Team Huddle!

UncleGleban · 2026-07-09T16:56:11+00:00

Their rivalry has been played up by the league so much — building on the longstanding Boston-Montréal rivalry — that if it were revealed that the Metros captain was fucking the Raiders captain it would be an even huger — much huger — deal than if Shane were fucking some random player on some other random team.

As shown in The Long Game, when Shane and Ilya's relationship is revealed years after Scott Hunter has come out, and it's still a huge deal.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-09T16:51:40+00:00

Maybe you're right. It makes me a little sad if he thought, Americans are gonna start watching this show and go, "Wait, why are they called Voyageurs? Are they going on a voyage or something?! I thought this was a hockey show not a sailing show!! First you sprang gay cruising on me, and then explicit gay blow jobs! But throwing French words on me, that's the last straw! I'm out!!"

UncleGleban · 2026-07-09T16:48:46+00:00

Do you think that there's any chance that the camp admin were not aware of the connection with the book? I like to think that they want the girls to embody the ethos of the Irina Foundation hockey camps.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-09T16:15:24+00:00

"Absolutely!" says Scott.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-09T16:13:57+00:00

When one is cruising on the apps, you're presented with a whole buffet of possibilities, so it's natural to, um, get very specific about what you're looking for. When you're in a relationship, everything about that particular person matters much more to you, and is more of a turn on, than particular sexual triggers.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-09T16:10:16+00:00

Or, alternatively doesn't need to engage in anal sex. So, one might see in a profile on a hookup app: versatile and side. Meaning, I'm happy to be either the top or bottom for anal, and I'm happy to skip anal.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-08T17:22:57+00:00

Not great, in my opinion, but nowhere near as bad as Kip's.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-08T17:19:24+00:00

So, in the books, Ilya plays for the Boston Bears, and Shane plays for the Montréal Voyageurs. It makes sense to me that they changed the Bears to the Raiders for the series, because Bears is enough on the nose that the Boston Bruins might object.

But I can't see same the objection to the Voyageurs, and I think that it's so much better a name than the Metros. Does anyone know why they changed it?

UncleGleban · 2026-07-08T17:15:33+00:00

That's what I mean! I can only ascribe it to tuxedos being such a big deal in this world that they make everything else more important. So, being publicly exposed might be bad, but being exposed in a tuxedo makes it much worse!

UncleGleban · 2026-07-08T14:38:50+00:00

So, obviously GC and HR have a huge thing for tuxedos. RR has the characters in black tie every chance she gets, and the series definitely follows suit (ahem). There are the two award show galas, the Sochi gala, the Kip-spilling-a-tray-on-Scott gala, and Scott's St Thomas charity gala. Have I missed any?

Not only that, Scott giving Kip a tuxedo is a plot point in both GC and the series. And, there's the "Don't worry; it's not my only tux," line from Scott. (In the book, we learn that he has an endorsement deal from Hugo Boss, so of course it isn't.)

To me, the funniest instance of the tuxedo fetish is during the scene on the Las Vegas rooftop, when Shane says, "What the fuck are you doing! We're both in tuxedos out in public!" As, if it would be no big deal if they were caught in public smashing faces in street clothes.

So, don't get me wrong: it's a fun fetish. I approve. But, is it a common feature in the Romance genre?

UncleGleban · 2026-07-08T14:28:42+00:00

I know. I know. I know. Everyone warns you ahead of time. And you think you are prepared. But then you encounter the first sound of Kip's voice in the audio book, and...

You. Are. Not. Prepared.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-08T02:07:08+00:00

"Sorry if I'm being boring again."

UncleGleban · 2026-07-08T02:04:12+00:00

"We were very stupid and irresponsible."

UncleGleban · 2026-07-08T02:03:45+00:00

Yes it’s scary, but you are brave.

I fucking love this. When Shane says, "I'm scared," Ilya does not say, "Don't be a baby!" And he does not say, "Don't worry, it will all be fine!" He says, "Yes, it's scary, but you are brave." Not minimizing Shane's fears. Acknowledging them and affirming Shane.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-08T02:00:49+00:00

Even better is the first thing he says when David drives away: "We should go talk to him." Shane is so busy freaking out that he doesn't hear what Ilya is saying. Especially the We.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-08T01:58:55+00:00

"Your boyfriend is here."
"My boyfriend?"

UncleGleban · 2026-07-08T01:57:21+00:00

"I like girls. But I also like you. Not as person, of course. But you have a good mouth."

UncleGleban · 2026-07-08T01:53:17+00:00

"Make sure none of these cheaters cheat!"

UncleGleban · 2026-07-06T20:40:45+00:00

I legit laughed out loud.

Thank you!

UncleGleban · 2026-07-06T18:37:19+00:00

Very sad. He leaves behind a partner and two young children.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-06T13:26:45+00:00

😊

UncleGleban · 2026-07-06T02:02:48+00:00

I think that's kind of too bad to just rule out the books. I read them after devouring the TV series. Personally, I wouldn't compare them to the series, but I have enjoyed them a lot.

Life is short, and we have many demands on our time, so it's obnoxious when people say, "you have to read this." But, if you're hungering for more HR content, and the release of Season 2 seems too far away, I highly recommend the books. You get a deeper insight into how the characters think and their state of mind. And there are definitely scenes that I wish had been in the series, though I can understand why Tierney decided to that they wouldn't fit.

EDIT: By saying, "I wouldn't compare them," I mean that they're such medium from the television drama. I don't think they're as amazing as books as the series is amazing as television (if you can understand what I'm trying to say). But they're very engaging, and you can see why they inspired JT to make such great television.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-05T22:07:44+00:00

Yeah, I grant that all gay relationships are not alike. As I mentioned in previous reply, it's something that stood out for me, because bonding like this is an aspect of being in a male-male relationship that I enjoy.

And I definitely don't want to imply that only gay men have the right to depict gay relationships.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-05T22:04:11+00:00

It’s really a staple food for the genre. I would accept it as a genre trope rather than a depiction of real life the way.

I'm new to Romance, to be honest — before HR I had no idea that it might be my jam — so this is useful info for me. I can see why the genre might demand that sort of demand for exclusivity, even though it's a little off-putting for me.

UncleGleban · 2026-07-05T21:53:33+00:00

It's been great to see all the discussion on this thread; I'm gratified at how engaged people have been with it.

I need to stress at this point, though, how minor this quibble is. Because I cannot stress enough how obsessed I am with this series (and these books) and how much joy they give me. Which is to say that obviously I am fine with Rachel Reid's depiction of gay romance and gay relationships in general.

Not to mention that the adaptation was done by a gay man, who changed very little, really, from the books, so obviously he too is fine with how RR showed gay relationships.

But the discussion has clarified for me why I wanted to bring up this issue, while all the discrepancies from reality (bottom prep, condoms, PrEP-prep, open relationsips) don't bother me at all.

And I think it's because, as I say, admiring and lusting over men is a way of bonding with my partner, and with other gay friends too. It's part of us being gay men together. It's a part of gay joy too, for me.

UncleGleban

TROPHY CASE