I love so much how every time we see art and patrick before knee-gate, they're eating (or drinking) something "unhealthy." Like the hotdogs and the churros and the cigarettes, of course (which I'm now realizing are all phallic symbolism LMAO) plus the coca-colas and the beer. Because it just furthers this idea that Patrick is a kind of corrupting force to Art, who we know, as Ice, is a very controlled person. And then, during their final game, you have Art with his fuckass protein paste, or whatever, but Patrick with the banana, which obviously isn't unhealthy, but still something much more akin to the food of your average person—and he offers it to him! Jokingly, yeah, because he knows he's not going to take it, but also, like offering his hand, inviting Art to take part in his own corruption once again. Plus, a banana?? Could they have found a more dick-like food? Insanity.
Also I like that the one scene we have of the throuple in a room together (the party notwithstanding), Tashi is also drinking the beer. Because Patrick stokes the fire in her too, brings out a part of her that Art alone doesn't.
I was thinking about this because I saw a cut scene in the script, where Tashi and Art smoke a cigarette, and I found it really interesting. Because, for one, I understand why they'd cut it, since such a big part of the artashi dynamic is restraint, repression, both pushed further into the frigid parts of their personalities, so having them do something like that without Patrick around might remove some of that. But ALSO I think it was such a good scene because they both start coughing during it, and it sort of feels like their trying to make up for Patrick's absence with each other, but they fail. They need Patrick to push them completely out of their comfort zones—or else they'll just keep toeing that line between the familiar and the unfamiliar, safety and freedom.
Anyway, in conclusion, welcome back Adam and Eve and that fucking snake, enjoy your apple [polyamory].
I had a prophetic vision about the untapped potential angst of Sidnate getting together before it forms Sidgenate instead of the other way around as it usually is. Included below is my stark mad ravings MWHAHAHAHa
Set to thisssss song
Normally I imagine it on the basis of sidgeno being together before Nate gets w them butTHERE IS SO MUCH UNTAPPED POTENTIAL TO SIDNATE GETTING TOGETHER FIRST FOR ANGST.
Ok so like Sid and Geno are dancing around eachother for YEARS but the time is never right between the media and cups and Genos girlfriends and all Sids injuries so the closest they come is maybe a drunken kiss during a cup celebration. Maybe Geno like half promises that they will finally talk and work it out over the summer and can be together. And Sid like believes him and holds onto that promise but then Sid finds out the summer after said kiss that Geno got back together w Anna again or something and is once again HEARTBROKEN because geno is all he has wanted for a DECADE and he thought he was gonna get him finally.
Cut to, Nate has been pursuing Sid essentially since he debut in the NHL but Sid gets all squirrely and awkward because like yeah Nate is attractive and kind and attentive and Sid honestly really likes Nate and could be in love if Sid LET HIMSELF but he tells himself that Nate is too young and its not fair to Nate because Sid also loves Geno. So after the kiss and Geno going back to Anna, Sid finally like lays all his cards on the table to Nate nd is like “I would love to be with you but these are my reasons why” and Nate (in a moment of emotional intelligence and awareness) is like “its okay??? I knew you loved him??? I just think you love me too????” And so Sid and Nate finally get together.
AND then in 2020 whilst they are both locked down in Cole Harbour, Sidney genuinely starts to get over Geno and is like all in w Nate and its kind of healing for him to be w someone who wants him FULLY and is devoted to him in a way Geno never could be.
And then yippeeee hockey is back and suddenly Sidney has to see Geno again and its weird and awkward and they arent talking a lot but someone (flower or tanger probs) tells Geno that Sid and Nate got together. Thus Geno starts to like spiral because he had like built Sidney up basically as his backup plan if playing str8 didnt work (which obviously wasn’t okay or fair to sid and his feelings) so turmoil ensues.
And Geno has to like figure out what he wants and if he even deserves to try and fight for Sid and try get him because SID IS HAPPY. Sid is happy in a way he never was able to be when he and Geno were dancing around each other. And Geno has to like weigh what matters most to him and what he wants for his future and if/how he wants Sid in it. And in this endeavor he starts to talk to Nate, at first just to check on Sid cause Sid isnt really talking to him but then he starts to share more and more and him and Nate like become genuine friends and its ALL A WEB.
And Nate starts to understand both sides of what happened and at the very least sympathises w Geno (probs the time to talk about how like a commitment to Sid is also a commitment to turning his back on his country and most likely never going back) and relates to him for wanting something but not getting it.
And while Sid is DEFINITELY in love w Nate and happy with him, he stills loves Geno but he doesnt trust Geno with himself anymore? And Nate thinks that while Geno was in the wrong and hurt Sid, Geno knows he made a mistake and wants to fix it so encourages them to talk about it and figure it out so at least its not awkward for the team.
And so Geno starts to GROVEL. Homeboy is writing handwritten notes, he’s leaving candy in Sids locker, he is sending gifts to Sid’s house, like all the tricks to try and show that he is sorry and he knows he was wrong and wants to change (this is not necessarily like overtly romantic in word at least, like its more like reminiscing on a past love because thats all that Geno feels like he has the right to do because he is trying to respect Sidnates relationship and boundaries)
And maybe through this, they all agree that Geno is going to try to slowly gain Sids trust back again and they start to hang out as friends, whether that be all together or just SidGeno. And THEN over the summer Geno comes to visit them in NS, and is like taking Sidney on middle school esque only holding hands and blushing dates. And him and Nate have developed this begrudging friendship (ITS AN ACT THEY LOVE EACH OTHER AS WELL) and are constantly competing over inane things and yeah.
Anyway. I want more men grovelling in 2026. WILL SMITH- UR NEXT BITCH.
Cred to my wife @forevrrvisk for letting me rave eheheh
tashi reading the book you got her “just because”, art on his laptop researching his little side hobby (in my mind it’s film photography), patrick watching step brothers on the tv, you playing on your switch or phone. you’re all tangled and warm and silent, thumbs rubbing idly and the low murmur of the tv filling in the gaps. it’s the middle of the day, you all have something better to do, but you’re here. you’re here and consumed by each other, probably the happiest you’ve all ever been and ever will be. i yearn.
also @artdcnaldson i love all your bunny memes thank yew for this one
The real answer to why the only possible outcome in Challengers is the throuple is that if they paired off in any fashion, the third person left out would work ceaselessly to break them up out of unquenchable rage at being abandoned. The movie was legit them repeatedly home-wrecking one another until all three had to come together, just like they did in the first night.
i’ve just discovered u and im obsessed i spent hours reading all of ur challengers works. it felt soooo nice reading someone’s work where they write about the full throuple !!!!
HIII omg u are so sweet 😇 thank you for enjoying!!! #throupletruther
