I watched this show a few weeks back and here’s my thoughts. First, i unintentionally watched the cut version which is tame compared to what the full version looks like. I had no idea i was watching the cut version until i was done with the show and i started seeing edits of scenes that i didn’t watch. But it was mostly the intense scenes that were cut not any real plot from the show so i still got the full experience. 

I don’t think i will be watching the full version because i tried and couldn’t get past episode 2. It’s just so .. intense. yeah intense. 

Anyways moving on. I have watched my fair share of BL dramas ( I’m not homophobic) and i find them very interesting. But so much so for one set in such a homophobic world as hockey. The character Scott Hunter explains it perfectly when he comes out in the show that there’s a lot of toxic words and slurs been thrown around in the locker room that it almost seems like a taboo to feel the way they feel. It’s not like they can help being gay but being in that environment can make any one wishing that they weren’t. 

I liked Ilya and Shane’s dynamic for the most part but boy that was a very long hookup session, lasting multiple years. But i get it, being a gay hockey player is already very scary but adding sleeping with your arch nemesis is so much worse. ( I already know, even though i haven’t read the book, that when it finally gets out that they’re together. The world will wonder if they’re going easy on the each other on the ice because they’re dating, Shane’s mom already asked this which i thought was insane.) 

I really liked the actress who played svetlana because she is so gorgeous (her hair 😍) and her acting was amazing. She was ilya’s rock, always there when he needed someone. Ilya is known for being cocky and no one knows what he has to deal with his father and brother breathing down his neck. But svetlana makes him forget. She’s the one thing in Russia he truly likes. Ilya has only ever loved his deceased mother, svetlana and Shane. 

There were a lot of scenes that really stood out to me but there are 2 that really tugged at my heart strings was in the final episode. 

The first one is when Ilya tells Shane that he’s lazy ( even though Ilya works hard, his family is never proud of him and often call him lazy.) Without missing a beat, Shane says, “I don’t know that side of you.” I love the reassurance even though at this point in time, Shane doesn’t know the complex dynamics of Ilya’s family

The second which i think was the best scene in the whole show was when Shane and Ilya are seated outside near the fireplace and Ilya opens up to shane about how his mother committed suicide and he says, “i don’t want you to think she was weak, she’s not… she was so beautiful, strong but so sad.” 

Because taking one’s life is never a sign of weakness, it’s takes courage to admit that you don’t want to live anymore and would rather leave. It makes me respect the writers for including that in there. 

At this time i’m not certain if i will be reading the books or just wait for Season 2. I know there will be a lot of annoying scenes because once their relationship is out, things will start to spiral out of control. Especially when they inevitably play against each other and one of them loses. 

Author’s Note:-

P.s i wrote this yesterday but i’m posting it on Friday, the 30th @ 1:55am WAT, while stuck in a hospital bed because i’m bored and my right hand’s in so much pain. sighs.

My first youtube video also goes up later in the day. I’ve been so scared to post it hence why i put it off till the very end of January.