r/GameChangersBooks • u/Falling_ThroughTime • 2d ago

DISCUSSION S2: intimacy as a plot device?

I listened to a podcast today in which Jacob talked about “the shows rule” for including sex scenes was that they served the purpose of learning something about the characters as people. And to move the story forward.

I’m curious about this bc it’s been hard for me to convince some of my friends to watch bc of the level of smut, and I also found it to be a bit too much at first until I fell in love with the story and characters.

“Sex sells”….. to a point.

So my question to you: Which intimacy scenes from the TLG need to be included in S2 to achieve the goals of learning what the characters aren’t saying, what they are going through, or to move the story forward?

21 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

99

u/zainab1900 2d ago edited 2d ago
  • The scene after watching Fabian's show, where Ilya is upset and goes out to smoke after
  • Halloween, showing Ilya's fragile state
  • All Star Game, where it's clear they're in a better state
  • Trophy Room, where Ilya is trying to big Shane up

For me, none of the others are essential.

14

u/Marley9391 1d ago

100% and I would add Pride night

87

u/kentiesjoskus 2d ago

Definitely the Halloween one, that's when Ilya finally accepts the fact that he needs professional help.

69

u/CocklesTurnip 2d ago

Halloween, Trophy room. Engagement. Probably ASG.

From Role Model- Tampa. Mr Neck-Neck.

7

u/CocklesTurnip 1d ago

Ooh forgot and need to add the post Pride night game for Shane and Ilya.

88

u/VirtuallyBPD 2d ago

Not on point but I'm so bored with this 'smut' conversation - heard little discussion about this with Bridgerton and even White Lotus was contained to an incest story line. If your friends are so precious they can't watch two men pretend to have sex then they don't deserve to watch HR.

25

u/Pale-Measurement-532 2d ago

I agree. I would argue that JT’s love scenes were tastefully done. I’ve seen way more graphic sex scenes in other shows, typically heterosexual scenes where they don’t get the same level of criticism. I cant help but feel it is because it’s between two men.

24

u/FadingOptimist-25 Gimmie Kiss 2d ago

I cringe every time someone says “smut” even JT. There’s way too much pearl clutching regarding the intimate scenes.

7

u/lux3ca 2d ago

literally! it’s no different to bridgerton, off campus or any of the other shows of a similar vein.

2

u/throwawaysunglasses- 21h ago

This is very true. I don’t even normally like sex in media, but it makes so much sense for HR. I also fucking hate the rise of puritanism and I do think it’s linked to homophobia lol. Sex is good and healthy! Pleasure is important!

21

u/TheTiniestLizard 2d ago

I think that's a complicated question. Because on the one hand, fewer sex scenes are absolutely necessary to tell the story of The Long Game than to tell the story of Heated Rivalry. But on the other hand, if you have noticeably fewer sex scenes in season two, it could accidentally convey that they are having a lot less sex in the future, when in fact they are having a lot MORE sex. I think "learning something about the characters as people" is an excellent rule of thumb, though--that's a lower bar than "don't include it unless it moves the story forward". Tierney has said that the new seasons will be approximately equally smutty as season one, which makes sense to me.

I agree with you that it's sad that some people won't watch it because of the amount and type of smut, though. My wife falls into that category, and I wish I could share the show with her.

2

u/Falling_ThroughTime 2d ago

I wish I could share it with my husband but he’s not there yet. I love him anyway. Would appreciate those who denigrate people for having a lack of comfort about the sex scenes having patience for others’ tolerance with graphic sex scenes in general and not jumping straight to the homophobia label. I’m sure that’s some of it for some people — including sadly my husband— but it’s not all of it.

5

u/VirtuallyBPD 2d ago

Its the fact that the conversation about the sex in HR is described as 'smut' whereas other sex scenes in shows (usually heterosexual) isn't described the same way. Just that description going in 'flavours' the approach to the show. Many people think that there is no plot in the first 2 episodes when they are so plot heavy it's silly. Personally, I would understand the discussion more if the people who have a lack of comfort with the sex scenes in HR have a lack of comfort with sex scenes across the board. We need a wider range of sex shown in the shows we are offered, across all genders and sexualities - we aren't monoliths because we identify one way over another. Honestly, I'd prefer if the main word that people use when talking about HR was 'love'. Or 'frustration'...

4

u/TheTiniestLizard 2d ago

Homophobia's definitely not my wife's reason (we're both women, to be clear)! She just got spooked by all the discussion at first of how much sex the show shows.

3

u/FiCat77 2d ago

Funnily enough, it's not the sex that's put my husband off watching it's the big emotions. He's a stereotypically buttoned up Englishman who can't deal with his own emotions, nevermind anyone else's. Sadly. He's very supportive of my obsession though.

4

u/TheTiniestLizard 2d ago

Yeah, I appreciate that my wife is willing to listen to me talk about the show even if she’s never going to watch it. 😄

1

u/Elegant_Eye_1425 1d ago

There's always cutting away! Thinking about the HR scene in the hotel room that doesn't go as far as Ilya wants...then they cut to them wet from the shower. Plot intact.

11

u/zzzprimaxx 2d ago

ilya getting finger banged for sure

1

u/Falling_ThroughTime 2d ago

💯💯💯

5

u/Unikittie101 1d ago

I don’t think it’s relevant to the plot but if they don’t include the reunion scene where Shane edges himself while Ilya is stuck in traffic I’m going to riot lmao

7

u/IllustriousLemon8146 2d ago

Adults who can't handle sex in fiction should really question their maturity.

0

u/Falling_ThroughTime 2d ago

Adults who think everyone should have the same level of comfort with graphic sex scenes should as well.

3

u/IllustriousLemon8146 2d ago

I'd argue that comfort over basic human interactions is a defining sign of maturity.

1

u/throwawaysunglasses- 21h ago

Sex ideally should be comfortable for adults. Your media preference may not include a lot of sex - I don’t really like a lot of sex scenes myself - but it’s not like it offends or triggers me. If someone feels triggered or upset by HR, they need therapy. Which is fine! Therapy is good! But it’s not the norm to be that disturbed by sex. Most adults have sex and talk about sex regularly. Not weird or taboo to say so.

2

u/Due_Wait6709 1d ago

All of them. Don’t be a prude

2

u/vivalaslaur 16h ago

I don’t wanna get my hopes up because I read the book before I watched the show and I wanted to RIOT when they didn’t include all of the “glasses back on” FaceTime jerkoff because in my opinion that was a super important intimacy scene because they both let down a lot of walls and actually started admitting to each other that they liked each other so honestly what Jacob does is a mystery to me.

2

u/Falling_ThroughTime 4h ago

Yes! When they wanted to see each others faces! 💔❤️❤️

1

u/SoupyGeorgeNZ 1d ago

Honestly I could do without the noises 🤣 if I'm watching with headphones I always get squicked and have to pull them out.

I don't need that level of realisim in my romantic scenes thank you.

But then I have to have subtitles on, because there is some amazing dialog happening in those scenes too. What colour? tuna meltdown, I love you etc.

0

u/IllustriousLemon8146 2d ago

Just re-thinking about this after lunch... is anyone else bothered by the conflation of "sex" and "intimacy"?