‘Heated Rivalry’: Do Shane & Ilya End Up Together? Their Book Fate and More
Heated Rivalry — the show version — has a few weeks’ worth of episodes left, but that isn’t stopping us from thinking ahead. Shane (Hudson Williams) and Ilya (Connor Storrie) are in a rough spot as of Episode 2: They’ve been hooking up on and off for years, but they still haven’t confessed any sort of deeper feelings for each other. (Though their yearning is painfully obvious to us, even if they’re trying to ignore it.)
Despite all the angst, creator Jacob Tierney has repeatedly said that Heated Rivalry is joyful, assuring CBC that “it’s a love story, and that they get to be in love.” He pointed out that such a thing isn’t common in a lot of media about queer people, especially about gay men. So, at least we know the show will steer clear of the “kill your gays” trope, even if Shane and Ilya are put through the emotional wringer. But does that also mean they’re endgame material?
If you want to find out without reading the book it’s based on, we’ve got you. Swooon is breaking down the ending of author Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry and whether Shane and Ilya end up together.
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers from Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid.]
Do Shane and Ilya end up together?
Don’t fret, fellow Hollanov shippers: Though there’s plenty of that aforementioned angst along the way, Shane and Ilya are happy together in the end. Once Scott (played by François Arnaud in the show) celebrates his playoff victory by kissing his boyfriend in front of everyone, Ilya gets the courage to take Shane up on his invitation to his cottage. Once they’re together in their own little universe, they make plans to be together long-term. Two love confessions later, Shane and Ilya are officially (secret) boyfriends.
In Heated Rivalry’s epilogue, which takes place in November 2018, they see the plan through: Ilya has moved teams, leaving Boston for Ottawa to be closer to Shane. At a press conference, they announce that they’re starting a charity together, putting their “rivalry” to rest and telling the world that they’re friends. That way, people won’t question it if they’re spotted together. At this point, only Shane’s parents and his best friend, Hayden, know the truth about their relationship. (Well, and Hayden’s wife, Jackie.) They don’t plan on coming out while they’re still playing hockey.
Keep in mind, there may be differences in how the show handles Shane and Ilya’s ending. It might not stop where the book does, saving the epilogue for a potential second season. There’s a good chance that Season 2 would follow Reid’s sequel, The Long Game, which continues Shane and Ilya’s story. It picks up 1o years after Shane and Ilya started hooking up for the first time.
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers from The Long Game by Rachel Reid.]
What happens to Shane and Ilya after Heated Rivalry?
Hollanov doesn’t just end up together… They get married! Of course, Shane and Ilya have to overcome several challenges before they become hockey husbands in The Long Game. Shane is just as obsessed with the game as ever, so he isn’t willing to go public with their relationship. Ilya, on the other hand, is ready to stop hiding. Struggling with all the secrets, Ilya starts to doubt Shane’s feelings for him. (Shane, you make some major mistakes, but we still love you.)
Rest assured, they do work through it, but Shane and Ilya don’t come out on their own terms. Hayden takes a photo that shows Shane and Ilya kissing in the background, which he doesn’t notice before he posts it online. It’s not ideal, but Shane and Ilya’s relationship doesn’t waver. Shane’s team doesn’t react well, so he signs on to play for Ottawa with Ilya. So, not only are they husbands in the end, but they’re also teammates! Hollanov forever.
Heated Rivalry, Season 1, New Episodes, Fridays, HBO Max
