Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Long Game: A Heated Rivalry Podcast is a re-watch and deep-dive podcast dedicated to Heated Rivalry, hosted by Declan and Silvan. In each episode, we revisit key moments across the series, unpacking the slow-burn tension, character development, and emotional beats that make the heated rivalry world so compelling. Through thoughtful discussion, close reading, and a fan-informed lens, we explore themes of competition, intimacy, identity, and growth over time, celebrating not just the heat of the rivalry, but the long game it takes to truly understand these characters and their relationship.
New episodes published every Sunday
Silvan (00:00)
Hi everyone, welcome to Long Game, a Heated Rivalry Podcast. My name is Sylvan and I'm joined of course with Declan, and we are nearing the end of our Heated Rivalry book review. Declan, we are at chapter twenty seven.
Declan (00:15)
Yes, which is the official last chapter before the epilogue. So this is interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing how she wraps this up and what you thought of it. 'cause some people enjoy it, some people not so much. So I just wanna I'm very interested for this stuff.
Silvan (00:37)
Yeah, I can imagine it's gonna bring up a lot of conversation. And it's
Declan (00:40)
Mm.
Silvan (00:41)
interesting. You're right. So it's interesting how this chapter starts because this is technically the end of episode six of the T V show, you know.
Declan (00:49)
Mm.
Silvan (00:51)
Shane and Ilya have had that conversation with Yuna and David, and now they're leaving Yuna and David's to go back to Shane's cottage. And so everything here is now beyond the TV show, which I think poses a really interesting way to look at this because there's no visual that's cemented through a shared experience anymore.
Declan (01:16)
Hmm, yeah. So now this is like the new content. This is what people aren't familiar with if you've only watched the show. So it is an interesting couple of chapters that come up. it seems like it's a way of Rachel retrying to tie this story up in a way that feels a bit more complete. So it works more as a standalone for a casual reader. whether or not that's entirely successful is another thing.
Obviously there is no missing the fact that the speech or discussion between Shane and Yuna doesn't happen. which for a lot of people was like the emotional core of the final episode. and whenever that happens in the show, it's it's so beautiful and it's a perfect sort of closure for Shane's sort of arc within the show at that point of opening up and
Realising that he can be accepted by his parents and that he's not disappointing anyone and that he could always have been, you know, as open and loved as as he is at the end of the show. And so that moment is sort of it's sort of contained within Yuna and his father at the same time. They sort of share that role at the end of this book. but there's just not as much of a personal emotional impact, I don't think.
so yeah, it's it's interesting. What did you find 'cause obviously you've watched the show first, like how did you find that element not being there?
Silvan (02:53)
I think I'd have to agree. I think that conversation between Yuna and Shane was so cathartic and so important, I feel, to Shane's development and his story throughout the whole shot. and not having that type of conversation represented in the book, for me felt like there was something missing. However
Had I not seen the T V show, had I read this book years ago like a lot of people have, I'm not sure I would have picked up on that. And that's why I think Jacob Tierney did a really good job at adding
Declan (03:23)
Mm-hmm.
Silvan (03:24)
elements to the storyline to really fill it out.
Declan (03:29)
Yeah, I do remember reading this the first time and I read this series before the shows were honestly even announced. So I remember coming to the end of the Heat Up Rivalry and thinking, Okay, is that it? That's sorta that was my general thought when I finished the book, 'cause obviously I hadn't read Long Game at that point and so I didn't have that, you know, foresight of how the book is going to turn out.
But I have to imagine that reading this as a standalone with no knowledge of the T V show or no knowledge of long game would be like a little bit deflating. And I did actually mention that in my original review. It's like, this is kinda like just sort of finished and now I don't know how I feel about it. It's good, but it's not like it doesn't blow my mind like people make it out to be. It's only whenever you have the context of the long game do you really enjoy this book properly. But yeah, it's a bit
Lackluster, I think.
Silvan (04:28)
Have lots of thoughts about the ending of this chapter, which is Yeah, we're gonna get to it. There's there's there's like five pages of notes before then. I love that you jump straight into it because I have to hold back for once. The way you probably hold back, and I love some of the comments that we've been having on our socials and on YouTube where a lot of people have noticed your tells now, Declan.
So they can tell when you're trying to hold something back, 'cause I'll say something that is obviously connected to a storyline or something in the long game, and you have to hold back and apparently the people know now. They people can tell.
Declan (05:09)
So what I'm hearing is I have a really bad poker face, which
Silvan (05:13)
Pretty much.
Declan (05:14)
is entirely my mom's fault. I'm throwing her under the bus here. She has a very expressive face and she hides like nothing. And I like have to like try to like not emote on my face, especially whenever I'm like seeing clients, because they'll say something really shocking and I'll be like, Hmm, hmm, tell me about that, you know. It's it's hard. It's not easy.
so I'm not surprised that people began to pick up my tails, which is a little disconcerting.
Silvan (05:44)
I mean the people are observant just like Ilya is observant on Shane. And for those of you who are listening and not watching, Declan is wearing glasses today. Now I'm not saying that that's a way for him to hide some of his facial expressions, but it's not coincidental.
Declan (06:01)
Hmm. I never even thought about that, but yeah, that's a s that's actually useful. Yeah. I'm gonna wear his more often than
Silvan (06:09)
So coming back to the chapter, what I found really interesting was this theme of home for Ilya comes up quite a lot.
Especially in the beginning where Ilya says we should go home. And then Rachel writes Ilya spent the entirety of the short drive back to Shane's cottage wondering if it was weird that he'd just called Shane's cottage home. He knew his grip on the English language was tenuous, but referring to a place he was staying for two weeks as home.
Wasn't weird, was it?
I wanted to hear what your thoughts on that was.
Declan (06:49)
I think it's an incredibly sweet moment where Ilya's basically saying now that wherever Shane is is home. and there does seem to be something very valuable in the way that they view the cottage and the way that they view it as a safe space where they can be and where they admitted their love for each other and they shared so many of their favorite moments. And there is something very satisfying about that and about the fact that Ilya now associates his life and his
sense of safety with Shane and it's quite a beautiful spot to be in, especially for a guy who for such a long time had the name Russia as his home, like well going home to Russia I'm I'm having to to go to this place that made him miserable. And every time he went it was out of obligation. It doesn't seem to be out of a love for what he was doing there or getting to spend time with the people there. whereas it carries a much different meaning now.
Like home is no longer Russia and home is no longer a place that makes him miserable or a place that makes him feel unsafe and unwanted. It's now a place of warmth and comfort and love from the man that he's fallen for and so it's incredibly sweet that Ilya is referring to it that way.
Silvan (08:07)
It really is, and it just goes to show, like you said, home isn't a place, it's a person for Ilya. And it reminds me of the Emily Henry novel, which then got turned into a Netflix movie, people you meet on vacation, or something like that. And at the end the narrator in the movie says something s to that effect as well. so it reminded me very much of that.
And to further that point, Rachel writes He wanted to tell Shane that the closest he felt to home was when he was with him.
It didn't matter if it was in a hotel room or Ilya's apartment, or that weird hideout building Shane bought in Montreal, or here at Shane's cottage. He was himself when he was with Shane.
And what struck me about that quote specifically was Ilya hasn't really been to Shane's actual home yet.
Sure the cottage is a second home or third or whatever, but Ilya has been longing to get inside of Shane's home the entire book, and this is the closest he's gotten.
Declan (09:12)
Yeah. And obviously there's like a practicality to that. I don't think Shane would be willing to take that step or risk the exposure that that could result in. Like you get the idea that the cottage is not really known to people. It's like a it's an isolated place. And while he did do the documentary on it, you might not have any idea where it actually is. And so there's a security in that and a privacy in that. Whereas Shane's home where he lives and spends most of his time, I would say obviously he might have his teammates around.
People might be coming and going and visiting and things like that. So the risk for Shane is very real there. So I can see why he didn't want to bring Ilya there. But you get the feeling as well that Shane has more investment and meaning in the cottage than he does his actual home. Like the cottage seems to be a safe space. Like the documentary was made on the cottage, not on his like home that he goes back to. and so yeah, I think what he got
for Ilya was something a bit more valuable than that was his secret space, his safe space, his place of comfort and of familiarity that he loves the most. And so in that I suppose where he lives is just more a logistical problem and the cottage is where his true heart is sorta it sorta is at this moment. so it's nice that Ilya gets gets to see it and gets to love in it for a bit.
Silvan (10:39)
He's getting a piece of shane that he's always wanted and never had.
Declan (10:42)
Mm-hmm.
Silvan (10:44)
And what's interesting, interspersed with this theme of being at home, which is going to come up a little bit later as well, is the theme of water. So we get water on the lake, and there was this really poignant analysis you did, like when we were watching the TV show, about the the coldness of the lake and but also the freedom that Ilya
has in the lake and he's the only one in the lake in the TV show. And I keep going back to this because water seems to be coming back. Now here we see Ilya pour a glass of vodka for shake.
And what I loved was Rachel writes This vodka is special. He handed Shane one of the glasses, and then she writes Ilya closed his eyes as he took his first sip, enjoying the contrast of the frigid temperature of the liquid and the fire of the alcohol as it slid down his throat.
Declan (11:42)
Mm.
Silvan (11:44)
Now I'm not a vodka drinker, so I can't attest to that. But the juxtaposition of that just it's it just seemed really poetic.
Declan (11:54)
Yeah, there is something quite poetic about it. It's like that's if we're thinking of Shane as the Voke, it's that the cooling, the calming, but also the fire, the passion, the the aliveness of of what he's sort of getting now and what he's gotten out of the situation. something that turned out well, started quite frigid between the two of them and then turned into this fiery thing. Yeah, you could you could go full English teacher on this papato of vodka if you wish.
Silvan (12:24)
we could do a whole episode on this alone.
We won't.
Declan (12:27)
absolutely, yeah. Just ask for the bulky
episode and we'll do it.
Silvan (12:32)
We would so do it. And it's interesting because Shane being Shane and she stays really true to these characters and that's what I love because she writes then, wow, Shane said, that is strong. I mean I might need some cranberry juice or something. And Ilya says, if you mix that with cranberry juice, I will drown you in the lake.
Declan (12:53)
That's just a typical reaction for a Russian. For trying to put a mixer in Bokeh.
Silvan (12:59)
You cannot dilute that stuff down or mess with their vodka.
Declan (13:04)
No, no, no, you don't. it's the same with the Polish as well. Polish don't like you watering down their vodka either. very, very interesting. I don't drink vodka because vodka is acid and I can't stand it. I will drink gin, but no, vodka's where I draw the line. Unless you're mixing it very strongly with something, but yeah, it's not for me.
Silvan (13:28)
there's some self realization that happens within this chapter with both of them, I think. So Ilya says, Does this mean I get to see your apartment in Montreal? Your real one. Shane says, You can even keep a toothbrush there. I'm going to sell that other place. I was being paranoid when I bought it, I'm sorry.
Ilya grinned, buying an entire building because your nervous is very you.
Declan (13:53)
Confirmation of what I said, he bought the building for him.
Silvan (13:59)
And also just bought the building to fuck in.
Declan (14:02)
Yeah, which is kind of neurotic and incredibly on brand for Shane, actually, now that you think about it. Yeah, I mean no hookup has ever done that for me, so you know,
get your bagily.
Silvan (14:18)
Literally if someone bought me an entire building I know he didn't buy it for Elya, but if someone bought an entire building just to hook up with me, I would see the sunny side of that.
Declan (14:30)
I would honestly assume that if someone was desperate enough to do that, that they definitely have a wife and four kids at home.
Silvan (14:37)
Ha ha
Declan (14:40)
Like
Silvan (14:40)
He's
Declan (14:42)
why else are you buying that?
Silvan (14:44)
He's secretly living like a Hayden lifestyle.
Declan (14:48)
Yeah, exactly.
Silvan (14:51)
And we get the humor again in this chapter. And this is what Rachel does really well. I've said this consistently and I will always praise her for this. And it feels like now that we're nearing the end of the book, the humor returns, but it's also staying.
Pretty consistent because Ilya says, and I will say, Shane Hollander, will you please marry me so I can become Canadian citizen faster?
Declan (15:15)
Mm-hmm.
Silvan (15:17)
And there's a self deprecatingness of this here, And he says, and you will say yes because you are a nice helpful guy. And I will say yes because I still I still be madly in love with you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Did Ilya just semi propose?
Declan (15:37)
Yeah, yeah. I would say so. I would say he did. Like it's wrapped up in a joke, but it's true. They both know that's where this is going and I like the idea that he like tries to soften the touch a little bit by being like, you know, you know, I just I'm just after that green card, that sweet, sweet green card that I can get off you. But also then the sweetness of like you know, you know it's inevitable anyway, I'm definitely going to marry you because we're in love anyway, but it's that sort of
cheekiness that is just so typically him at this point that you get so used to. and so yeah, it's just such a it's a funny moment. Very Ilia, but also incredibly them too. There is something about that, the seriousness and practicality of what he said, and then it meets the the sweetness and the love and the and the humor then and yeah. It's just a nice representation for the way that they sort of love each other.
There's always going to be the wit and there's always gonna be the the joking around and the the taking the piss out of each other. But underneath it all is that love, that love that they have for one another at this point. And it's good that they're so open and affectionate about it now. It's great. It's the best part of coming to the end of these books is you skip to see your characters actually be really affectionate with one another and really loving and caring and and just lovely. So yeah, love it.
Silvan (17:01)
And real because the jokes are they hit home. But then there's another joke where Ilya says, or maybe Rose Landry wants sexual experience with you. That isn't a disaster. And Shane says, no threesomes.
I think there's another book in there.
Declan (17:20)
There's a fan fiction in there somewhere, yeah, definitely.
Silvan (17:23)
my gosh, so I know, Jen did go on a
deep dive for us last in the last episode about like a stalker fanfic and she couldn't find anything, but I'm pretty sure there is a threesome fanfic where Ilya Shane and Rose end up together.
Declan (17:38)
Yeah, probably. Don't worry, Jen will find it for you guys if you want it. yeah. Obviously someone's had they've written it.
Silvan (17:48)
I really hope so. You know I love Rose and if we can get Rose back in any way, I'm down for it.
And one thing I noticed is that now that we're getting to the end of the book, the chapters are getting shorter, or maybe I'm just reading them quicker. I don't know. But it almost I mean we're at we're we're at the epilogue already. And what this almost reminded me of, and this is not a dig at Rachel Reed or anything like that, but you know when you're in school and you're writing an essay and it's a really long essay and you sort of get to the conclusion bit of your assignment.
and then the comments from your tutor are like, you know, it seemed like you rushed through the last bit in the conclusion. I'm like, Yeah, I just couldn't be asked anymore.
Declan (18:31)
Yeah,
you do get the sense that she was trying to wrap this up and she was like, I need zone to but it's just took off because I've not left a very natural conclusion. I've left the discovery, but there's no real emotional stakes in Shane's family because they're not actually in the book all that much, to be honest. And so them finding out a chain
Don't really have that big of an emotional impact. It's different from Scott and Kip because Scott and Kip are like publicly they publicly hide themselves like well, Scott does. It's a big, massive thing that happens and it has long lasting and very reaching consequences. Whereas with Sheen's family, we don't really know and we don't really see much of their relationships, so we don't really care, to be honest. We care that, you know
Shane and Ilya now have to address certain things between them. But in terms of like the resolution of like this is thing, this is something that we fear this entire book that we've we found out and it's my god, it's found out by our parents, but I don't really care about the relationship with the parents because it's not been established that well. and so I think that's where you know it feels a bit like I need to wrap this up and I don't have a natural conclusion.
to sort of run to. and I think that's why the epilogue as well feels a bit random, I would say actually. but as for this last sort of chapter, like official chapter, it does feel kinda like packed on at the end, just to sort of help with the flow of things. But I think it's just because we're missing that natural climax of like, this is where it's all happening, this is where they're having it out. This is it and this is where it all finishes up. So
I can see why it's a bit of a struggle and why it feels short because it just feels like it needs to be in here.
Silvan (20:32)
I agree. And I almost feel like had Rachel ended this chapter with the sentiment of Ilya finding his home and Shane, I feel like that would have been a nicer way to wrap up in a way, because there's there's growth in their relationship, there's a sense of, you know, belonging now with Ilya, where he spent his whole life being really disrupted. And so for
Declan (20:58)
Mm-hmm.
Silvan (20:58)
me, the way they finished this chapter
just feels a bit it feels untethered to something.
Declan (21:06)
Hm. Yeah. It's like where are they going next? Like what is the next sort of natural progression for this now at this point? because it feels not right to end at this place. Feels like we're missing something, a little a little extra something something. And I think she does try to bring that down in the epilogue, but the epilogue feels so random. It's such a random event. And it's something that we didn't really care whether or not it happened up until like
a chapter ago, like literally like a couple dozen pages back. and so at that point you're like, is this where we're like jumping to them? Is this like where they're showing us the progress? Like it's a little odd.
Silvan (21:53)
And because of the way the previous chapter ends, I think we need the epilogue really, because that jumps forward sixteen months later in Montreal. But before I get into that, I wanted to ask you, when you read, because you read a lot more than I do,
Declan (22:06)
Mm-hmm.
Silvan (22:07)
where do you consider the natural end to the book? Is it at the last chapter or is it at the after a an epilogue if there is one?
Declan (22:17)
personally believe that whenever you get that last chapter, that is the that's the story. That's the complete bit. That is where it needs to naturally conclude. The epilogue is like a little bonus. It's like the after credits of like a superhero movie. It's like, yeah, but guess this little fun little thing I'm gonna tell you about that's just gonna make you feel so good about the whole thing. it's like a sweet little moment usually so it's like a little jump in time where basically you get to see them as like a happy couple and
They're doing this thing and all that thing. But it has nothing to do with their character plot, it has nothing to do with the overarching story or the story that they're trying to tell. It's just a little bonus. it's kinda like you know, those like chapters that sometimes operas will put on websites and stuff that relate to their story but just don't belong in the story itself. It's not what was trying to be told. like Dinner with Hayden is a perfect example of that. An epilogue is basically like a dinner of Hayden. but
I think that the natural conclusion is the final chapter and so it should flow like that. You shouldn't need to rely on your epilogue, the rescue, the end of your book. that should be a separate thing that you write just as a little bit of fan service.
Silvan (23:29)
That's interesting. I'm I'm curious as to what the listeners think because for me, based on the last chapter.
Kind of underwhelming for me.
Declan (23:42)
Yeah.
Silvan (23:43)
It doesn't it doesn't do anything for me, really. And
Declan (23:46)
Mm, yeah.
Silvan (23:47)
it feels like we've spent what, eight to ten years with these characters. We've gone through a lot, and and this is why I think it feels underwhelming, because the emotional arc of the story and the development through the characters and the situations they've been in feels so powerful.
And and the journeys they've been through feels, you know, really grounded in who they are. That when we come to this, like the last line of this chapter is Come upstairs, you can kiss me and tell me about Ottawa, and maybe get me off because I'm fucking dying. Shane raced past him to the stairs. Only if you beat me. Ilya laughed. Game on Hollander.
Okay.
Declan (24:37)
You know, okay. All right. I suppose. All right. I like I much prefer the I I actually prefer the ending of a show. It's that is where Jacob Tierney literally cuts it off, is whenever you're you talked about it just earlier about, you know, the ending with the sentiment of Ilia feeling like he's going home, of feeling like he is somewhere he wants to be. and it would have been nice to have like a very, very, very quick POV of Shane.
With the same sentiment of the two of them going home and feeling like they're going home together. That would have been a nicer conclusion. than what is currently in the book.
So yeah, it's what we end up with is basically it's relying heavily on the epilogue to wrap things up, which is you know, it's not how I would have chosen to do things. But I'm not a writer, so
Silvan (25:35)
That's true. I mean the epilogue is well written. I do enjoy the epilogue, and I'm glad we get the epilogue because for me the ending of the chapter feels a bit mm, I I needed something more. And so the
Declan (25:46)
Yeah.
Silvan (25:47)
epilogue does jump, you know, ahead, like we said, sixteen months later. And this is where we get, you know, the press conference, this is where we get the realization that Hayden knows about their relationship and
We get a bit more character development for Yuna. And actually the epilogue is a much better chapter, if you will, than how she ends the book. And so we get this epilogue starting with, this quibble between them all out on the ice rink, between like Rosanov, Shane, Hayden. You can see Hayden has a problem with Ilya. Like, they
Declan (26:24)
Mm.
Silvan (26:24)
do not get along, and I love it.
Because I think it would be too easy for them to get along, because there is that
Declan (26:31)
a hundred percent.
Silvan (26:32)
there is that rivalry between them all really.
Declan (26:36)
Yeah, I mean ultimately like you forget that Ilya is a dick to like nearly everyone that he meets and he particularly likes to like wind people up and to annoy people and so that is all Hayden has ever seen him as. Like Ilya wears his mask around everyone except for Shane. And it's like because we are seeing Shane's point of view, we lose sight of that. So what Hayden gets is like the most annoying version of Ilya that everyone else gets as well. So
Yeah, it is funny how people end up reacting to him. but it also presents an opportunity for Hayden to get to know Ilya properly and for that relationship to change. but I do like it as a detail for the epilogue. I think it's funny.
Silvan (27:21)
Completely. And again the humour remains here. So Hayden says, I mean, I could have found you a nice dude if you were just. And this automatically brings me back to you Nassain, what there were no nice boys in Montreal?
Declan (27:38)
This is the Ilya reputation preceding itself. This is this is what he's caused now with his with his mask and the way that he behaves. Is everyone is just like, This is a bad guy, like, come on, Shane, are you serious? Like this guy's terrible. Why couldn't you just pick a nice one? I could've found you a nice guy. I could have found you someone wonderful, but instead you went for him. It's it is funny because they don't understand that Ilya is actually really emotionally intelligent, really sweet.
and incredibly kind and very good for shame specifically. So it is interesting how others view their relationship without being aware of like the inner workings of it.
Silvan (28:18)
Yeah, but saying that, if you were Hayden and your best friend you found out your best friend was dating Ilya Rosanov, you'd be like, What the hellie? Like, this is a walking red flag.
Declan (28:31)
Yeah, like do you need help? Like what
Silvan (28:33)
Right.
Declan (28:33)
say your safe word? Like do you do you need to ask for Angela in this situation? Like, you know, let me know, please. which is understandable because Illy has been a deck to everybody throughout like most of his hockey career, so yeah, it's interesting.
Silvan (28:52)
And I like that they didn't dumb it down for Hayden. You know, Hayden's pretty perceptive and he knows his friend. He knows that his friend is something's going on, or he's not driving as much, or he's going somewhere else, and you know, planting it on his parents, and he's like, You're with Rosanov. Like, he knows.
Declan (29:11)
Yeah, it's like Hayden is not as stupid as Ilya likes to think he is, first of all. But also that if people are willing to look and to notice that Shane and Ilya can be caught out. Like as much as they are trying to put now safeguards in place for not getting caught, the love that they sort of have for one another is kind of unavoidable. And it slips out. And you will find that
in the continuing books, you will see elements of that where characters will spot that it slips out and they don't realize it. and so it's like a it's a cute little taster for how people will begin to view the two of them together. because obviously the whole point of this epilogue is to create a scenario for the fans and for the wider world
as to how these two might be seen together or might be spending time together. That's the whole idea of the charity is obviously it's a nice gesture for Ilya, but it's also a good cover for them spending more time together. and it actually does then turn out to be something that they both value and they care about, Ilya especially, but yeah, I do think that their their time is limited for how long they can keep it secret.
Silvan (30:40)
Absolutely. And as readers, we've been willingly suspending our disbelief, you know, pretending like no one else can notice because they're just so good at covering it up. They're not. They're not that good at covering it up. And you spoke about the Irena Foundation. So when they have the press conference in this chapter, there's a point where Ilya discloses, you know, he wasn't gonna disclose about his mum and he does.
And there's a part in the book where Shane puts his hand on Ilya's, I think his arm or his forearm or something like that. And I'm like, if I were a person in the press conference, I'd be wondering what that was about. And yes, it's to sort of comfort Ilya at a very vulnerable sort of point in the press conference. But there's little things that surely other people would have noticed.
Declan (31:32)
Yeah, it's that idea of like I hope they don't they can't notice how I feel like I'm looking at him or something along those lines. It's the little micro things that we do with people that show our affection towards them that like are little tells for how you feel about them or the kind of relationship you might have with them. And that reaching for his arm was probably instinctual. after all, like they've now been properly together for over a year.
So they have developed little habits with one another, their little couple habits and things that they do with one another that are just little gestures of affection. so trying to keep this hidden, the longer that they're together and the more time they spend in the public eye, the worse it's gonna be for them to try to hide it. and I like that this is sort of setting it up already because
Obviously it's only been a year and they intend to like go the long haul, like they want to go until retirement, which is ridiculously stupid to begin with and naive. But already they are struggling to go it back and to be appropriate and to be seen in the way that they are wanting to be seen to keep this secret. So already the cracks are starting to show and they'll just get bigger.
Silvan (32:58)
I like that you talked about retirement because Rachel writes, They had talked about waiting until one or both of them retired. But that seemed like too long a wait. Shane felt he could easily play for another ten years at least. They're up there prime. They're not gonna retire for another ten years.
Declan (33:18)
And so the question becomes, can I keep this a secret for 10 years, or is it even worth it trying to keep it a secret for 10 years? And I imagine anyone who's ever been in a relationship that has had to be kept secret would tell you that No, 10 years is gonna work. and here's the thing they already have the benefit of Shane's family being aware of it and Shane's best friend being aware of it.
But you know, ultimately, where does that leave Delia? Like, where's where's his confidant? Where is his sort of person to turn to in that situation? Ten years, at least, is not workable. And I think this epilogue is a good way of showing that there's no way they're making it ten years. It's just not gonna happen. Not in terms of they're gonna break up, as in they're gonna get outed or they're gonna out themselves.
Or someone's gonna out it for them. So it's whatever it's the drama of how is that gonna happen, which leads you on to the next book.
Silvan (34:25)
Yeah. Exactly. And that was the whole point of Kip and Scott. That you know,
Declan (34:30)
Mm.
Silvan (34:31)
Scott wanted to wait until he retired. And bear in mind, Scott is like a couple of years older than them, so he's probably got another 10 years in Game Changer. And that was that was a deal breaker for Kip. Kip retracted, he was like, This isn't gonna work. And so to bring that element into this now, especially in this epilogue, didn't feel like
I I think you're right. I think they weren't going to make it another ten year story after this. Something has
Declan (35:00)
Mm.
Silvan (35:01)
to happen beforehand and because otherwise what's the point of having Skip and and Scott break up because of that reason?
Declan (35:09)
Yeah, because they the whole purpose of their story was to prove that you cannot keep this secret. You cannot keep love in the dark. You need to let it out into the light and it will only make you miserable trying to withhold that. And it's an inevitability that it's going to cause too much heartache and too much pain. Like people have a they have a tolerance. For some people it's stronger than others.
I think Shane's is quite high. I think Shane's tolerance for keeping stuff under wraps is quite high because he is naturally inclined to be that way. But for Ilya, who might wear his mask but feels his emotions deeply, I don't see that becoming a thing, especially with the amount of hang ups he has in regards to his fear of not being loved and his fear of you know, having the same sort of family that he grew up with and
All the issues that he developed as a result of his mother dying early and his father being emotionally distant and isolating and the hate that his brother had for him. Like, Ilya is someone who needs his love affirmed, and he is not someone that will want to feel like he wants to be kept a secret. And so, yeah, big problems ahead for these two. And I think this epilogue, as sweet and lovely as it is, has little moments where it's like,
Hmm. How is this gonna work in the long run, guys?
Silvan (36:40)
Completely and I like that you talk about sort of Ilya and and the family element to it because Rachel writes you know this is the last two pages of the epilogue now Fuck Andre. Ilya had a better family now. She also writes his life was so close to perfect now. He wanted to be Shane's husband and to live together, and maybe even raise children together. Not as many children as Hayden had, but like a reasonable number.
Declan (37:08)
Yeah. that's like already that's telling you. Ilya would start now. Ilya would start all of that right now. Like, I don't think he really gives a shit at this point. I think for him in his head he's like hockey is like secondary at this point. Like, I want I want the husband. I want the house. I want the kids.
I want what Hayden has. And I think maybe there's something in that. Like in the fact that him and Hayden bought heads so often, is it because Ilya sees like a version of the life that he wants in what Hayden has, and that annoys him because he also has a closeness with Shane. And it's almost like he he might view Hayden as having everything that he wants. He has the relationship with Shane, he has the family, he has the house, he has the kids.
And so yeah, maybe that's maybe that's what it is. Maybe it's a bit of jealousy on on behalf of Ilya that that's where the animosity between the two of them sort of comes from. I haven't really thought about that, but it's yeah, it's occurring to me now.
Silvan (38:18)
I think you hit the nail on the head there. There's a projection from Ilya. You know,
Declan (38:22)
Mm.
Silvan (38:22)
you're right. Hayden has the life that Ilya wants. Ilya can't have that life. Maybe not now. And that's what he wants. Like you said, he would drop everything and he would start the life now. But I think it's you know, Rachel writes, baby steps, Ilya reminded himself. So there's a there's a tentativeness.
Declan (38:44)
Mm. He's holding back.
Yeah, yeah, he's holding back.
Silvan (38:50)
Totally. And even as we approached the end of this of this epilogue, I felt like the end of this epilogue for me worked better than the end of the previous chapter, so in in terms of wrapping things up. So th the end sort of paragraph and I'll read it out was he had a surprise for Shane actually. He had booked a room in the hotel. They had less than two hours before Ilya needed to hit the road.
But after years of practice they were good at making the most of an hour or two of privacy. one hundred two six he texted, and waited for Shane's reply. Shane, seriously? Best news ever. See you soon. Ilya chuckled, set an alarm on his phone, and went to meet his boyfriend.
Declan (39:41)
Mmm.
Silvan (39:41)
That's a better ending.
Declan (39:42)
It is a better ending and it sort of brings them full circle. they began by hooking up in rooms, they were strangers to each other in a lot of ways and emotionally distant, but now there was always a reluctance as well to meet in the beginning. Like Shane would there would be a reluctance from Shane's part, and Ilya would sort of tease him and convince him into it. But now it's like
room, whatever, like, my god, you're the best ever, like I am there right now. it's like the openness of their feelings towards each other and how they feel about one another. It's like a it's like a nice little contrast, so it is, between where they started and where they ended up. and of course they end with the fact that he's my boyfriend, which is just really sweet. So yeah, really lovely way to end the book. It brings the thing full circle. I feel like we could have got here
through out just writing a couple more chapters and it would have felt a bit more organic. but, you know, we have what we have. yeah, I feel like doing the mental health the the charity here. it feels random for the story, but it's a key part of the continuing books. So
The charity does play a part in bringing certain characters together and that's the whole purpose of it sort of that's the whole purpose of in the story. It's it's a tool to storytell for other books. but it's fine. It's fine.
Silvan (41:21)
Well, I feel like bringing in the charity, yes, it does feel a bit odd, but it serves a purpose in this epilogue in that we needed that vulnerable moment for Ilya to disclose about his mum publicly. And I don't see how we get that otherwise. And it makes sense to have a press conference and it, you know, automatically pulls me back towards the the the beginning of the book when they have that press conference together.
Declan (41:49)
Yeah.
Silvan (41:49)
And
that's both in the book and the TV show. Now I say this is a better way to end. For me, wasn't the best way to end. I felt like because I knew their story was going to continue, especially into the long game.
I knew this wasn't going to be the last time we see them, but had I sort of read this in sequence when it was released, not knowing that there was going to be a whole series, and maybe there was, I don't know if that was already the intention. Had I just read Game Changer and this book, I would have been like, we've gone through hell and back with these characters, and this is how we end. I'm to me it's not as satisfying, and I know other people and I'm I'm happy to hear other people's
sort of reactions to this, but for me it wasn't a satisfying ending. It was cute. It was a nice throwback with the the hotel room, sure. I don't feel like I f I don't know what I'm trying to say. I think I wanted more is what I'm trying to say from an ending.
Declan (43:00)
Yeah.
And that could just be intentional. that's the big the big catch is this could be intentional. It could be that she did leave you wanting more because she knew that she was writing the long game and she was gonna give you the proper conclusion to the story. Because I know exactly what you're talking about. You expect bigger moments, more personal moments for them privately as a couple, like a milestone to wrap up a book like that. but they all happen
In a different book. And so the natural this is like I view this as a duology rather than a complete story. It's the first half and that's the best way to view Heather Rivalry, to be honest, because it explains a lot of the pacing and stuff to do with the book. it does feel like she wrote it and then split it in half, like the full complete story. So yeah, I think that's the best way to view it and to just, you know, take away from the fact that this was to encourage you to come back to finish their story, I suppose. So
There's good marketing in that. You know, whether it works as like a standalone finish, it does, could just be a wee bit better.
Silvan (44:10)
Yeah. Yeah, she knew what she was doing.
Declan (44:13)
Yeah, yeah, she did. She was trying to advance us.
But I think it's pretty much where we're finishing then with this book, isn't it? It's
yeah, it's been very long that we've been doing it. So many episodes dedicated to it, and we have had a really good time talking about it, and for it to conclude like this, there is something quite nice about the way it polishes off with
Illia's mother's charity and with the two of them reliving their sort of hotel days. there is something quite sweet about that moment that ties it nicely together. so really the only thing left to discuss is Internet Haitens and just our general thoughts on the book. But obviously we are running out of time again.
Silvan (45:06)
I think that's gonna
warrant its own its own episode in itself.
Declan (45:10)
Yeah, that'll be our our final one for for this book anyway, and then we have some other content for the other books too coming up. So yeah, I think we'll we'll finish up then with this one for now.
Silvan (45:25)
Yeah, and people have asked if we are going to continue with the other books and the answer is yes. We are gonna continue with the whole series. So rest assured, we will be reading this. Maybe not chapter by chapter, 'cause I think it it warranted for especially parts of this book, and I wasn't we hadn't planned on it, can I just say? We just naturally fell into that. but
Declan (45:48)
Yeah, like
that wasn't like a planned structure. It just because the book and the show coincide so well with each other and there's so much content within each bit of it and sort of relates so much back to the characters. you know, it kinda warranted that, whereas the other books honestly could only be like a couple of episodes each. they are fun, but you can squeeze the discussion down quite nicely. so think of a format more like that. So
There'll not be as big a wait to try to get through to the next books. That won't be happening. they'll be discussed
more reasonably.
Silvan (46:24)
completely I feel like a lot of comments we're getting is like, Sylvan, just get to the long game. All your questions will be answered in the long game. So I'm gonna trust everyone's judgment. We're gonna keep going and I haven't read the long game yet, so I don't know what's coming. But there's a whole host of other characters to meet in this journey before we get there.
Declan (46:45)
Mm. Yeah. So we'll we'll look forward to that.
But that is all the time we have for you guys this week. Thank you so much for joining us. This was the conclusion of the Heat of Rivalry book. We finished it. my god. Amazing. we picked up the part like A level or GCSD English teachers. for anyone that doesn't know what that means.
Basically it's like our English schooling in the UK. But all you need to know is we deep dived this book. We deep dived it all the way down to hell. and we had a good time doing it. So thank you so much. Make sure you tune in for the next episode. We'll be discussing our general thoughts about the book, what we loved about it, things that we felt like we wish had a been different. and just sort of like a roundup of what what we felt and how we felt the story had been written and Rachel Reed herself as the writer.
Obviously, there's that bonus episode as well about Hayden, dinner at Hayden's, the little extra treat that Rachel gave out on her website. So look forward to that. Keep an eye out for that. And in the meantime, check out our book club as well. It's the Long Game Pod book club. we have finished these books, but chats are still ongoing there as well. but we are also reading different MM romances. at the moment.
We just finished Up Becoming Us by Alex Cross and we are just about to start Sweat by Jonah York, which is a fantastic soccer romance. so if you want to be involved with that, check it out. It's on Fable and it's the long game pod book.
But until then, make sure you like, subscribe, leave a comment, make sure you check us out on Instagram and on TikTok too. So yeah, we'll see you next time.