Shane told Ilya that he might be gay after his conversation with Rose. Scott and Kip took their time declaring their love in Heated Rivalry episode 5.
Heated Rivalry episode 5 aired on December 19, 2025, via HBO Max and Crave. Titled I’ll Believe in Anything, this episode might be the best so far. It centers on Shane acknowledging that he might be gay after talking with Rose about their relationship. He goes to Ilya to tell him and admits his feelings toward him. Meanwhile, Scott Hunter makes a surprising move after winning the game.
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Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers about the series. Read at your own risk.
Shane’s Realizations Through Rose in Heated Rivalry Episode 5
Heated Rivalry episode 5 opens with Rose waking up beside Shane before heading back to her hotel. Before she leaves, she asks him out to dinner later that week, keeping things light but clearly unfinished.
Meanwhile, the media continues to milk their brief romance, much to Ilya’s irritation. At the same time, attention shifts to the upcoming All-Star Game in Miami, where Shane and Ilya will once again share the ice—this time as teammates.
Before the trip, Shane meets Rose for dinner, and the conversation turns more serious. She gently presses him about his sexuality, and Shane finally admits the truth: he’s gay. The two agree to part ways, ending things on mutual and surprisingly tender terms.
Rose suggests staying friends, understanding how isolating it can be to navigate life as a closeted hockey player. She wants to be someone Shane can lean on. Elsewhere, Ilya spends the night with Svetlana, who gushes about Shane’s talent and good looks—an irony that doesn’t go unnoticed, especially given everything still simmering beneath the surface.
Confession and Confusion in Between
In early 2017, Shane and Ilya reunite in Miami for the All-Star Game. At a bar, they fall into easy conversation, with Shane casually mentioning that he’s hired a stylist. When Ilya brings up Rose, Shane explains that they didn’t work out and were never truly compatible. They enjoy playing on the same team again, and later that evening, Ilya finds Shane quietly watching the sunset by the water.
Shane asks for Ilya’s room number and shows up just as Ilya ignores a string of calls from Alexei. This time, they finally talk for real. Shane comes out to Ilya and asks if he’s noticed how different things feel between them now. He admits he likes Ilya more than he should and apologizes for panicking during their last encounter.
Ilya shuts the conversation down, insisting that nothing can change. He makes it clear they can never go public and that their relationship must stay hidden. Coming out, he fears, would cost him his connection to Russia. Still, he lets his guard slip and opens up about his father’s declining health and his mother’s death. When the emotions surface, Shane steps in to comfort him, and the night ends with them falling back into bed together before Shane leaves.
Two weeks later, Ilya persuades Shane to stop by his room before another game. They hook up again, yet Ilya continues to keep his personal life tightly sealed. After the game, everything comes crashing down when Alexei calls with the news that their father has died.
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Ilya’s Love for Shane in Heated Rivalry Episode 5
News of Ilya missing the Nashville game spreads fast in Heated Rivalry episode 5. Shane repeatedly tries to reach him, but Ilya stays silent until later that night. When he finally calls back, he notices Shane wearing glasses, and the conversation quickly turns intimate. Ilya promises to return within a week, but Shane gently urges him to take more time and reminds him that he’s willing to help in any way.
Back in Russia, Ilya faces mounting pressure from Alexei, who demands more money and resents Ilya for being away while he cared for their father. Their argument escalates, and Svetlana steps in, only for things to turn physical after Alexei insults her. The situation spirals, leaving Ilya drained and furious.
In a desperate attempt to keep the peace, Ilya gives his apartment to Alexei and promises to set up a trust fund for his niece. Afterward, Svetlana admits she loves him, even though she knows his heart belongs to Jane. Still, she pledges to stand by him no matter what.
Later, Ilya calls Shane again and unloads everything about his family. Struggling to express himself in English, he switches to Russian at Shane’s request. He pours out his pain about his father, his brother, and even Svetlana—and finally confesses his love. Tragically, Shane doesn’t understand the words, leaving Ilya’s most vulnerable moment hanging in the air, unheard.
Shane’s Accident
The following week, Shane and Ilya face each other as rivals on the ice once again. After the game, Shane invites Ilya back to his place, even lying to Hayden and saying he only wants to offer his condolences. The plan falls apart when Shane takes a brutal hit during the game and gets the wind knocked out of him.
Ilya watches in shock as medics rush Shane off the ice, clearly shaken by the sight. At the same time, Shane asks the paramedic to keep Ilya updated on his condition, but the message never makes it through in Heated Rivalry episode 5.
The next day, Ilya visits Shane in the hospital. He admits how terrified he felt when Shane went down. Still groggy from medication, Shane asks Ilya to visit his cottage in Montreal over the summer. Ilya hesitates but agrees to think about it.
After the accident, Rose calls to check in on Shane. Staying optimistic, Shane invites her to spend a summer weekend at the cottage, much to his parents’ excitement. Meanwhile, Ilya plays through bruised ribs in his next game, only for his team to lose. Shane texts to comfort him, and the two even find time to tease Hunter, whose team now looks poised to take the cup.
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Love Takes the Ice—Scott and Kip’s Turning Point
A week later, Shane watches the championship game with his parents while keeping in touch with Ilya over text. Just as expected, Hunter’s team takes home the cup. Amid the on-ice celebrations, Hunter scans the crowd and spots Kip. While his teammates celebrate with their families, Hunter stands alone—until he signals for Kip to join him.
Back at Ilya’s place, he packs items for Svetlana to bring to his family in Russia, all while following the game. His attention keeps drifting between the screen and the weight of everything he’s about to leave behind.
On the ice, Kip steps onto the rink beside Hunter. In front of the roaring crowd, the two finally stop hiding. They kiss, confess their love, and stun everyone watching. The shock quickly turns into cheers.
Ilya doesn’t hesitate. He immediately calls Shane, and with that one decisive moment, everything shifts. Heated Rivalry episode 5 closes with Ilya finally saying the words that matter most: he’s coming to the cottage.
Heated Rivalry Episode 5 Review
This episode delivers yet another cinematic high point for Heated Rivalry. It’s an emotional whirlwind that somehow makes you smile, tear up, and cheer in the same breath. Rose deserves real credit here—she handles Shane’s sexuality with patience and kindness, creating a safe space for him to be honest. It’s refreshing to see their relationship evolve into a genuine friendship instead of imploding. And yes, Svetlana absolutely earns her moment too. She’s been Ilya’s constant for years and proves, once again, that loyalty can be just as powerful as romance.
Then there’s that confession. Ilya pouring his heart out in Russian is devastatingly beautiful, even if Shane can’t understand the words. Knowing what that moment meant—and watching it go unheard—hurts in the best, most tragic way.
This episode finally puts everything on the table. Shane stops running and admits he wants more. Ilya, on the other hand, hesitates—not because he doesn’t feel the same, but because fear, grief, and reality are crashing down on him all at once. His father’s death only complicates things further, making his resistance feel painfully human rather than frustrating.
That’s exactly why Scott and Kip’s storyline matters so much here. Hunter’s choice to stop hiding becomes the spark that forces Shane and Ilya to confront what’s possible. His courage reframes the question from “What if?” to “Why not?”
And that kiss? Iconic. Hunter coming out and claiming Kip in front of the world doesn’t just shatter expectations—it sets the entire hockey universe on a new path. It’s bold, emotional, and oddly hopeful. Against all odds, this episode makes you believe in love again… at least a little.
We’re down to the final episode of Heated Rivalry. Catch the finale on December 26, 2025, via Crave and HBO Max.
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Source: Crave, HBO Max, Crave (X)
