i feel like the whole jj subplot in TLG is meant to emphasise how theres two issues to hollanov: being gay vs the rivalry of it all. i don’t see how you can interpret this as homophobe-jj when his early actions in TLG are supportive to emphasis that the rivalry impacts things
I think ppl really misunderstand this comment. Shane’s entire journey is defined by the way he compartmentalizes things in order to cope with stress & trauma. in TLG, he realizes that the compartmentalization & masking is causing him even more pain & affecting his relationship.
this still pisses me off. as if shane, one of the few people of colour in the nhl, wouldn't be aware of the flaws of hockey. let's be serious for a second here, rachel
if Shane kept up with the dark side of hockey it would crack open all of his coping mechanisms. he’s so controlled by his own fear that he keeps his head down to a fault. what he realizes in TLG is that when you wall off & ignore your own pain, the foundation cracks anyway.
it’s a perfect storm of anxiety, fear of being outed, black & white thinking, monotropism, & an almost compulsive lack of self-awareness of his own emotions. I’m neurodivergent & have a lot of autistic ppl in my life, including athletes, so to me this all feels very realistic.