Do Shane & Ilya Get Their Happy Ending?

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Heated Rivalry episode 6, “The Cottage.”After six episodes, Heated Rivalry wraps up Shane Hollander and Ilya Rosanov’s first act, while also setting up the much-anticipated season 2. TV’s biggest surprise hit debuted late in the year, as the two-part premiere of the Crave series simultaneously landed on HBO Max. This allows Heated Rivalry to have a much-bigger reach, helping it boost its popularity.

Unlike other adaptations, Heated Rivalry doesn’t deviate much from its source. Creator Jacob Tierney has done a great job staying true to Rachel Reid while also taking some creative liberties that make the show more suitable on the small screen. The perfect mix results in an adaptation that caters both the book readers and the uninitiated to Shane and Ilya’s story.

Heated Rivalry maintains that approach in episode 6, “The Cottage” — reference to Shane’s invitation to his rink nemesis to spend the summer with him in his home on the lake in Ottawa. Clocking at 51 minutes, it’s a tad shorter than its penultimate episode, but that doesn’t stop Tierney from paying off plots while also setting up the show’s future.

Kip & Scott Solidify Themselves As Game Changers

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The end of Heated Rivalry episode 5, “I’ll Believe In Anything”, can effectively double as the final chapter in Kip and Scott’s love story. With the New York Admirals the new champion, coming out during the celebration is the perfect reward for the Captain’s year’s of sacrifices hiding himself. However, Tierney brings them back in “The Cottage” to start the outing, just to solidify their place as the couple that pushed Shane and Ilya to finally be brave about their feelings.

As Scott wins the MVP of the season, he delivers a speech that breaks down his experience of being closeted in the league for so long. He thanks his teammates, coaches, and Kip. The main takeaway from his speech, however, is how he embraces the role of being the poster boy for cultural change and tolerance in the sport — something that informs his potential role in Heated Rivalry season 2.

Shane & Ilya’s Future Plan Explained

Anyone who has followed Heated Rivalry‘s run thus far is in for a treat for the majority of “The Cottage.” Tierney adapts almost all the major moments at this point in the book, albeit with some changes. After years of sneaking in and lying, the show finally indulges Shane and Ilya, as they leisurely enjoy each other’s company in the hideout. Spending time together, however, comes with the realization that they can no longer come back from this moment.

Ilya reveals that he wants to give up his Russian passport, potentially marrying Svetlana to become an American. In one of the more introspective conversations in the episode, Shane asks Ilya to not marry his friend, promising that they could find another way. Not long after, the Montreal Metros Captain lays out his multistep plan. Firstly, Ilya leaves the Boston Raiders to play for the Ottawa Centaurs after he becomes a free agent, which puts them in closer proximity with each other. Secondly, the pair announces a joint charity that will soften their image as rivals, hoping that eventually, the community won’t make a big fuss about them being friends.

Heated Rivalry Episode 5 Teases 1 Exciting Storyline That Even Rachel Reid’s Books Failed To Show

HBO Max’s smash hit’s penultimate episode is rich in storytelling, and yet, it’s able to hint at an exciting plot that even the books don’t cover.

Admittedly, the plan requires a lot of waiting for the both of them, as it will take time for all things to properly unravel. That said, it’s enough for the pair to start believing that there might be a way out of their impossible situation. Once that’s cleared up, that’s when both allow themselves to admit their true feelings for each other. While it’s clear that they are in love, neither of them wants to confess until this moment, making it so much more cathartic. Shane and Ilya are still a long way from being able to announce their relationship, but they are happy to have a plan on how to move forward with it.

How Shane Comes Out To His Parents, Yuna & David

After several days on their own, Shane and Ilya’s peace is unexpectedly shattered when David walks in on them at the cottage. This forces Shane to finally have the talk with his parents. Because of how freaked out he is, Ilya offers to come with him to their cottage, which leads to a series of events that goes from heartwarming, downright funny, awkward, and then optimistic.

David and Yuna sit down with the boys as they explain how their affair started in the first place. Understandably, both are flabbergasted to learn that their relationship has been going on since the summer before their rookie year. Thanks to Ilya’s bashness, it becomes eventually clear to the Hollanders that the boys are truly in love with each other, making it so much easier to fully support them.

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Tierney makes the most significant departure from Reid’s books in this stretch of Heated Rivalry, and for good measure. He adds a scene between Shane and Yuna alone outside the house, where they honestly discuss what just happened. Shane, assuming that his mom is disappointed, explains that he tried very hard to not get to this point, but Yuna immediately dismisses him, saying that she’s the sorry one for not making him feel safe enough to talk to her about it.

Adding this moment perfectly encapsulates how brilliantly Tierney toes the line between staying true to the novel and deviating from it. Giving the pair this quiet but powerful conversation strengthens their relationship, and also emphasizes just how much Ilya has lost with the death of his own mother. Throughout Heated Rivalry season 1, Yuna has been present in Shane’s life, managing her professional affairs. At this point, however, the conversation becomes just between a mother and a son.

What To Expect From Heated Rivalry Season 2

Heated Rivalry season 1 ends as Shane and Ilya drive away from the Hollanders and back to the cottage. In the book, there are several more scenes left, which Tierney opts not to show anymore. That includes a debriefing back at the house and a fast-forwrard to the press conference that announces their charity. At this point, it is unclear if Heated Rivalry season 2 is planning to show these when it debuts.

Regardless, “The Cottage” lays the foundation of what to expect from Shane and Ilya’s story moving forward — assuming that Tierney maintains his approach to adapting Reid’s books. In the sequel novel, The Long Game, a significant amount of time has passed. Ilya is already with the Ottawa Centaurs, which means that it’s easier to see Shane when he’s in Montreal. That said, the weight of their secret starts to burden them greatly, particularly Ilya, who starts to have personal struggles. “The Cottage” actually alludes to this dark aspect of their future during some of the couple’s quieter conversations, especially when the topic of Ilya’s mother is brought up.

Shane and Ilya in Heated Rivalry episode 5

Heated Rivalry Finally Breaks The Unsavory Trend That Has Been Plaguing It All-Season Long

After five episodes, HBO Max and Crave’s smash hit, Heated Rivalry, has finally broken an unsavory trend that has followed it throughout its run.

Since there’s a gap in storytelling in Reid’s books and Tierney doesn’t include the flashforward in Heated Rivalry season 1 ending, it’s curious if there are plans to tackle that period that isn’t in the novels. Because of how popular the series is, it won’t be surprising if there’s a push to stretch out Ilya and Shane’s story on the small screen. It can be risky to tell an entirely new segment of their story without the guidance of Reid’s books, but it might be worth the shot.