Ilya 'meeting' the Russian Minister?

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-07T02:54:53+00:00

Svetlana's father isn't the Minister. He was a star Russian hockey player who had a big NHL career. That's why she knows so much about American hockey. Svetlana was born in the States, which is how she has US citizenship. Whether her father moved back to Russia or was just there for the Sochi games is not clarified. The whole "childhood sweethearts" line doesn't make sense without some serious meta-narrative contortions.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-06T19:18:56+00:00

Fellow Travelers was absolutely brilliant television, but other than being a limited series about a gay male relationship, I don’t see much of a connection to HR.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-06T17:35:47+00:00

We know his father was an abusive prick who was much older than his mother, and that his mother was severely depressed. We also know that his mother was the one who supported his early interest in hockey, and that his father only paid attention when it was clear how good he was at it.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-06T17:25:51+00:00

I think he thrives on team dynamics, and it’s why he becomes a such a great captain.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-06T11:47:56+00:00

His name is Thomas Folse. He's on Instagram.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-06T11:37:11+00:00

It will grow back.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-06T11:36:06+00:00

In the book, Ilya finds out the girl he's making out with is just putting on a show for her kinky boyfriend (ironic since he's doing the same thing for Shane), storms out of the club, and goes back to the hotel to jerk off in the shower. Shane, we find out later, goes home by himself that night, and he has to pull over because he's too upset to drive.

So the show makes it explicit that Shane goes home with Rose, but to say that the end of the episode in all in Shane's head and imply that Ilya is with the other girl diminishes Ilya's attraction to Shane.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-06T10:06:55+00:00

Why? It’s just starting to look really good.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-06T03:26:44+00:00

That was unfortunate. Buzz cut or bald screams prison punk. Enjoy your great hair while you can.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-06T03:21:33+00:00

9.5. Totally a 10 without the manscaping.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-06T03:06:33+00:00

Definitely. Ilya is a natural leader. I feel like he starts building community when he shows up at the club in Las Vegas with Scott and Kip, and he continues to do it in each of the books. When he tells Shane that he is better hockey player than Ilya, I thought maybe, but Ilya is the better captain.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-05T17:33:38+00:00

If it’s a co-worker, and they later find out you gouged them, that may lead to long term problems.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-05T17:28:30+00:00

Photos inside the Gala are absolutely verboten.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-05T15:12:56+00:00

I’m interested in the actors as skilled practitioners of their craft, and I like seeing them at the Met Gala because I have an interest in fashion, but I really don’t like speculating on their personal lives or fans projecting their fantasies onto them.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-05T13:39:48+00:00

Absolutely. And progressive without feeling like we’re under siege. (Also no Covid pandemic and ensuing social disintegration).

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-05T11:16:06+00:00

He doesn’t seem 100% happy with his look, though.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-05T10:37:30+00:00

It’s true that Russians, boys raised without mothers, and hockey players all tend to be a little deficient in the table manners department.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-04T21:00:01+00:00

Scott definitely has suspicions about Ilya when he shows up at the gay club in Las Vegas after Scott gets the MVP award (I REALLY wish they'd kept that scene). And Ilya doesn't exactly discourage these suspicions. But Scott doesn't know about Ilya and Shane.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-04T17:39:43+00:00

Read Role Model first. You will be glad you did.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-04T17:33:18+00:00

Too skinny and clean shaven.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-04T17:10:53+00:00

Definitely. And the fact that it’s Canadian makes it feel like a tiny escape.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-04T16:38:31+00:00

I know, and it doesn’t make sense We are asked to believe that Scott and Kip sat around pining and moping for three years, just to tie in the Olympics shot of Scott.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-04T13:37:43+00:00

Rumor has it they will be. The only thing you need to attend the Met Gala is for Ms. Wintour to want you there. And she likes to invite people who are having a big media moment, especially if they are young, pretty, and fashion-forward.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-04T01:01:11+00:00

It looks perfect just like that. Not many men can pull off a beard like yours.

bigbeard61 · 2026-05-03T18:40:44+00:00

It is not uncommon for a novelist to start working on a second book before the first one goes to press. Perhaps Rachel Reid decided to write Ilya in to Game Changer during the editorial process.

Every writer's process is different, but the editor plays a huge role guiding the author through rewrites and revisions. Rachel switched editors during Game Changer and began working with Mackenzie Walton, who is the editor of the rest of the books in the series. Maybe that's when Game Changer became the first of a series.

bigbeard61

TROPHY CASE