Just a quick reminder that by the end of the Long Game it is clear that Shane wanted to go public with Ilya.
And Shane knew, more the anyone, the consequences if he and Ilya ever went public. But the plane emergency land made him realize that losing Ilya (and being in a position where he would be forced to suppress his feelings) was his worst fear, in the end. So deciding to propose to Ilya, to be open was a well informed choice.
The plan was always doomed from the start, and it was making both Shane and Ilya miserable in different ways. No wonder Ilya’s depression was becoming worse and Shane was more anxious than ever.
It’s awful that they couldn't do it in their own terms. But narratively, I think, the endgame was always supposed to be Shane and Ilya playing together in the same team, Ilya was just the one who went first.
Shane and Ilya staying in the closet would never be a happy ending.
