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Long Game: a Heated Rivalry Podcast

Long Game: a Heated Rivalry Podcast

By: Declan & Silvan
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Long Game: A Heated Rivalry Podcast is a re-watch and deep-dive podcast dedicated to Heated Rivalry, hosted by Declan and Silvan. In each episode, we revisit key moments across the series, unpacking the slow-burn tension, character development, and emotional beats that make the heated rivalry world so compelling. Through thoughtful discussion, close reading, and a fan-informed lens, we explore themes of competition, intimacy, identity, and growth over time, celebrating not just the heat of the rivalry, but the long game it takes to truly understand these characters and their relationship. New episodes published every Sunday© 2026 Declan & Silvan Art Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Heated Rivalry Fan fiction Part 2: Angst, Tropes & Emotional Damage

    Heated Rivalry Fan fiction Part 2: Angst, Tropes & Emotional Damage
    May 31 2026
    Declan and Silvan are joined by Jenn from the Book Refuge for Part 2 of our Fan fiction and AO3 episode. We go deeper into the world of AO3 and fancition. We cover tags such as hurt/comfort and soulmate Alternate Universess to secret marriages, social media disasters, and the infamous plane crash fic. Jenn guides us through the stories that have captured the Heated Rivalry fandom's imagination. We explore why readers are drawn to angst, whether suffering makes a love story more meaningful and how fanfiction allows us to revisit beloved characters in entirely new ways while keeping the original story intact.We also unpack the difference between canon, fanon, and headcanon, discuss why some fanfiction can successfully transition into traditionally published novels while others lose the very thing that made them special and debate what makes readers emotionally invest in a story in the first place.Jenn puts us to the test with a fanfiction recommendation game, where we rank a selection of Heated Rivalry fanfics based only on their summaries. Some are romantic, some are chaotic, some are surprisingly emotional and a few leave us wondering what exactly we've gotten ourselves into.This episode is a celebration of fandom creativity, storytelling, and the many ways readers keep Shane and Ilya's story alive long after the final page.The next episode of the podcast will be published on Sunday 7th June.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Fanfiction and AO301:46 Exploring Heated Rivalry Tropes07:22 The Community of Fanfiction Writers11:20 Understanding Gender Dynamics in Romance18:09 Recommendations for New Readers of Romance18:39 Exploring Romance Preferences20:56 Character Connection in Storytelling23:40 The Value of Emotional Stakes26:33 The Role of Antiheroes in Fan Fiction29:03 Transforming Villains into Heroes32:25 The Impact of Fan Fiction on Canon35:55 The Appeal of Catastrophe in Stories39:57 The Creative Process in Fan Fiction42:46 The Challenge of Traditional Publishing45:24 Understanding Canon vs. Fanon51:40 The Separation of Fan Fiction and Traditional Publishing01:08:00 The Fallout of Public Breakups01:11:01 Fan Fiction and Social Media Dynamics01:13:58 Exploring Alternate Universes in Fan Fiction01:19:36 The Complexity of Relationships in Fiction01:23:44 The Appeal of Fake Relationships01:28:42 The Intrigue of Cheating and Open RelationshipsJoin our Long Game Podcast Book Club on Fable to read along with us each week.: https://fable.co/club/long-game-pod-book-club-with-long-game-pod-349252537194?invite=fc285de0-86ea-45c4-ab3f-8dcc82b8cad8&referralID=4tVUzsxlCCFind Jenn:Instagram: thebookrefuge18Youtube: TheBookRefugeFind us on instagram: longgame.heatedrivalry.podWrite to us: longgamepod2481@gmail.comFind Declan: Instagram: declan712Tiktok: declanmccallion1Find Silvan:Instagram: SilvatesTiktok: silvates1Listen to the Podcast on:Apple podcast: Spotify podcast: Amazon podcast: Watch it on youtube: https://youtu.be/ua60zP9zahkListen to Silvan’s ‘Silvates’ podcast here:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/silvates/id1531620495Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xMX59teVzpf6M86Cv7WG9?si=016f5477aed14697Fic recommendations we spoke about in this episode:Mutually Assured Exposure: https://archiveofourown.org/works/77434821/chapters/202760196 Slipfast: https://archiveofourown.org/works/73643456/chapters/191997696 The Game Plan: https://archiveofourown.org/works/42797457/chapters/107510184 Something You Can Fix: https://archiveofourown.org/works/76495636 Shane Hollander is dating a nice man from Montreal: https://archiveofourown.org/works/77871996/chapters/204023421 If This Is It: https://archiveofourown.org/works/80245286/chapters/210674496
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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • Heated Rivalry, Fan Fiction & AO3: Part 1

    Heated Rivalry, Fan Fiction & AO3: Part 1
    May 24 2026
    Silvan is joined by special guest Jenn from The Book Refuge for a deep dive into the passionate world of Heated Rivalry fandom, fan fiction, and the phenomenon of AO3.Jenn shares her journey into fan fiction culture, including how Heated Rivalry became one of the biggest fandoms on AO3. We unpack why these characters inspire such devotion, what makes romance adaptations so emotionally powerful when done well and why fandom spaces can feel both deeply creative and deeply personal.Together we explore what AO3 actually is and how it works, why Heated Rivalry lends itself so perfectly to fan fiction, the blurred lines between authorship, creativity, and community and the legal and ethical complexities surrounding fan works.If you are a longtime AO3 reader or someone hearing the term for the first time, this episode is a fascinating exploration of why people become so attached to fictional characters why Shane and Ilya continue to resonate so deeply with fans around the world.The next episode of the podcast will be published on Sunday 31st May.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Setup00:40 Exploring Heated Rivalry and Fan Fiction03:41 Diving into the Fan Fiction World06:28 The Impact of Adaptations on Romance09:42 The Role of AO3 in Fan Fiction12:29 The Significance of Romance in Storytelling28:30 Exploring the World of Fan Fiction30:21 The Legal Landscape of Fan Fiction37:18 The Gift Economy of Fan Fiction42:11 The Allure of Heated Rivalry Fan Fiction46:35 Understanding Tags in Fan Fiction58:03 The Impact of Wolfbird and Opal Apparition01:00:33 The Popularity of Fan Fiction01:02:25 The Impact of Unfinished Works01:05:17 The Drama Surrounding Fan Fiction Authors01:07:02 Navigating Fandom and Parasocial Relationships01:11:03 The Role of Fiction in Understanding Diverse Experiences01:13:51 Creating a Safe Space in Online Communities01:14:00 Handling Criticism as a Content Creator01:15:37 Exploring Diverse Romance in Literature01:21:00 The Journey into MM RomanceJoin our Long Game Podcast Book Club on Fable to read along with us each week.: https://fable.co/club/long-game-pod-book-club-with-long-game-pod-349252537194?invite=fc285de0-86ea-45c4-ab3f-8dcc82b8cad8&referralID=4tVUzsxlCCFind Jenn:Instagram: thebookrefuge18Youtube: TheBookRefugeFind us on instagram: longgame.heatedrivalry.podWrite to us: longgamepod2481@gmail.comFind Declan: Instagram: declan712Tiktok: declanmccallion1Find Silvan:Instagram: SilvatesTiktok: silvates1Listen to the Podcast on:Apple podcast: Spotify podcast: Amazon podcast: Watch it on youtube: Listen to Silvan’s ‘Silvates’ podcast here:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/silvates/id1531620495Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xMX59teVzpf6M86Cv7WG9?si=016f5477aed14697References for material Jenn spoke about today:Series of YT videos by Jill Bearup: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj4N-R1RQxAs2v9G09lNy4oyAnGBBUtW3&si=d1osuTsCvf_6ykw8 An Exhaustive Defense of Fan Fiction: https://youtu.be/wvP_BLMgYBg?si=NoOIu5jxUh3AtigJ Ao3’s Mission Statement: https://archiveofourown.org/about Ao3’s FAQ Page: https://archiveofourown.org/faq/about-the-archive?language_id=en#whatisao3 Slash Fiction (Wiki): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash_fiction#:~:text=It%20is%20commonly%20believed%20that,Spock%22)%20were%20used%20interchangeably Reddit Thread about Opal Apparition: https://www.reddit.com/r/heatedrivalryfanfics/comments/1sbnnuz/this_has_actually_made_me_feel_physically_sick/
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Heated Rivalry Book Review: Part 3- Tuna Melt

    Heated Rivalry Book Review: Part 3- Tuna Melt
    May 17 2026

    Declan and Silvan dive into Part 3 the Heated Rivalry book review. We finally reach one of the most emotionally charged turning points in Shane and Ilya’s relationship and we had a lot to say about it.


    From the aquarium scenes with Hayden and the subtle hints about Shane’s fears around family, to the infamous penthouse chapter, ginger ale, tuna melts, and one devastating use of first names, we unpack how Rachel Reid uses intimacy, domesticity, and even sex itself as storytelling devices.


    We explore how these chapters shift Shane and Ilya from “hookups” into something far more vulnerable, and why Shane’s panic feels so heartbreaking once you understand what’s really going on underneath it all.


    We also discuss queer identity, denial, internalised shame, reclaiming slurs, chosen futures, and how the TV adaptation changes and deepens the emotional beats from the book.


    Plus, Declan goes on an anti-pickle rant, we accidentally term the phrase “tuna spit,” and we somehow end up talking about Shakespeare in the middle of all of it.


    This episode covers chapters 12 onward and sets the stage for one of the most painful stretches of the book.


    The next episode of the podcast will be published on Sunday 24th May at 10am (GMT).


    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to the Heated Rivalry Podcast

    00:28 Exploring Character Development in Chapters 12-15

    05:26 The Complexity of Family Dynamics

    09:28 The Pressure of Traditional Expectations

    12:35 Navigating Identity and Relationships

    16:44 The Impact of Language and Labels

    24:58 Shane's Sensitivity and Foreshadowing

    27:18 The Complexity of Parenthood and Relationships

    31:53 Navigating Long-Term Hookup Dynamics

    35:40 Sexual Dynamics and Power Play

    47:30 The Shift Towards Intimacy

    54:02 Confronting Domesticity and Vulnerability

    57:34 Conflicted Emotions and Inner Turmoil

    58:23 Denial and Acceptance in Relationships

    01:00:24 Character Depth: Ilya's Backstory

    01:03:50 Intimacy vs. Physicality in Relationships

    01:06:46 The Significance of Names in Connection

    01:10:18 Emotional Climax and Vulnerability

    01:14:04 Conflict and Pacing in Storytelling

    01:19:25 Building Intimacy Over Time


    Join our Long Game Podcast Book Club on Fable to read along with us each week.: https://fable.co/club/long-game-pod-book-club-with-long-game-pod-349252537194?invite=fc285de0-86ea-45c4-ab3f-8dcc82b8cad8&referralID=4tVUzsxlCC


    Find us on instagram: longgame.heatedrivalry.pod

    Write to us: longgamepod2481@gmail.com


    Find Declan:

    Instagram: declan712

    Tiktok: declanmccallion1


    Find Silvan:

    Instagram: Silvates

    Tiktok: silvates1


    Listen to the Podcast on:

    Apple podcast:


    Spotify podcast:


    Amazon podcast:


    Watch it on youtube: https://youtu.be/tjtQNj3qXr8


    Listen to Silvan’s ‘Silvates’ podcast here:

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/silvates/id1531620495

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xMX59teVzpf6M86Cv7WG9?si=016f5477aed14697
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    1 hr and 23 mins
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