John Adams said: "I've been watching and enjoying this show, with a LOT of suspended disbelief. There's no way that these characters, especially the actress, would have their privacy/discretion respected in public restaurants, or hotels where they nearly always seem to be. There's also a strong aura of incredibility re: when homophobia exists in this fairy-tale world, and when it doesn't.
Still (as soap-y as it is), I'm very much along for the ride with scenes like the long-distance phone call in E5, where Hollander asksRozanov to speak to him in Russian, even though he won't understand a word.*
Does anyone else get an as yet unacknowledged "vibe" about Hollander's dad?
* Be forewarned that you'll need to have the subtitles feature constantly enabled for when characters have extended scenes spoken in Russian only. (It's not automatically baked into the show.)"
I agree.
The world has a lot of room for fantasy though, and things don't always play out in ways we would consider realistic, I suppose. That's what makes it fantasy. I mean, a hot professional hockey player having sex with that barista, and then after having a few relational ups and downs comes out to the world by kissing that barista. Now that's fantasy. Dude can have any masculine, hot guy he wants, and he declares for that particular barista. Not buying it.
It actually kind of makes me think of Heartstopper. A romantic and charming series. But IMO also pretty fantastical. At the beginning we meet the outsider, the outcast, the "dweeb" of sorts, and he's making out in secret with one of the hottest guys on campus. Like that ever happened in any high school. 
The outcast and the hottest dude on campus. Uh huh. And then when he sadly realizes the guy won't be out with him, he immediately is making goo goo eyes at the hot rugby jock in science class. And they end up in a relationship. Yeah. Again, sure.
It does make for great fantasy though. And very romantic I suppose. Something the gay community needs more of. Not just the noncommittal, wham bam thank you man thing set ups.
When it comes to two men coming together from what would be perceived as more conventionally masculine professions, there is still fantasy aligned with that kind of story. Which in 2025 you would think we be beyond that. The fact we have a show about two athletes, and we're still oohing and aahing about the "what ifs" involved, is pretty interesting.
We all know, and have always known there are gay athletes. Just like there are gay military men, gay police officers, etc. I went to high school in the late 70s early 80s. I was an athlete. And I was messing around after practice with one of the other athletes who was on the football team. And we both had girlfriends. No one had any idea either of us were gay.
When I became an adult, I was dating military men a lot of the time. And no one in their circles knew they were gay. And I rememberer a Marine aviator I went out with who said the same about me. If he had seen me across the room at some social gathering he would have never known.
But therein comes the stereotype.
Funny how we're still cast into this world like the concept must be fantasy because it's two jocks involved, or two LEOs, or two military guys, or whatever.
I remember years ago, before the age of social media and the internet, there was an article in a magazine about some gay man who had claimed to be dating a well known MLB player. This was like back in the 80s or 90s. I was thinking the same thing. How could a MLB player be out on the town with another guy, without women in their presence, and not stir up some curiosity after a while. It led me to wonder if the guy's story was really true. Because yes, we know gay athletes are out there as I mentioned before. But for an athlete who has transitioned into the public arena where people know him now?
Because even now it's difficult for professional athletes to come out. I know it's more common in certain sports than it is in others, but the NFL, MLB, NHL....I don't think there are many who have. And I agree that it doesn't even seem realistic that they could go about a relationship with another man without just coming out with it.
But then again, though it's a different profession, I had the same curiosity when that 40ish trans model was bragging about being in a relationship with some hot young MAGA NYPD officer who was 20 years junior to this trans model. How do you, as a hot young NYPD officer, have a relationship with someone who is not only a lot older than you, but is a "well known" trans person and no one notices. And that story is purportedly true. So can it happen? I guess. Strange though because while he can remain more anonymous, the trans person can't. So people aren't going to make the connections about him too? And this trans person is now concealing his identity now that they've broken up?
Times have changed though I know and gradually more and more people are finding it easier to come out. Even within some professions that prior to current times it wasn't as easy.
I have found that when it comes to law enforcement, professional or college sports, and the military, men still keep it pretty much under wraps. It's there, but just not as widespread. And when anonymity is involved, it certainly makes it easier.
When I was dating a Marine, the general public didn't know who he was. He looked the part, but no one paid much attention. Same went for my fellow college athletes. No one in the general public knew who we were, but in our collegiate circles, yeah, we felt a little more aware of our surrounding and how we were perceived.
But again funny how in 2025 we're still amazed by the concept of two professional athletes having a relationship that goes beyond friendship.
Updated On: 12/23/25 at 11:19 AM
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