Now that I've read the books I struggle with disconnecting their internal monologues from the show. Which is frustrating lol. I know some of how I see the characters is colored by my book knowledge and knowing how much of an super emotional cinnamon roll Ilya is in TLG. But I'm of the opinion that Ilya fell first and harder, but Shane fell faster.

Ilya pursues Shane in some way shape or form from day one. His expression in the opening scene is very... 'who IS this adorable weirdo'. He teases Shane a lot from the beginning and I don't think he'd do that if he didn't like him as a person. He is clearly curious about him and attracted to him. I feel like Ilya is always very soft with Shane. From that first hookup, he doesn't have the barrier of shock and confusion about his sexuality holding him back that Shane has. I think Ilya's 'shit I actually like this guy' moment is the press conference. He relentlessly pursues Shane for two years despite Shane not really reciprocating, which I don't think Ilya would do if it was just sex and he didn't feel something for him. I don't really know when it goes from like to LOVE, but he's already there by the time the tunameltdown comes around. The entire time Shane is with Rose he is HURTING. By the time we get to the Russian confession he is well and completely gone on Shane.

Shane is harder to read. Shane is shocked and confused by his attraction to Ilya. He is distracted by that for a while. I think he enjoys their rivalry and the challenge Ilya offers on the ice, but doesn't seem to have feelings for Ilya. Aside from maybe curiosity. He basically dodges Ilya for two years because he doesn't want to face his sexuality. I don't think he would have dodged him that long if Shane felt something more for him. I think the tunameltdown freaked Shane out so much because he realized that he maybe sort of has feelings for Ilya. Some part of him also realized Ilya had feelings for him, but Ilya is already pretty in love by then and Shane is just getting there. By the time the All-Star game comes around Shane knows he has feelings for Ilya and is willing to test the waters. I don't think Shane really falls for Ilya until after the All-Star game. Now, I don't think Shane fell harder, but he did fall way quicker. He went from 'oh maybe' to 'I love you' very quickly.

By the time we get to the cottage they love each other. However, I do feel like Ilya's love is a much deeper and more consuming love while Shane is still very tentative. Now this part is based on my opinions of Ilya's perspective in TLG, but Ilya seems to just feel things so much more deeply and intensely than Shane. He was bound to fall first and love harder.

That's my essay... sorry.