The first season of HBO Max’s hit series Heated Rivalry ended with its sixth and final episode, The Cottage. In the finale, rival hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are forced to move their secret relationship out of the shadows. The episode, which became available to stream on December 26, 2025, shows the two athletes at a turning point in their lives. This is a look at nine important moments from that final episode that show how much the characters have changed since the series began.
The Cottage as a Safe Space for Honesty
The entire final episode is set at Shane’s remote cottage, a location that is not just a change of scenery but a complete narrative shift. For the first time in the season, there is no hockey. The rink, the reporters, and the pressures of their public rivalry are left behind. This isolation creates a new space for Shane and Ilya.
At the cottage, they make a simple but important agreement. For the two weeks they have together, they will be completely honest about their thoughts and feelings. This pact changes the tone of their entire relationship. Their interactions are no longer limited to rushed hotel meetings or secretive encounters. They can simply exist as two people who are deeply connected.
“I wanted to leave the viewer with what the book left me with emotionally, which was the warm, fuzzy feeling of them getting to be happy together,” series creator Jacob Tierney told Variety. “I thought of doing something with just a bit of elegance, and there’s a simplicity to the two of them in a car, driving off into the sunset.”
From Rivals to Partners in Planning
A major part of the episode is the couple planning a future. Ilya mentions the practical challenges he faces, including his contract status and desire for a new passport. He even half-jokingly suggests a marriage of convenience with his friend Svetlana to solve his immigration issues.
Shane’s response is not fear or jealousy, but action. He stays up all night thinking and presents Ilya with a detailed plan. His idea is for Ilya to join the Ottawa team, which is geographically closer to Shane’s team in Montreal. To explain their new public friendship, they would start a joint charity. This plan shows Shane is no longer just reacting to their situation. He is actively building a path forward for them, thinking strategically about a shared life rather than just stolen moments.
The First “I Love You” in English
The emotional peak of the cottage scenes comes when Ilya responds to Shane’s future plans. Overwhelmed, Ilya looks at Shane and says, “I love you”. He first says it in his native Russian, then repeats it in English, ensuring Shane understands completely.
This moment is important because it is the first time the words are spoken clearly between them in a shared language. Earlier in the season, Ilya said “I love you” in Russian, but Shane did not understand it. Here, there is no room for doubt or misunderstanding. Shane immediately replies, “I love you so much”. This exchange officially moves their relationship from a secret physical connection to an open emotional commitment.
Ilya Sharing His Deepest Trauma
A quieter, but very important, moment of growth happens when Ilya opens up about his family. Throughout the season, the show hinted at Ilya’s difficult past and his complicated feelings about his mother. At the cottage, sitting by a fire, he finally tells Shane the full story.
He explains that his mother died by suicide when he was twelve years old and that he was the one who found her. This is a huge step for Ilya, who typically uses charm and humor to keep people at a distance. By sharing this painful memory, he shows a new level of trust in Shane. It proves their emotional intimacy has grown as deep as their physical connection.
Shane’s Father Discovers the Truth
The peaceful retreat is interrupted when Shane’s father, David, arrives at the cottage unexpectedly. He walks in on Shane and Ilya sharing an intimate kiss outside. David quickly leaves without a word, which sends Shane into a panic. This is the exact situation he has spent over a decade trying to avoid.
Instead of running or making excuses, Ilya grounds Shane. He calmly suggests they go to Shane’s parents’ house and face the situation directly. Ilya’s steady support in this crisis shows how their dynamic has evolved. He is no longer just a complicating factor in Shane’s life but a supportive partner ready to face hard things together.
A Realistic Coming-Out Scene
The subsequent scene at the Hollander family home is handled with care and a sense of realism. Shane, with Ilya by his side, tells his parents he is gay and in a relationship with Ilya. His parents, Yuna and David, are shocked—not by his sexuality, which they admit they had considered as a possibility—but by the fact that he is with his famous rival.
The scene avoids melodrama. Shane’s mother’s first reaction is, “But you hate him”. The surprise and focus on the specific person, rather than a generic issue with being gay, makes the moment feel genuine and specific to these characters.
A Mother’s Apology and Acceptance
After the initial shock, Shane finds his mother outside. He apologizes to her for not telling her sooner. Her response is a key moment of parental support. She tells him he has nothing to apologize for and that she is sorry for ever making him feel he needed to keep such a big part of himself secret.
This separate conversation between mother and son, which is an addition not found in the original book, adds emotional depth. It shifts the focus from a single declaration to an ongoing process of understanding and repair within the family.
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The First Time They Use “Boyfriend”
Back inside the house, Shane begins to feel overwhelmed as his mother starts talking about publicity plans and sponsorships. Seeing his distress, Ilya steps in to comfort him. He tells Shane, “Your family is here. Your boyfriend is here. You’re good here”.
Shane looks at him, surprised, and asks, “My boyfriend?”. This is the first time either of them has used that word to define their relationship. For fans, it was a long-awaited moment that confirmed their status. For Shane, hearing the term out loud, in front of his family, makes their partnership feel officially recognized and real.
Ending on a Hopeful Journey
The season does not end with a public announcement or a perfect solution. Instead, it ends with Shane and Ilya driving away from his parents’ house, back toward the cottage. They are holding hands, simply existing together in the car.
This final image is hopeful but not naive. It shows they are moving forward, but the road ahead is still long. They have been seen and accepted by Shane’s family, which is a major step. However, the larger world of professional hockey and the public eye still does not know their truth. The ending suggests their real journey—the long game of building a life together—is just beginning.
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