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By Lydia Patrick
Life & Trends Reporter
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Heated Rivalry star Christina Chang has opened up about the tear-jerking fan-favorite final scene between her character, Yuna Hollander, and her son Shane, played by Hudson Williams.
The steamy Canadian HBO/Crave series has reached global acclaim for its groundbreaking representation of queer love between hockey players Ilya Rozanov on the Boston Bears, played by Connor Storrie, 25, and Shane Hollander played by Hudson Williams, 24.
The show also features another prominent love story involving closeted player Scott Hunter, portrayed by François Arnaud, and smoothie-server Christopher “Kip” Grady, played by Robbie Graham-Kuntz.
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Warning—Contains Spoilers
For many viewers, the most emotional moment comes at the end of the season finale, episode one, titled The Cottage. In the episode, Shane’s father David (played by Dylan Walsh) walks in on his son kissing Ilya. The couple later drive to Shane’s parents’ home to explain everything. Shane begins to apologize, but Yuna, through tears, tells him he has nothing to be sorry for—and apologizes herself for making him feel he couldn’t tell her the truth.
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Chang, 54, told Newsweek that it was the scene she was most excited about when she signed on to the show.
However, the segment changed at the last minute. Series creator Jacob Tierney rewrote part of the scene on the day of filming, condensing it—a decision Chang ultimately believed was the right one. Production was also postponed by a day due to wet weather conditions.
"I think [...] It was less words. We sort of arrived at what we wanted to say. We just got to the point, I think, versus the other scene was a little bit longer, not much, but just, you know, it took a little bit longer to get there. And I think. He wanted it to sound like something that these two characters would say, you know. And we shot this closer to the end of filming. So, yeah, [a] confluence of things probably that led to that."
She said the success of the scene ultimately lies in Tierney’s writing, which made the emotional exchange easier to convey.
"I was able to stay very present with the words because of Jacob's writing and because of my scene partner. You know, it I don't want to say easy because that sounds very flippant. But it was easy to do because the circumstances were so sort of set and perfect," she said.
Chang also drew from her own experience of motherhood for the role. Her 13-year-old child has seen some of the less racy parts of the series, including the cottage scene and another sentimental moment in episode five, when Hunter wins the season and publicly comes out by inviting his partner he had kept a secret onto the ice.
When it came to taking the job, Chang revealed it was the show’s joyful celebration of love in all its forms that sealed the deal.
"Overall I was really drawn to just the positive nature of this. You know, every, every time you, you sort of turn the page, proverbial page in the script, you're scared there's going to be something awful that happens or traumatic or violent and it just never comes. It's just kind of this wonderful, sexy, funny, fun, romantic, love story, you know and love in all forms right love friendship and romantic and familial," she told Newsweek.
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