the wrong word

Sam // any pronouns // 18+

[cliopadra]

Please excuse the text and let me be cringe, that ending fucked me up so bad I’ll be recovering longer than from OFMD Izzy’s death

Plus a little extra:

[livelydiver]

3-Card Monte and the Subtext of Games

Hi hello I have also watched GO3 and feel strongly about it.... I can't stop thinking about the narrative incompleteness of this notion of games, specifically three-card monte. As I see it, there are two options for what that game can symbolize: "don't trust the person who says they're running the game" (i.e. the game is a LIE), or "don't believe everything you see" (i.e. the game is honest, but will surprise you).

It's the game we're meant to believe lost Crowley the Bentley, and maybe in the gangster's hands there *was* trickery. No doubt there's some of that motif throughout the story about how the game is rigged, the house always wins, etc. But it's also the game Jesus learns to reorient himself to human life and its rules. And crucially, Jesus learns how to deal the cards! Because everything else in the story tells us he's a good and honest person (the MOST good and honest person), we have to assume the skill he learned isn't trickery, but misdirection. You wouldn't think Jesus would happily learn a card game where the only way to play is to cheat, would you? So we know that in this story, three-card monte can symbolize either deceit OR honest misdirection.

Those two narrative beats feel important, and a good portion of the show is devoted to that specific game and its imagery. So I was stunned when the ending DIDN'T somehow invoke three-card monte for a third and final definitive narrative moment, wherein we see that Az and Crowley have dealt the cards and pulled off a secret victory. Surely, the final "trick" should show us that, despite initial appearances to the contrary, their own universe still exists, and they live happily in it together?

I could talk even more about the themes of games throughout the finale, Aziraphale winning the Bentley back (and winning *Crowley* back) by outsmarting the gangster in a "game" of what is essentially riddle-solving -- and then that climactic scene with God and all its classical riddle-y allusions ("you can ask one question," "I will grant you one wish," etc) -- it just feels like SO much groundwork was laid to suggest that games, misdirection and riddle-solving will be IMPORTANT to how the story ends, and the happily ever after would have the "marks" call the shots for once.

I'm glad we got to see our boys one more time, but I can't help feeling that the ending... well, missed a trick.

[ciderwire]

ꨄ︎

[highshane]

I visited the tunnel where they filmed Ilya’s monologue last night! Here’s some of my favourite HR graffiti 🫶🏻

[smugrobotics]

Stylist: So, what do you think of the looks I've shown you so far? Feel right for your All Stars trip?

Shane: Yeah, they're great. Really. I just, um—there's one more outfit I need. For a special event thing.

Stylist: Of course, of course. What's the event?

Shane: Well, it's not an event, really, I guess. Is a mixer an event?

Stylist: I guess that depends on who you're mixing with.

Shane: Right. Right, well. There's going to be someone there who I—

Stylist: Want to impress?

Shane: Not exactly. More like—imagine you're seeing your ex for the first time in months.

Stylist: Oh, yes. So, revenge vibes. Look so good she regrets ever leaving vibes.

Shane: No. I want to look so good they want me back.

[lavenderprose]

Scott, two days after the Chirp Heard Round The World, having had a nap and ate a carb and kissed his boyfriend and realized that he should have under no circumstances let the two craziest motherfuckers in hockey know that he knows their secret: Ilya Rozanov is going to shoot me with a gun.

Shane, pacing in Ilya's living room and wringing his hands: Ilya, Scott Hunter knows about us we need to kill him we need to make it look like an accident we need to do it now

Ilya, kicking his feet and giggling: He said you sound like me?

[cloudabserk]

BEST DAY EVER ☀️🌸❤️🦋

based on this

[smokingrozanov]

The concept of Shane Hollander seeing emo boys kissing on MySpace.com in 2007 and immediately deleting his account

[bethnoir-fic]

It just occurred to me that the reason why Ilya says “I think so, yes” is because the scene starts with “lovers” which he finds out is wrong and as the scene is ending he tries again with “boyfriend” because he wants to try and get this right. And he is right!

And in the series they start as lovers and and end as boyfriends.

I AM GOING TO PERISH.

[aaliyahsparrow]

“In The Locker”, Shane Hollander, Ilya Rozanov, & Scott Hunter [Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie, François Arnaud], Heated Rivalry [Promo Image]

Jan, 2026

[aaliyahsparrow]

Soo.. I was so excited to post this that I posted an image that wasn't ready to post, and now I can't do a switch-out without deleting the whole thing.

(For those playing spot the difference, half of the "8" on the right-hand side was in a hidden layer when I was drawing the overline, and I forgot to bring it back to the front before I exported it and uploaded it to tumblr. I made a mistake. I'm only human. Please, have two for the price of one).

[hollandor]

loving the little game ilya plays where he provokes shane into being vulnerable and then it backfires on him

[cloudabserk]

he was bracing himself for bad news

[my-2nd-account]

The difference is that jealous Ilya looks homicidal while jealous Shane looks suicidal

[gayhockeyshowenjoyer]

truly cannot stop thinking about the contrast between the montage in episode 2 and the montage in episode 4. like at first pass they're very similar. both show what the boys have been up to and when they've interacted over roughly two years, and both are set to fairly upbeat songs. but if you pay attention to the details its actually incredible how different they are.

in the episode 2 montage, the boys are sexing occasionally but shane always avoids actually meeting up with ilya. and the song choice (mangetout by wet leg) seems upbeat at first, until you actually listen to the lyrics.

but the episode 4 montage shows a progression in their relationship. not only are they actively hooking up over these two years, but also both seem to be constantly checking their phones for texts from the other. and the song (my moon my man by feist) is softer, more of a love song.

we literally go from shane dodging ilya's advances overlaid with lyrics like you want to fuck me, i know, most people do and get lost forever to jumpcuts between them bashing each other into the hockey boards and passionately making out overlaid with lyrics like heart on my sleeve, not where it should be and there's nowhere to go but on.

and don't even get me started on how mangetout includes you're standing in my light while my moon my man has shed some light on me please.

the attention to detail is insane here. like this show is so good that i think it might have ruined other media for me. because nothing else will be this good.

[triassictriserratops]

Shane Hollander is a paranoid Airport Dad™ and I WILL elaborate, actually

He's got a packing checklist, he is fully packed 3 days before and is making adjustments based on weather patterns up to the day before.

He is at the airport 3 hours early, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Tragically for him, he learns that his boyfriend is a "shows up with like 40 minutes to spare holding a coffee cup." Airport Gremlin™

The first time they get to travel together Shane almost considers breaking up.

Now, I do think that after that first disaster, once Ilya understands how important and stressful this is for Shane, he DOES get on board with the program

(canonically, this dude brushes his teeth before kissing Shane in the mornings, changes their bedsheets after sex so that Shane is comfortable getting back into bed - Ilya WILL make space for habits that help Shane feel most comfortable.)

But will he make fun of Shane while he does it???

Oh abso-fucking-lutely

Ilya: Hollander, our flight home leaves at 9:30 in morning, so I am thinking we might need to cancel dinner reservation the night before, yes? Will that be enough time for airport? 😏

And he absolutely doesn’t tease while they’re actually going through the process of driving to the airport, parking, checking bags, and going through security. He knows that will just set Shane off horribly. It’s only after they’ve found seats at their gate 2.5 hours before their flight leaves that he exaggeratedly checks the time on his phone and says, “whew, I think we have just enough time for coffee, but definitely close one 😉”

Ilya: do I have time to use restroom, you think? 🤔

Shane: get fucked, Rozanov 😾

Ilya: oh, like mile high club? if you insist 😘

And Shane just makes these faces 😠🙄 all morning, but he also doesn’t let go of Ilya’s hand

It’s a whole routine and actually does wonders for helping Shane manage his anxiety about travel schedules that aren’t team-managed and how overstimulating airports and flying can be

[aaliyahsparrow]

“You can’t do math?”, Ilya Rozanov & Shane Hollander [Connor Storrie & Hudson Williams], Heated Rivalry 1.06 | The Cottage

Jan, 2026

[poughkeepsiesjr]

ilya bursting into tears the second he realizes shane wants to spend the rest of his life with him is maybe the most perfect, precious moment in television history

[malgudinights]

[tags via @symphoniccowboy]