_00 28:00

Yeah, the presentation of it, and I I do think I think this is why Yuri on ice was like a gay sports anime, is I do think there are a lot of queer people, a lot of queer men in figure skating. I do think to assume that because he's a male figure skater, he's gay is a little like, okay, Carter, calm down. But like, I see what you're doing. I feel like he's trying to be an ally.

SPEAKER_01 28:19

Yeah, he really said ally. Um, but yeah, it it is pretty fucking brave considering all those things you just listed out. Yeah. And again, yeah, that adds, you know, Ilya is not only under familial pressure, but national pressure at the same time.

SPEAKER_00 28:34

Yeah, and so we do see Carter, Scott, and Shane, they go to see the figure skater. Um, and then Shane sees Ilya also watching.

SPEAKER_01 28:43

Up in the rafters, like he's the Phantom of the Opera. Yes, absolutely. And oh, and Ilya also, their team, I think, lost at this point already.

SPEAKER_00 28:53

Yes, and we know from episode one that his dad does not want him to lose. Like if he he loses, his dad puts it all on him. We have an and I think when we see when we go to Ilya, like his brother is texting him, like, where are you? Dad's so pissed at you. Yeah. Um, and so you know, and and Shane had tried to text Ilya, hey, are you okay? Yeah. Because and he does that after Carter.

unknown 29:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:16

But does he do that after Carter says his thing, or does he do that before?

SPEAKER_01 29:20

I think he was like in the process of texting, because then they show up and he kind of is like, Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:24

Don't look at my phone. Yeah, and they like mention Ilya and they're like, What does Rosanoff think? What did he say? And Shane's like, Oh, I wouldn't know. Like, he hasn't said anything to me, which, you know, for them is just like, oh yeah, like, you know, they're just rivals, you know. But for Shane, it's like he literally hasn't texted me back after we had a beautiful night of lovemaking.

SPEAKER_01 29:42

Right. So Shane approaches Ilya, and you know, it's so it's just sad because Shane has no idea. Like, obviously, he knows Ilya lost, and that's gotta feel like shit, but he doesn't understand the amount of pressure that's on him. He's busy being like, you know, why didn't you text me back? And blah, blah, blah. And Ilya's just so not there for it, and he's mean, and he's like, I didn't answer your boring text. Now will you go away? He's being mean to push Shane away.

SPEAKER_00 30:05

Yeah, because I mean it is extremely dangerous, and that's why Shane is reaching out to Ilya, because now he's worried about him. And we see that with the conversation they have at the end of the episode of like, are you gonna go back to Russia? Is it safe for you? Like, he's concerned for Ilya, and Ilya's like, you don't know what you're talking about, you don't know what it's like to deal with this. Like, I've dealt with this my entire life.

SPEAKER_01 30:25

Like, and it's not like it's ever really been modeled for Ilya, at least in the last 10, 15 years, that opening up to someone is a good idea.

SPEAKER_00 30:34

Yeah, I mean, he's only been with his abusive dad and his, I think, abusive brother, who he can't, it's he it's not safe for him to be vulnerable with them, and so he doesn't know how to be vulnerable with anyone. I mean, even to an extent Svetlana, I think that's the only person he can be vulnerable with, and I think there's still a certain distance he keeps between him and her.

SPEAKER_01 30:54

I mean, yeah, I he doesn't tell her about Shane, and you know, I I feel like he could have if he wanted to.

SPEAKER_00 31:02

Should we talk about the bathroom scene? I think we should. I think we should I think we should. I want to talk a little about the the scene we get right before the bathroom and then in the bathroom.

SPEAKER_01 31:10

Okay, yeah, because well then that goes into because Svetlana is our woman of the day, right? Yes, yes, she is a woman of the day. Because, you know, in episode one, again, we only got to see her at the very end, and and as someone who's uh anime only, uh the TV show only. Um, you're not maybe entirely sure what their relationship is, but then it's much more defined. Like we hear, like the dads give context that they've been childhood friends.

SPEAKER_00 31:34

Yeah, like she's always taken care of him. Yes. Yeah, because he is like, you know, first we get the scene between Ilya and his dad with the dementia of it all, which I think that scene is like heartbreaking. And I think it really shows you like that Ilya isn't just dealing with the homophobia, he isn't just dealing with the you know abusive family, he's also dealing with the mental decline of his father, who he you can tell he still cares about. Yes, it's really heartbreaking because he loves his father, even though he's so hard on him. He does, and Connor's story does such a good job in that scene of being like, you know, his dad is like riding him for losing and like saying all of this stuff, and you can see that like Ilya's kind of just like a little dissociated and like pissed off. But then whenever he says, like, who tied your tie for you? Was it your mother? And then he has to remind his father that his mother is dead. And you see the like sympathy, and you see again he's going into caretaker role because then he's like, Come on, dad, we have to go meet the minister. Like, let's go reminding him what they're doing.

SPEAKER_01 32:29

Which brings us to you know him being between the the the Svetlana's dad. Svetlana's dad. And his dad and his dad talking shit about him right in front of him. So rude. And then Svetlana kind of comes to the rescue and pulls him away, pulls him away into a ornately decorated bathroom with a bug buddy for him. Yes, with a tall, lanky Russian named Sasha. Who was this past lover that Ilya referenced of his coach's his old coach's son.

SPEAKER_00 32:56

Yes, and I will say Sasha's hot.

SPEAKER_01 32:57

He's so tall, legs for fucking days. Well, and I think that goes even more into like the impact of Ilya ultimately rejecting this guy.

SPEAKER_00 33:06

Yes, and I do want to shout out the actor who plays Sasha, his name is Caden Connors, and I think he's the only other person, actor in the show, who is not Russian but plays a Russian character and has to speak Russian. And I don't, I don't think he he speaks Russian either, but I think he did a pretty good job as far as I could tell. I love the way he says koken. Koken.

SPEAKER_01 33:26

Kakin. But yeah, we get to really get this context of like Svitlana definitely knows about Ilya's sexuality, knows about their past because she basically like brings him to the room, he's like, here's a boy, here's some coke. Do you feel better now, son?

SPEAKER_00 33:38

Yeah, it's like you, it's like, listen, I know you had this heart, this loss, and I know that your dad is riding you about it. Like, it doesn't fucking matter. I love that she knows hockey so well.

SPEAKER_01 33:49

I was gonna say, because then she goes, she basically outlines and predicts correctly how the season's going to go and how he can win.

SPEAKER_00 33:56

Yes, because she, like, you know, her dad, I don't know if we know this yet, but her dad was a goalie for like the Russian national team, and she like has grown up in the hockey world. I think she loves hockey more than Ilya does for sure. Like, yeah. I hope one, I hope we get to see Shane and Svetlana interact.

SPEAKER_02 34:13

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 34:13

Because I bet they could talk hockey like it's nobody's business. And I also, you know, because this is the woman of the day section, this scene to me really like reassured me that, like, oh, this scene actually like cares about its female characters and wants them to be full humans.

SPEAKER_01 34:27

Because Svetlana could so easily be, she could become a jealous girlfriend or something like weird like that. But she has her own, she has a she's like a full character and has a life outside of Ilya.

SPEAKER_00 34:39

She could just be an object that is a potential like obstruction to Shane and Ilya's relationship. Instead, she is a person with her own interests and her own thoughts and her own like life and career, but a friend of Ilya and a support for him. Really his only true support. His own, yes, his only true support and friend. Um, and I think Spetlana is right. Stop caring what your father thinks. Like, I know that like he's the only parent you have left, and that I'm sure like he has convinced you that like his opinion is the one that matters the most. But she's right. And I thought it was interesting. She's talking about like fuck the Olympics, like, forget about it, which like I stand that. Um, but like she says um to him, like, you you have a real chance of winning the cup. And earlier, when the dads were talking, they talk about like a Russian player who didn't come to the Olympics and they say, like, stays home to rest for American prizes, too good for his own country. And I thought that was so interesting. And also, Svetlana lives in Boston. I think she might be like half American, like, I think she has citizenship. Maybe like I don't know if her mother's American or if she just like has like was able to immigrate there. Um, but like I think she's like kind of left Russia behind, and I think she's saying to Ilya, like, fucking leave this shit behind, like, leave this beautiful opulent bathroom and the homophobia behind.

SPEAKER_01 35:55

And yeah, so she leaves the boys to it, and Sasha kind of comes on to him and is like, remember what we used to do when we were young boys in the field? And Ilya's like, I'm good, actually.

SPEAKER_00 36:06

Yeah, I think this scene really shows how Ilya has grown and changed. Um, because when they were fooling around, it was like, you know, he said, it's like we have the same secret, like it was fun, I like trouble. And like Sasha even says he liked like the danger used to like get you hot. And Ilya's like, no, and I think part of it is just like he's having he's dealing with all these feelings, you know, with his family, but also I think because he has feelings for Shane and he's like, I don't want to fuck you. Like, I wish I could be texting Shane back.

SPEAKER_01 36:32

And maybe also a departure from I'm I've outgrown like having these little secret affairs that don't mean anything to me, and now I have someone I actually care about.

SPEAKER_00 36:41

We also learn in this scene that Sasha lives in Paris, which I think maybe also informs like the way that he's acting, because I think he's probably able to be more openly queer. And he's not a hockey player. They make it very clear he doesn't give a fuck about hockey. So, like, not only is he not in this homophobic country, he's not in this homophobic sport that's hyper masculine where it's like there are no openly queer hockey players to this day. There are no current queer hockey players. And so, like, Sasha, maybe you know, him going out clubbing, you know, he can kiss boys in the streets and it's fine. Ilya still can't do that. Yeah. So, do we have anything else we want to say about Sasha?

SPEAKER_01 37:16

No, I think, you know, this will really mirror another bathroom scene that comes later on that people have had a lot of fun, you know, dissecting. But so then I think this takes us into another, like now we go into this phase of sh Ilya's not really answering Shane anymore.

SPEAKER_00 37:30

Yeah, like they've had their like, you know, they had their moment at the Olympics, and like Shane still wants to hear from Ilya, but Ilya is just not, and meanwhile, Ilya is going on to do what Savet Lana said.

SPEAKER_01 37:42

And I think that's another part of why he doesn't talk to Shane anymore. There's the homophobia and the pressure of it all, but also I think he's like, I need to fucking lock in so that daddy will love me and I need to win this cup, and like Shane is a distraction to that.

SPEAKER_00 37:55

Yes, absolutely. Do we want to talk um very briefly about the scene at Hayden's house?

SPEAKER_01 38:00

Oh, you know we do because the the team, what is their team called? The Metros. The Metros meet up at Hayden's house to watch this final game and watch Ilya win the cup.

SPEAKER_00 38:11

Yes, and like the Metros, like they they lost, you know, they they were kicked out of the round. We get a Jackie Pikes uh sighting, gotta love to see her. Um we also get the like there's a ginger ale in the fridge for you. Yes, because Jackie's sweet. Jackie's very sweet. She really Yeah, I feel like Jackie and Hayden are really like second parental figures.

SPEAKER_01 38:30

Yeah, for sure. And maybe Jackie is the one female character that kind of suffers being a bit of a cardboard cutout.

SPEAKER_00 38:36

Yes, and we'll talk about that in episode four. I have a lot to say about her in episode four and the conversation at the aquarium with her.

SPEAKER_01 38:42

But no, I think we wanted to especially talk about Shane's face after Ilya is winning. Oh, and I also, he makes just this little comment about Ilya. They're talking about him, and Shane goes, the best, probably, talking about, you know, as a player. And again, that like admiration is there.

SPEAKER_00 38:58

Yeah. And his team is just like, no, you're the fucking best. And like, and Hayden says the thing of like, oh, like Shane h hates Rosinoff more than anyone. And Shane, and then Shane's like, what? And he's like, You hate raise Rosanoff, and he's like, Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:11

This is real, and it really feels like Shane and Ilya, maybe more so Shane wasn't even giving that to people, but people were really projecting this story of a rivalry onto him.

SPEAKER_00 39:21

Well, and I think we see I don't think we see it as much in this episode, but like I think sometimes when Shane and Ilya have had interactions, like I think Shane does kind of like play up the whole, like, oh, Ilya's an asshole thing as a cover for like, I don't love him. He sucks. Yeah, exactly. I don't I don't I don't want to cuddle with him in bed.

SPEAKER_01 39:38

Uh but no, we have Ilya on screen saying in Russia, for you, Mama, which is I'll cry. I'll cry right here. But then Shane's face, his his lip quivers, there's tears brimming in his eyes, but they don't fall. He's so happy for him, despite the fact that there's been this weird distance. Like, never mind that. He's just genuinely so he knows what this means to Ilya and he's happy for him.

SPEAKER_00 39:59

Yeah. Anyone who says that Hudson's performance isn't as strong as Connor's needs to rewatch this scene in particular. And then if you still feel that way, come fight me. Um, because the mix of pride, jealousy, hurt in Shane's eyes is incredible because I think like there's part of him that's like, I would love to congratulate him, but he won't respond. Oh. But also, I am I am a good hockey player. I'm what I am a great hockey player, and I want to win. I want to be winning a cup. You've beat me again. You won a cup before I did.

SPEAKER_01 40:27

This is probably how Hinacha felt in Brazil. That's just for you, haiku fans. Oh my gosh, watching that TV. Okay, so does this bring us to the Vegas? The Biggest. We have to talk about Vegas. There's so much to talk about with Vegas. Can I just say Ilya showing up 25 seconds before they have to be on stage is diabolical to do to Shane, who you know is an on-time motherfucker.

SPEAKER_00 40:52

Also, a diabolical thing to do to like the stage manager or coordinator, whoever's running the behind the scenes of this award show. That too.

SPEAKER_01 41:00

And it's just it's compounding Shane's nerves. Like he already was probably very nervous to see him after this like weird tense year of not really talking. Well, yeah, and then like, and then Shane's like pissed. Yeah, he's like, Where were you? And Ilya just says, I was busy. And Shane's immediate next question is with who? Yes. Shane is really that's such a revealing question. He's just like assuming, maybe he's assuming that part of this distance is Ilya found someone else.

SPEAKER_00 41:25

Yes, and I think we see throughout the show that like I think Shane has a lot of jealousy. I I don't remember if I said it in episode one, but I think we even see it when like Ilya says, like, I've had sex with an with other men, and he's like, who? Another player? And it's like, oh yeah, he's like, You fucked another hockey player that wasn't me? What the fuck? Yeah, there is this like that's my cookie. And I think when Shane, like, I think when Ilya's like, he walks a little ahead of Shane onto the stage and he has a little smile on his face. I think, I think, first of all, he's like, I have to go smile for the audience, but I think he's also maybe a little pleased that Shane is jealous. He's like, oh, you still want me, even though I've been such a dick to you. And I really want you, even though I feel like I can't have with you what I really want. Right.

SPEAKER_01 42:08

And so they have this like forced banter as they're presenting the award that for some reason they make the presenters do it these fucking things.

SPEAKER_00 42:16

And Ilya does the picture thing, and he actually takes those pictures of Shane.

SPEAKER_01 42:20

Oh, yeah, so he can have them in his folder, and of course, slides a hand down Shane's back right in front of everyone, which I'm sure Shane loved and hated at the same time.

SPEAKER_00 42:28

Yes. And then we have another bathroom scene to talk about.

SPEAKER_01 42:32

Yes, so Ilya's in the bathroom and or no, Shane's in the bathroom, and Ilya comes in, and he's trying to play it really cool, but I really like that Shane doesn't really let him get away with that. He kind of is like, you know, what do you want from me? And yeah, we're all wondering the same thing.

SPEAKER_00 42:46

Yeah, and he says to him, like, you haven't answered a text from me in six months, and I think Ilya kind of looks a little sad because he's trying to be all cocky and leaning up and putting his arm up on the paper towel dispenser. But like when Shane says that, I think he recognizes that he's been hurting Shane, but he doesn't know how to fix it except by taking them to a physical sexual place, the only place he thinks they can go.

SPEAKER_01 43:07

Yeah, he's like, You can suck my dick. And then I love that Shane's like, You're unbelievable. You suck my dick. What's in the line delivery when you get mad? I love it. But this whole interaction makes way more sense when you know deep down they're married. By the way, that Shane flips from yelling at him to actually begging him to suck his dick. Yeah, yeah. It's all a part of it. This like kind of toxic, not actually spoken about dom sub thing they have going on.

SPEAKER_00 43:32

Baby, I love you. I was just gonna say this is so dom sub-coded. This is so like it's the Dom coming in and just being like, get on your knees for me. And then edging Shane.

SPEAKER_01 43:42

Yes. As well. Right. And but I also people have really pointed out the parallels of like Ilya rejected Sasha in this gorgeous bathroom and then in this dingy, dirty one with Shane, he was like about ready to do it.

SPEAKER_00 43:56

He yeah, he he kisses him, he wants him. It's like if like I think there. Is a part of him that like I think the Dom Sum thing comes up because he's like, I have to separate the emotions from this. This has to be about the sex. Yeah. Um, and this has to this can't be about me wanting you and you wanting me in an emotional way. Right. Um, but I do think there's something else revealing that happens when we get to the New Yorker thing. Shane says, like, wow, your English has really gotten good. And Ilya makes a joke. I read the New Yorker now. And Shane says, like, oh, you do, like, my dad loves it. And that's to me, I've always taken as like Shane wants Ilya to know him and wants to because he asked about Shane, he asked about Ilya's family. He told he was talking about his mom and dad. If Shane was driving the bus, they would be boyfriends by now. Abso fucking Luly. Like, he wants to talk, he wants to get to know Ilya and he wants Ilya to get to know him, but then Ilya has to like make it a joke, and then we get Wow. Genetic. Yes. And it's so fond. Get the fuck out of here. It's really, really good. I mean, gosh, I everyone who was watching this as it came out, do you remember that week? Those two weeks actually, on TikTok of just people going over those lines over and over again. I how many like your top song on Spotify wrapped was Shane Hollander saying wow genetic? Like, how many times did people like talk about that? Because it was just so good. Okay, yeah, another incredible performance by both of them. And now are we ready to jump to the hotel room?

SPEAKER_01 45:23

Yes, the second sadder sex scene of the episode. Yes. All emotion is cut out of this. It's very dumb subby where Ilya is really taking control from the jump, dragging the chair, having him, you know, sit and jerk off for him all this stuff.

SPEAKER_00 45:39

Having him undress in the living room with the windows wide open. Even though they're on the penthouse, but still like there's other hotels. If you have a good enough telephoto lens, you could get a picture of this. Um, and yeah, the chair dragging, which like I think people made a big deal about that being like improvised, but it's like, well, I mean, if the script says he takes the chair from one room to another, it's like, you think he's gonna pick it up? You think he's gonna engage his thighs and his core?

SPEAKER_01 46:05

And a bit of improv I would have loved to see is him smelling Shane's underwear because there's one point where Shane takes his underwear off and he throws it at Ilya, and Ilya catches it, and we really missed an opportunity to take a big old whiff.

SPEAKER_00 46:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 46:17

But maybe I'm just a pervert, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 46:19

No, I I thought that immediately. The first time we watched that, like as soon as he throws the underwear, and I was like, oh my god, Ilya's gonna sniff it. And another little like filmmaking thing, I think this was the first sex scene they did, which I think makes sense because it's the least emotional. So, in shooting that in order, I think in that order makes so much sense. But I think if they were a little bit farther along in the process, I think Connor would have sniffed the underwear.

SPEAKER_01 46:41

Personally, so true. Maybe there's maybe there's a take on the cutter room floor we don't have access to.

SPEAKER_00 46:46

But and all and I would like to have words with the editor about that. But Ilya is so hot in that fucking chair with his fucking vodka.

SPEAKER_01 46:53

Well, he's holding that vodka with his little fingy fingy out. Um but no, the scene is so different from the first one. We we don't even get that much of the sex scene, and what we do get, I feel like, and I didn't write this down, and I don't even know if it's true or not, but I feel like the even the lighting is colder. Like I think it's more blue. Yeah, yes, it it really is. I feel like I remember blue shining off Shane's back and ass. Yes, absolutely. And we really just get this one shot of them, you know, doing it doggy style, which is one of the less personal positions to do. And then yeah, they're just sitting side by side, and poor Shane. Cause Ilya, before this whole whole thing started, he was like, vodka is your reward, which for ginger ale loving Shane is not a fucking reward. And like he's sitting there with the cup, he looks miserable. I feel so bad for him.

SPEAKER_00 47:37

Yeah, and and I want to say, I think something we kind of like glossed over is the I need you part. Oh my god, that's true. Which is is so great because, like, you know, after Shane takes his underwear off, I think he probably starts like fingering himself, I think is what's happening there. And like Ilya makes that like, oh, like that's so nasty face. And I think there's two things about I need you. Nasty positive. Nasty, yes, absolutely. This is a sex positive show for sure. But there's two things I think happening. I think one, I think this scene kind of subtly shows how like in the Dom sub relationship, like it's the sub who has like the ultimate like power and control because everything that's happening to the sub is something they want. Like that's like healthy, like BDSM. Yeah. Um, and it Ilya is telling Shane what to do and everything, but it's Shane saying to Ilya, I need you, that gets him out of the chair to fuck him. Yeah. Which is like uh there's a there's a very popular tag on AO3, which is Shane Hollander. Shane walks Ilya like a dog, uh, because he fucking does. But I think that also the I need you and the look on his face, that is so honest. Shane is being so honest here.

SPEAKER_01 48:42

Ilya, even his coldest exterior, Ilya can't stand up to that.

SPEAKER_00 48:46

Yeah. But yeah, so we get yeah, a much colder sex scene. We we we go, we fade to black on Shane pushing his face into Ilya's crotch after crawling across the bed. I'm barking. Um and then yeah, and then two, like they're sitting next to each other on the bed with like the worst aftercare, and like I people have written fics about like they're both experiencing like Dom and subdrop here. Because yeah, it's like they like like Ilya's like dissociating.

SPEAKER_01 49:14

He's like sitting up next to him smoking a cigarette. There's absolutely no cuddling, there's no room for a tender kiss on the forehead here.

SPEAKER_00 49:20

No, absolutely not. And I think it's interesting that for once Shane doesn't say anything about Ilya smoking.

SPEAKER_01 49:25

Yeah, because he that like it's like all of the comfort and banter has been sucked out of the room, and it it is just like the pure like sex thing of it all.

SPEAKER_00 49:35

Yeah, yeah, it's like, and if anyone, any of you out there who have had like just a like a one-night stand or like had sex with somebody where there wasn't like the feelings that you wanted to be there, it is so unsatisfying. It's like, sure, I came, but like at what cost? Um, and and this is also where we get Shane bringing up Russia, and I think like reminding Ilya, like you're about to go home to a country that like would hate you if they knew who you really were. And then so Shane gets and and then Ilya dismisses him. He's like, We're not talking about this. And so Shane goes, and it's he doesn't want to go. He clearly wants more from Ilya, but he doesn't get it. And then I love after Shane leaves, the camera pans back to Ilya on the bed holding an unlit cigarette in his hand, just like staring off into space with that Slavic stare, and like they're both so unhappy. Yes, okay, and now do we have to talk about the elevator?

SPEAKER_01 50:27

Of course. So he goes to the elevator scene, and what did he first say?

SPEAKER_00 50:32

So he says, Um, I'll see you next season with a little smiley face emoticon. And then he takes away the smile, he thinks better of it, and then he takes away the whole sentence.

SPEAKER_01 50:41

And then he slowly types letter by letter, we didn't even kiss.

SPEAKER_00 50:45

And then he slowly, letter by letter, deletes it. And the look on his face, and I think and he ends with like, oh shit. Like he, it's now him realizing, like at the beginning, after their first sex scene, that was when Ilya realized he had feelings for Shane. This is Shane realizing he has deeper feelings for Ilya and that he's fucked.

SPEAKER_01 51:04

Because I think it can be so easy to lie to yourself if you're in a cat, like, you know, quote unquote casual thing where actually you kind of do have feelings. Again, didn't realize just how loving and tender they really were being with each other until they had a very strictly like, no, this is just physical sex. Then it's like, oh no, no, I want you to to give me a kissing.

SPEAKER_00 51:24

Yes. And I just want to say, this is when I knew the show was going to be amazing. I already had an idea it might be, but then we get we didn't even kiss. And the look on Shane's face, it really sealed the deal.

SPEAKER_01 51:35

Yeah, he like bumps his forehead on the L. It just deceeded. And then Jacob Tierney makes us wait two weeks.

SPEAKER_00 51:41

Two weeks and two weeks, and then the next episode isn't even about them. That's what I'm saying. So, like, we it like we're, you know, most of us are like going through through life that full week thinking, oh my god, I can't wait to see the follow-up to we didn't even get to kiss, we didn't even kiss. I can't wait to see it. I can't wait to see it. And then you start the episode, it's Hunter, it's all about Scott Hunter. We don't even get to see Shane and Ilian around. And that's not to say that we don't think that the next episode is important, blah, blah, blah. We'll get into it.

SPEAKER_01 52:06

Okay, well, that's it for this episode. Um, we'll see you in two weeks, and then we won't even talk about heated rivalry. What if? No, but we're excited to to get into something a little bit different next time. And uh until then, where can they find us?

SPEAKER_00 52:20

Well, you can follow us on TikTok and Instagram at Sex Cells Pod. All spelled out. I also wanted to mention I talked a lot of shit about the Olympics when we were talking about the Sochi Olympics, not just Russia and the way they were, but the IOC. And I do think that the Olympics in our capitalist society, the way that they're run, like it's actually really damaging and harmful to the people in the cities where it's run. Um, and I'm going to link in the show notes there's a no Olympics LA because we live in the United States and the 2028 Summer Olympics are going to be hosted in LA this year. And like there's already been like a ban on trans athletes, which hasn't even been a fucking real issue. I can't get into that right now.

SPEAKER_01 53:00

That's gonna be interesting. It's gonna be very interesting because um, you know, right now with what our country is crawling with Gestapo and like international travel is getting fucked every day.

SPEAKER_00 53:12

And even like on on top of all of that stuff, there's also like um there's more policing, there's more evictions, there's more exploitation.

SPEAKER_01 53:22

And LA is a blue city that has already been dealing with heavy ice presence since last year plus. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:28

So I'm gonna link to No Olympics LA so that you can read a little bit more about that. And like, don't be wrong, I'm not like saying that like athletes shouldn't compete in the Olympics or that I think like the very idea of them competing is a problem. I think it's amazing that we get to see all of these different kinds of sports, and like there's sports I never usually get to watch that I only get to watch during the Olympics. And I think like athletes deserve that opportunity. I just think that it's the bigger problem is capitalism and nation states and like all of the other things around it that really like poison it. So if you want to learn more about that, you totally can. Um, and yeah, I think that's that's it. Well, and we'll see you next time in New York City for a nice watery smoothie. And maybe we'll kiss.

unknown 54:08

Whoosh.