VISUAL PARALLELS

Shane and Ilya both staring directly into the camera at the club, Harrison's "All the Things She Said" playing: "This is not enough." 🎶 The song said what they couldn't.

From freaking out after calling each other's first name, to saying "I love you" at the cottage.

From watching the sunset apart (but fingers touching) at the all-star games weekend, to holding each other at the cottage. "Mine", "Yours".

The iconic kiss - Ilya cupping Shane's face - followed by Shane on his knees in both the first and last episodes.

Ilya is seated in chair 108 and Shane in chair 109. Both rookies, both fascinated by each other.

From feeling the need to run away from vulnerability, to accepting Shane's forehead kisses fully after saying "I love you".

Ilya saying "I should go" after sex in episode 2. Shane saying the same in episode 4 after Ilya calling him by his first name. Both times running from commitment they're scared to want.

From scared and hiding behind sunglasses driving to the cottage, to free and happy driving into the sunset.

Shane's memory of their second time together (when Rose asks "Was it better?") shows a different version than what actually happened in Episode 1.

Same way of tapping their feet together to provide support, from the press conference to Shane's parents' house.

The same shot composition - Shane and Ilya facing each other - first in the gym (touching fingers), then on the cottage sofa touching feet.

In the opening montage, Ilya smiles while slamming Shane into the boards: it's playful, almost flirtatious. After Shane starts dating Rose, Ilya's smile is gone.

"What do you want, Hollander?" before Shane comes out to Ilya at the all-star game, "What the fuck do you want, Rozanov?" before Ilya confesses he reads the New Yorker.

Slow-motion shots of them as rookies, skating in opposite directions in front of the camera, with the other's team celebrating in the background.

From Shane leaving alone and scared at Ilya's house, to climbing back into his lap to comfort him at the all-star game, both at almost the 24-minute mark.

Breaking 4th wall post-club scene.

From the simple "good night" & "night" after their first time together, to "Good night Shane" & "Good night Ilya" at the Tampa Bay All-Star game. Using each other's first names changed everything.

Shane asking "Are you okay?" in Sochi. Ilya asking the same at the hospital. So much pain in both instances, but they couldn't help themselves but to check on each other.

Shane with his parents at the same restaurant. The first time: balanced shots with Shane happy. Episode 4: all the shots are from the side and not balanced, with Shane in "a weird mood". Also Shane seems to be surrounded by women, foreshadowing his attempt to date Rose after the tuna melt scene.

Shane and Ilya both distracted and are dissociating with their family around.

Shane & Ilya winning their Stanley cups, secretly proud of each other (and Shane's teary eyes after Ilya shouting "for you, mama").

Ilya asking the same question in Episodes 1 and 6. Shane goes from denying his feelings in the locker room to confessing at the cottage that he wants to be with Ilya "so much".

From sitting apart on Ilya's apartment sofa to lying together (feet touching) on the cottage sofa.

From after Vegas, Shane typing "We didn't even kiss", to the cottage episode where Ilya saying "gimme kiss" at the lake.

Waking up to Rose looking scared vs waking up to Ilya grinning.

Both of them mirror each other by putting objects in their mouths. Ilya with his crucifix pendant and Shane with his hoodie drawstring.

From Ilya saying "I want to fuck you" in the first episode to Shane saying "Please fuck me" at the cottage - after their first "I love you".

From their first meeting Shane saying "This is such a bad idea", to Ilya knowing that "Everything we do is a bad idea."

Svetlana saying "You don't deserve me" to Ilya in the first episode, to Ilya saying "I don't deserve you" back to Svetlana, only this time Svetlana replies with "Yes, you do".

Same episode, same staircase at Shane's house. With Ilya: kissing while going up the stairs. With Rose: literally being dragged up.