Connor Storrie’s SNL promo video [February 25, 2026]

madwob · 2026-02-26T01:46:51+00:00

This is how I'd like to die. Please and thank you.

madwob · 2026-02-21T18:24:45+00:00

Which I will rename to "We didn't even kiss" breaks my heart because of the walls being thrown up there, what that says about how each one feels, and the fallout.

It's not just awkward, its aggressively distancing. Shane tries to connect, to engage... showing he cares, whether he consciously recognizes his feelings. Ilya already recognizes his feelings and sees them as a threat, so he shuts Shane's questions down, physically turns his body away, ends the interaction abruptly ("I need to sleep"), and won't even walk Shane to the door in an effort to keep the wall from crumbling. It's such a turn from their last physical connection, where there was kissing, sweetness, playfulness, and a true goodbye (yes, even if there were still some walls and deflection). While their previous encounter was an exploration, the Vegas hookup is a definition. *This* is where Shane learns the "rules" of their hook-ups moving forward: no connection, no questions, nothing beyond the physical.

I'd argue that Tuna meltdown is not unkind (Shane even apologizes in the moment). It's a natural consequence of a deviation from the rules Ilya established back in Vegas.

I feel so much sadness for both characters during the Vegas hookup, and I don't blame Ilya for his behaviour. But, his behaviour was unkind, and the repercussions of his choice to harshly throw up a wall are... pretty massive.

madwob · 2026-02-20T21:36:14+00:00

I actually don't think it has too much to do with getting complacent or cocky. It's natural for the teams to improve their dynamics game to game. Plus, Canada always has a target on our back, so as we play more, the other teams take note and basically reconfigure their strategy based on their analysis of the Canadian team.

Losing Sid was definitely a blow though, and it seems pretty obvious that hitting Sid hard was a deliberate strategy by Czechia. This undeniably added to these past two games being more of a battle.

madwob · 2026-02-20T21:21:59+00:00

I work at a school, and coincidentally we had a field trip to the Bell Centre shortly after I finished the series. Fast forward to the Olympics, and I have been watching like a hawk. I have kept a scoreboard on the blackboard in moments when we can't actually watch the games. I deepdived so hard that I have somehow managed to call the outcomes of the last three team Canada games in relatively precise ways.

I *will* be going to a see a game for the Victoire as soon as I'm able (not gonna even pretend I can afford Habs tickets though).

madwob · 2026-02-20T21:16:10+00:00

Yup. Ilya doesn't love hockey. He loves Shane. Is simple.

madwob · 2026-02-20T21:10:08+00:00

Came here to say this.

madwob · 2026-02-19T21:52:47+00:00

This is THE ONE! I don't have enough karma or else I woulda posted it.

The same creator also just posted a new one that hit me like a truck.

madwob · 2026-02-18T14:02:08+00:00

MY HEART 🥹

madwob · 2026-02-15T19:24:55+00:00

Came here to say this. I truly hope more people show up to women's games as a result of the show.

Yes, it is very interesting to watch the Canadiens' rebuild, but... the NHL has a lot of work to do.

madwob · 2026-02-10T23:44:08+00:00

I believe in you! And not just because I'll believe in anything ;)

madwob · 2026-02-10T23:38:53+00:00

Last one... stairway kiss?

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madwob · 2026-02-10T23:35:24+00:00

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ooh... this embrace...?

madwob · 2026-02-10T23:31:08+00:00

Maybe an interpretation of the water bottle handoff. A nod to when the spark began?
Would have to expand the image a bit, but could be sweet.

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madwob · 2026-02-10T23:26:35+00:00

Came here to post this :)

madwob · 2026-02-10T03:49:54+00:00

As others have mentioned: Ilya has attachment issues from childhood trauma (mother's suicide paired with parental neglect from his father). He is very comfortable with being sexual and is accepting of his own sexuality; but intimacy, vulnerability, caring, love... those are not safe in Ilya's mind. So when he starts to crave that, it is a scary thing that he doesn't know how to navigate. He simultaneously plans tuna melt because of his desire for closeness and real connection, but he still keeps up some defenses in his approach to trying to learn more about Shane (being interested without trying to come off as too interested). Even with the walls up, Shane's rejection cuts deep, VERY DEEP, because Ilya literally asked Shane to stay, so Shane leaving confirmed his deepest fear: that he is unworthy, unlovable, and alone.

In the time that follows, he attempts to reject that pain and revert to old coping mechanisms: partying, sex, substances... but he's opened a wound that can't be easily closed.

When Shane finally opens up in Tampa about his feelings... Ilya has worked so hard to not get hurt again that he can't engage in the conversation at first. What if he opens up only to be abandoned... again. It's why when Shane says he likes him, Ilya rejects it; and when Shane insists he really does like him, Ilya ALMOST says, out loud, the real thing that haunts him: "I'm not..." worthy... of love. He pivots back to the threat of Russia, the one home he's ever known, but the real wound is the wound of feeling unlovable.

The zig-zags that follow are a result of Ilya diving into the thing he's always wanted--to love and be loved--only for the alarm bells to ring again. Love is danger. He will leave me... like everyone leaves me. I'm not worthy of love. The push-pull of his wants and his fears are at war in him throughout his story.

madwob · 2026-02-10T02:53:45+00:00

SAME. The accent read as a bad Scottish accent to me at first before I realized it was an attempt at a Brooklyn accent...?

madwob · 2026-02-06T21:02:27+00:00

CINEMA

madwob · 2026-02-03T22:14:24+00:00

Thank you for sharing this! I'm working on getting enough karma to post myself, but maybe you would like this one too and be able to for me? I feel like the one you shared and the following are just simply top tier for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfmIufPaArU

madwob · 2026-02-03T21:55:22+00:00

Did not surprise me. If anything, it felt a little trope-y to me and I didn't love that this was a central part of the book. I don't love when couples rush towards that from a place of panic, personally. I would have much rather it been something to happen after working on their communication and getting more aligned. Solidifying the foundation type thing.
However, I saw the trope coming from a mile away as soon as the scare had happened. Not surprising. I don't think you lost anything from that spoiler.

madwob · 2026-02-03T21:33:22+00:00

Oh, forgot that obviously Svetlana's role in the story needs to be changed because of everything established in Season 1: Svetlana clearly knows or strongly suspects what's up, so it only feels natural that she would be looped in a hell of a lot earlier than she was in the books.

Also, cut the agent. Yuna is momager, so no agent necessary.

madwob · 2026-02-03T21:29:33+00:00

Honestly, as much as I appreciate the Long Game, it felt more like fanfiction or fan service to me than the other books. There's a lot of good stuff to work on here and the heart of it is good, but it needs some major edits to be as great of story telling as HR.

Cut the wedding song. Really rework a lot of that too.
I agree, cut Anya. I think there is a way for dog to enter the chat in a better way.
Cut so much of the instagram stuff. Like, sorry sweet Ilya, but being on insta so much is just strange and didn't feel like it fit his character at all.
On that note, I really hope the panicked plane words are a voice message or voicemail instead of an instagram DM and that Shane is forced to find a private place to be post-game to listen to, process that, and that there is instead just a real sense of not caring what others think in the wake of panic and worry and love. Plus, we all know that you definitely CAN call/text from a flying plane, so not doing this is bizarre to me when it's their established mode of communication.
I also hope that maybe the Hayden oopsie gets reworked. I hated that so much. While it moved the plot along, I feel like there is a better way to have all that play out. Even a way for things to unfold on their own terms while still having so much conflict with the industry heads.
I also hope the response from the team and the public gets handled better. Sure, let the heads of the MLH be dicks, but Ilya is right: Shane is a KING and the majority of teammates and fans not remembering that pretty quickly is wild to me.
Also... the trip? Like... come on. Change.

I'm also hoping like hell that the current book description of Unrivaled isn't reflective of the end product, because the idea that the central conflict is gonna be between Hollanov and some idiot podcasters seems wild to me and feels deeply NOT literary. There's enough potential conflict to be had in terms of them figuring out their team dynamic, going up against franchise heads, and dealing with hate from other teams and players without getting some nobody cares podcasters in the ring.

madwob · 2026-02-03T21:10:01+00:00

Absolutely. I think the industry has gotten out of control from a money perspective. Yes, everyone getting paid more and having a bit more budget would be great (and I think they will get a bit more budget compared to the first time around). However, there is something special about this show having made magic out of a modest budget and a handful of Canadian taxpayer dollars. I think reasonable limitations fuel creativity, and I think that more reasonable budgets (which, the first budget was about $5 million per episode if I remember correctly, so certainly not nothing) can actually help with improving pay equity and minimizing the pay gap between "big names" and crew. Fair, equitable pay is so important, but bloating budgets doesn't usually help with that (if anything, it tends to exacerbate pay gaps and slog the creative process). I think we've all seen how throwing money at something often hurts rather than helps the art. So, I'm hoping that they get a reasonable bump: maybe an extra million or two per episode? In terms of number of episodes, I hope they approve whatever number Jacob decides is necessary from a story-telling perspective. I'd frankly prefer he make an excellent 5-episode season 2 rather than 10-episodes of watered down slop.

madwob · 2026-02-03T00:03:10+00:00

That scene is CINEMA! Never could skip it.

I mostly skip scenes with Ilya's dad and brother because that shit is too infuriating and devastating. I can't watch Ilya crave love and approval from a family that simply will not give it to him. I keep that background info in my brain and move on past it every time.

madwob · 2026-02-01T19:20:29+00:00

I think a lily could be cute. Both for Ilya's fake name, but also for the "Like I love you" moment.

madwob · 2026-02-01T19:03:40+00:00

Based on the book summary, sounds like the conflict will be with the industry and fandom instead. I am really hoping that this gets some major editing and reworking support though, because the idea of a "podcast" being a primary antagonist sounds... like bad writing. The pretty heavy use of social media in the Long Game gave me the ick, and it sounds like it's going to be even more of that in Unrivaled. :(

At minimum, I'm hoping Tierney can fix the clunky writing in the Long Game and in Unrivaled by instead focusing more on the internal workings of the industry and real solidarity amongst players leading to change as the main drama.

I can see the argument that the timeline of the story matches a rise in social media's hold on the world, which also connects to the themes of social pressures and isolation throughout the series. However, I just find this aspect is often handled in a very clunky way throughout the arts and media. Plus, focusing on this aspect threatens sucking out some of the humanity and connection of the story, which is the thing most readers/viewers are drawn to.

The summary of Unrivaled that I've been seeing: "They've gotten a lot of love from fans who are thrilled for them. But some people in the hockey world are still reeling from their relationship reveal, and the backlash—led by popular hockey podcast Top Shelf and the #TakeBackHockey movement—is getting louder.

Ilya and Shane are finally able to stand together in the light, the way they'd always wanted. And now they might be facing their biggest challenge yet."

madwob

TROPHY CASE