'Heated Rivalry' finale recap: The cottage moments that had us in tears and what we could see in Season 2

With its sexy and emotional storytelling, Heated Rivalry quickly became a global sensation as the steamy, NSFW romance series that people around the world have been obsessed with for weeks. But as the first season of the Canadian hit has come to an end, Crave's No. 1 original series didn't disappoint.

From the "I’m coming to the cottage" message from Ilya (Connor Storrie) to Shane (Hudson Williams), to the kiss between Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and Kip Grady (Robbie G.K.) on the ice, the Heated Rivalry season finale (on Crave in Canada, HBO Max in the U.S.) couldn't come soon enough for fans. While some things were wrapped up in the Season 1 finale, the season's final episode also left some questions to be answered in an upcoming Season 2.

The episode begins with Scott being named Most Valuable Player at the MLH awards. Accepting his award, Scott talks about how he achieved his "lifelong dream" of winning the cup, but recognizes that his kiss with Kip on the ice got more attention.

"I've never really shared anything about my private life, but from what I've seen over the past few weeks, it's maybe important that I do a bit," Scott says, as he shares that a lot of young fans have been sending him messages about how much it meant to them that he came out.

"When I was a teenager, I realized that I may be that thing that hockey players like to throw around as an insult. The kind of language that I heard on the ice and in the locker room every day was a constant reminder that I was different. When you have a secret that you work as hard as I did to protect, it's exhausting. It's a nonstop effort, and it's also really, really lonely. Thankfully, I found the person who changes everything."

That's when we see Kip watching Scott's acceptance speech on the TV at a bar with some friends, as Scott says that he shares the award with his team, but also with Kip.

'Let's just be honest with each other'

Then we move to Ottawa in July, as Shane is picking up Ilya from the airport to make the two-hour drive together to Shane's cottage, with Shane assuring Ilya that his cottage is "super private." It doesn't take long for things to get physical between them, and Ilya and Shane haven't hooked up with anyone since they last with each other, months ago.

"For the next two weeks, let's just be honest with each other about what we think, and maybe how we really feel," Shane says.

"I will try," Ilya responds.

Honest conversations do come, including Shane talking about how he hasn't come out to his parents, and Ilya opening up about how his mother, who died when Ilya was 12 after she "accidentally swallowed a whole bottle of pills," was, but his father was "so hard on her."

The conversation also shifts to longer-term plans for both of them.

Ilya talks to Shane about being a free agent next season, thinking that he may want to sign with a Canadian team — but not Montreal. He also says he doesn't want a Russian passport, and Svetlana (Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova), who's American, would marry him, as a friend, so he could easily get citizenship.

While Shane mentions that Ilya likes women, so he could marry someone he wants to be with, Ilya says he has a problem, that no matter how many women hit on him, he's always thinking about this "slow, f—king hockey player with beautiful freckles, and a weak backhand."

"I am always wishing that these women were him," Ilya says, of course referring to Shane.

Shane tells Ilya not to marry Svetlana, as tears flood his eyes, and Ilya agrees.

Later, in bed, Shane wakes up Ilya to say that he should play for Ottawa. The team is close by and needs a star centre, and they can afford him. Shane also comes up with the idea that they can start a charity together, which can result in them telling the press that they developed a "mutual respect" for one another, leading to something more.

"And maybe, one day, when we both retire, we can be together. For real," Shane says.

With tears in his eyes, and as he kisses Shane, Ilya says, "I love you," with Shane saying it back in response as they hold each other.

Reflecting on his charity idea, Shane says they can start a hockey summer camp for kids and donate the proceeds to mental health organizations, including those focused on suicide prevention efforts.

"She would have loved you," Ilya says to Shane about his mother. "Like I love you."

Final moments

But Shane Ilya's romantic getaway comes to a screeching halt when Shane's dad arrives at the cottage unexpectedly, and sees Ilya and Shane kissing, quickly going back to his car and driving away.

Shane starts spiralling, saying that his "nightmare" has come true, and he's "scared" to address this with his parents, but also asks Ilya to come with him to talk to his parents.

As they walk into Shane's parents' home, Shane says he is gay, and apologizes that this is how they had to find out, and he introduces his parents to Ilya, telling them that they love each other.

But Shane's parents admit they certainly thought it was "possible" that their son was gay, but didn't think he was romantically involved with Ilya.

Shane's dad asks if their plan is to keep their relationship a secret until they retire. When Shane and Ilya indicate that's likely, Shane's mom says that's "sad."

Speaking to her son privately, Shane's mom, Yuna (Christina Chang), says that he has nothing to apologize for.

"I'm sorry that I made you feel like you couldn't tell me. I'm so, so proud of you. OK. Please forgive me," she says, as Shane says he forgives his mom, and she responds by saying she loves him.

It's a moment that's not in the book, but is one of the best in the whole season of the series.

Shane's mom then goes into manager mode. Planning to have a statement prepared in case any information about Shane and Ilya leaks, and she says she's going to reach out to the "premium" brands, quietly, thinking that the companies will be "thrilled" once they "wrap their heads around" what's happening.

When Shane gets overwhelmed thinking about next steps, Ilya comforts him, saying that his family is with him and his boyfriend.

The episode ends with Ilya and Shane driving back to the cottage.

What could happen in 'Heated Rivalry' Season 2

For the first season of Heated Rivalry, the show's creator, Jacob Tierney, largely drew the story from the second book in Rachel Reid's Game Changers novels, with the first novel serving as the basis for the Scott and Kip storyline in the series.

The book "The Long Game," released in 2022, continues the story of Shane and Ilya. In "The Long Game," Shane and Ilya have been seeing each other for 10 years, in secret. Ilya now plays for Ottawa, while Shane remains in Montreal, and the secrecy is really taking a toll on them, particularly on Ilya.

But Tierney also has additional storylines and characters to possibly explore from the other books in Reid's series.