running to tumblr to find heated rivalry people and ask if anyone else was thinking that the lighting some people were complaining about in the first two episodes was very very intentional and used to represent them being hidden and unable to be themselves- especially Shane. when he's waiting for Ilya the first time he turns off all the lights, then changes his mind and turns on a lamp. he lets a little bit of light in for Ilya. Ilya seems to have more lights on when Shane comes to him (i mean vegas scene come on). they remain largely in the dark when they're together because that's how it has to be- either harsh stadium lights or darkness. but then the tuna melt scene forces them into the daylight- they see eachother in perfect light and have to confront that and what it means for them. it goes darker again when Shane isn't able to work out who he is and like i think the entire club scene is just perfection. this is the first time we see them together in the dark but not *together*. the light flashes them in and out of darkness as they look at eachother, both acknowledging the depth of their feelings for eachother. and then like as soon as Shane accepts his feelings everything is bright and warm and now in episode 5 even at night they're glowing. everything in episode 5 is like bathed in golden light, Shane and Rose at the restaurant, Ilya and Shane at the beach, in Ilya's hotel room, their first phone call, their phone call where Ilya is confessing his love in Russian... more probably that i can't remember off the top of my head.
I'm honestly just so impressed with the lighting department's storytelling, showing us the feelings that translate from the books
like Scott and Kip have way more scenes in the light because they weren't as afraid of being caught/being themselves as Shane and Ilya were. we knew from the start if we'd read the books the Scott and Kip are the catalyst for Shane and Ilya fully accepting their feelings for eachother (which is not to diminish their story i love them deeply but in the context of holanov) so we see a lot more of them in full light because they're far more ready for it. Scott invites Kip to the game, he flirts with him at the smoothie shop, he tries an outing with Kip even though that ultimately ended not great. he's more ready for it than Shane and Ilya. they can't do any of that. until episode 5. they're on the same team. they're allowed to be together in the light and they choose to do it. and they keep choosing to do it. they finally choose sunshine
I'm rambling but i just love it so so much
yousharknotpass
turnnoffyourmind
prguitarman
andulkaphoto
ellievsbear
izzy806
kianamaiart
