fierce rivalry ends its first season trusting the details. Episode 6, “The Cottage,” eschews spectacle in favor of tenderness, concluding this chapter of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov’s story in an hour so emotionally grounded that it earns its place as one of TV’s most touching romantic finales.
This isn’t a finale built on plot twists and cliffhangers. It is built on choice.
A season that was always connected here
The first season is only six episodes long, but it packs the weight of years. Shane and Elijah’s relationship has been going on since their teens, and has been shaped by rivalry, attraction, denial, and moments of breathtaking intimacy.
The finale is the climax of a long dance. They were both more open than ever, their defenses lowered as a strange silence took hold, the unfamiliarity frightening them but impossible to ignore. You can see the growth in the quiet way they are now moving through the world together without fear of shock.
Every moment at the cottage feels intentional. Every time you pause, you feel like you’ve earned it.
Scott Hunter’s popularity sets the tone
The episode begins with Scott Hunter’s speech at the MHL Awards, where he speaks candidly to the league, the world, and directly to Kip about identity, love, and visibility. It’s a powerful moment that confirms how much has changed since the season began.
Scott and Kip’s story has always been a companion to Shane and Elijah’s, not a mirror. Their visibility represents one possible future, and the show wisely allows both paths to exist without forcing an adjustment. Shane hopes to have that openness someday, but he’s not there yet, and it feels wrong to pretend otherwise.
Instead, Scott’s moment sets the emotional stage for what happens next: a retreat where Shane and Elijah can explore honesty in their own way.
The cottage as a sanctuary
Freed from arenas, schedules, and surveillance, Shane and Elijah were finally able to spend some uninterrupted time together. The cottage becomes a threshold, a place where their relationship can exist without urgency or fear, at least temporarily.
Early on, they make a pact to be emotionally transparent. One agreement can change everything. Once they start talking, they can’t stop.
Their connection, long built on attraction, friendship, and an affection that was always present but rarely named, finally has room to expand. The dialogue unfolds slowly, often in darkness or firelight, and while the emotions are vivid, the story is literally dimmed.
The show avoids creating obstacles and instead allows the beauty of their love to exist without punishment. It’s a rare and welcome choice.
Vulnerabilities without performance
At the heart of the episode is the emotional presence. Caution turns into confidence. The grand words they had avoided for so long finally surfaced.
One of the most intimate moments in this hour is when Elijah sits by the fire and confides in him about his mother. It’s proof that he not only trusts Shane, but that he feels seen, appreciated, and loved enough to put himself out there in front of the man he loves so deeply.
When Elijah and Shane first meet, we learn that only a few years have passed since his mother’s death, which reframes many of his actions during the season. He is a man starved for unconditional love, who feels that love from Shane is inevitable, yet struggles to come to terms with how easily it is given to him.
Connor Story plays Elijah with great balance, balancing his flirtatiousness and bravado with his stoicism and restraint. His emotional breakthrough feels less like a performance and more like something earned.
Hudson Williams, by contrast, plays Shane with quiet intensity. His performance comes alive in his stillness, his firm jaw, and his sparkling, yet steady eyes. When Ilya casually suggests that he might marry Svetlana to secure Canadian citizenship, Shane’s reaction is immediate and devastating. Williams wounds him so tightly that the pain ripples through the open living space, only relieved when Elijah admits how much she likes him in his own reassuring way.
The tears that gather but never fall elevate this moment to one of the episode’s best.
Plan your future carefully
Later, in bed, Shane proposes a plan to control the narrative about their professional relationship, not as an act of terror, but as a step towards a hopeful future. Although these conversations are shrouded in darkness, the story itself feels brighter than ever.
This is a finale about choosing honesty within the confines of where they are now. It’s not about rushing forward, it’s about finally acknowledging what’s already there.
Smaller shows may have ended their seasons out of uncertainty and anxiety, delaying the emotional payoff for their momentum. fierce rivalry We understand that romance is the reward. It’s a joy to see Shane and Elijah confess their love through tears, smiles, and unsteady breathing, and the series trusts viewers to recognize its weight.
come out carefully
In the final movement of the episode, Shane and Elijah arrive at the Dutch house. Then there was an important check-in that highlighted how far they had come. Shane seeks comfort when he is at his most vulnerable, and Elijah stands next to him, offering reassurance through her touch and presence.
When Shane finally comes out to his parents, the moment is treated with humor, tension, and emotional honesty. Dutch isn’t surprised that Shane is gay, but he is surprised to see Elijah’s years-long rivalry morph in real time.
It’s definitely endearing to see Shane and Elijah struggle to articulate their relationship while Yuna and David listen intently. Shane instinctively apologizes, rooted in the belief that he has failed by not being straight, but Yuna firmly declares, “I have nothing to apologize for.”
For someone like Shane, who has built his identity around being good and trustworthy, that feeling of security is everything.
Williams and Christina Cheung are exquisite here. Shane can barely look his mother in the eye as Yuna makes her stand clear and expresses her unwavering love. It’s a moment of devastating clarity, especially for anyone who has ever feared disappointing their parents.
One chapter is over, the future imagined
The finale is by no means cheap or extravagant. I can’t ask for more than that. Instead, it confidently closes this chapter of Shane and Elijah’s story, honoring everything that’s come before while offering a glimpse of what’s to come.
As the end credits roll, we sit in the back seat and watch the lovers soak in the beauty of a beginning rather than an end. fierce rivalry It reminds us that sometimes the most impactful finales are the ones that simply allow happiness to exist.
It’s bittersweet as this journey draws to a close, but it’s even sweeter knowing the series will be returning for a second season.
It’s been an amazing journey so far.
Source: Gayety – gayety.com
