....six episodes of soft porn. Well, if that's true, then so is Bridgeton.
Yes, exactly. And honestly, there is more development in the character arc in HR than there is in Bridgerton.
First, let's remember that the show is a span of eight years.
I've seen a shocking number of people miss this. They're like "Why is Shane explaining YouTube?" -- Because it's 2009 and his dad isn't an online guy!
Shane and Ilya are in their late teens, maybe early 20s so it's not suprising that those first few times are sex driven.
17 when they meet, 19 the first time they hook up. Maybe 21 or 21 or so the first time at Shane's place. They're really young.
Plus, Ilya is the first man that Shane has been with. Its all new, exciting and sex but, as time goes by, a switch is thrown and the sex becomes complicated; still hot but connections and emotions are being built.
Exactly. And they play that out so well. it's such a great representation of what it's like for Shane, particularly, who has never explored this part of himself and eventually arrives at the conclusion that he completely gay, to have this brutally hot guy who he can actually trust (due to the mutually assured destruction aspect) to explore with. And you can see how, when they first hook up in Montreal, the affection and sweetness (and truly exceptional consent modelling) and the mutual attraction really starts to unravel any plans they had for this to stay casual. You see Ilya try to turn it back into something that's more about sex than feelings and you see him fail. You can see how their relationship has advanced through the intimacy in ep 4. Then, in episode 5, there's no sex shown at all becuase at that point it's all about their feelings. It's so well done.
llya is thrown because Shane is asking genuien, authentic questons about him. About his Dad. If he's okay. Other than Svetlana, llya is use to being used for selfish reasons. Plus Shane is a little freak and llya doesn't shame him or mock him for that.
Shane IS a little freak. Bless him. Ilya seems to adore that about him.
That scene where they're at llya's house on the couch cuddled up and llya kisses the top of Shane's head? Guuuuuuuuurrrlll!! That just confirmed everything for me cause you don't do that with someone whose just a feck buddy. No sir, no ma'am!!
😆
I just love how every single touch on this show matters. How it's all part of the story. I love how they are SO bad at this and they're both still going to work hard to figure it out. It's so insanely satisfying.
