I'm sure Ilya's family did everything to kill the human in him before he ever got the chance to find out he is one.
Heated Rivalry literally got every part of Russian queer culture right. Hear me out. I was born and raised in Siberia, am a queer person living in America now.
Russian families use "lazy" like a slur. It's every Russian child's greatest sin. Many parents of that generation hold the belief that instilling shame is one of the best things they can do for their child.
Calling Ilya lazy in front of important people? The most Russian shit I've ever seen. If you get a compliment, your parent will humble you publicly. Remember your place. Stay humble. Don't get comfortable. Comfort will kill you.
"What do you mean "safe"?"
Ilya not understanding the importance of feeling safe in Russia? Russians do not get to have safety. We are told that to have the ground under our feet is childish, and seeking safety is naive.
Ilya being very short with his dad, only responding to direct questions from him most of the time? We literally have a saying "children should be lower than grass and quieter than water". Do what you are told. If you haven't been told what to do, stay quiet.
"Do you even like it there?"
We have a saying "Russia is for sad people" ("Россия для грустных"). We are taught hopelessness, lack of ambition, and obedience. If you are born in Russia, the fact is, you don't get to choose your life. You were born with very little, and you will die with less. That's how life is, and if you seek better, you are being childish and unreasonable. You will always have less than you want, and more than you deserve. "Like it"? Don't be stupid, that's just not how it works.
"I go home in 3 days" - Ilya almost shouted it, like he finally said what his greatest burden is. Because that's exactly what he did. He slipped and said something deeply personal, for me it's the same vibe as when Shane came out to Ilya as gay.
Ilya looks at Shane angrily for a second, as if he thinks Shane is making fun of him. Then he looks away and you can see the anxiety and sorrow. The anger. Not towards Shane, but because Ilya was born with less and he is exhausted from being reminded of it. "Oh, right. You have a loving home. Something I don't get to have." He looks like he's about to get sent to war. Because for a lot of queer people, that is exactly how it feels like to come back home. He treats the fact with acceptance and surrender most of the time throughout the show, but he mourns what he never had in this scene. It broke my heart.
Absolutely brilliant work. Connor Storrie, the actor you are. I was raised by a loving, amazing mother who supports me to this day, yet she taught me every single thing from this post to keep me safe as well. I cannot imagine the sorrow this man has to carry, no wonder he is so fucking jacked
