Long Game: a Heated Rivalry Podcast

Declan and Silvan sit down with Caroline Plyler, director of the hit vertical romance Next Door, to discuss her journey from actor and script supervisor to first-time director. Caroline shares how her own experiences  shaped the story, why she wanted to create the "queer Disney Channel movie we never got," and what it has been like seeing audiences around the world connect with Kit and River's love story.

We explore the rise of vertical filmmaking, how platforms like Candy Jar are changing the way stories are discovered, and why Caroline believes mobile-first storytelling is here to stay. She also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at directing Next Door, working with first-time leads, collaborating with cast and crew, and the realities of making a film for today's social-media generation.

We discuss queer representation in media, the importance of joyful LGBTQ+ stories, Caroline's love of Sophia Coppola, the books she'd love to adapt, and her advice for aspiring filmmakers looking to break into the industry.

Next Door is available now on Candy Jar.

Fine Caroline on Instagram and Tiktok: carolinegrayplyler
Find CandyJar on Instagram and Tiktok: watchcandyjar

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/NqD-jMfkq7g

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

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Next Door and Its Impact
02:41 Caroline's Directorial Debut and Personal Connection
06:01 The Unique Appeal of Next Door
10:20 Creating a Wholesome Queer Narrative
12:03 The Importance of Diverse Queer Representation
15:18 Audience Reactions and Surprises
16:59 Caroline's Journey to Directing
20:01 The Role of Script Supervision
25:24 The Importance of Preparation in Filmmaking
35:16 Preparation and Respect for the Crew
36:06 Directorial Styles and Preferences
38:06 Inspirations from Iconic Directors
39:39 The Journey with Candy Jar Productions
42:00 Resonating with the Story of Nextdoor
46:28 Creating a Lighthearted Queer Romance
48:52 Vertical Storytelling: A New Format
54:27 The Impact of Second Screen Watching
01:03:04 The Future of Vertical Storytelling
01:04:32 Opportunities with Candy Jar Productions
01:06:49 The Impact of Fan Creations
01:09:08 Adapting Queer Stories
01:16:01 Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers
01:19:42 Quickfire Questions with Caroline
01:24:30 The Heart of 'Next Door'

Declan and Silvan dive into Part 4 of our Heated Rivalry book review series. This is one of the most important introductions in the entire story, Rose.

We compare Rachel Reid's novel with the TV adaptation, and explore why Rose feels different on the page versus on screen. I’m e discuss how Sophie Nélisse's performance elevated the character and why Shane and Rose's relationship serves such an important purpose in Shane's journey toward self-acceptance.

Along the way, we unpack the idea of "meeting the right woman," reflect on our own experiences of questioning identity, and discuss how both the book and show portray the pressure to follow a traditional path before embracing who you really are.

We also spend time breaking down the club scene, from wardrobe choices and celebrity culture to the emotional tension between Shane and Ilya. Does Shane and Rose's whirlwind romance feel longer than it actually is? We dfiscuss if Rachel Reid missed an opportunity to explore Shane's perspective more deeply during one of the story's most pivotal moments.

This episode is packed with character analysis, adaptation comparisons, personal reflections, and plenty of tangents about dancing, fashion, skinny jeans, and why Rose remains one of the most beloved characters in the Heated Rivalry universe.

The next episode of the podcast will be published on Sunday 14th June.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Rose and Character Comparisons
02:41 The Role of Rose in Shane's Journey
05:50 Language and Feminist Commentary in Character Dialogue
08:09 Shane's Internal Struggle with Identity
11:17 The Dynamics of Shane and Rose's Relationship
13:18 The Impact of Time on Relationships in the Story
16:04 Celebrity Culture and Public Perception
19:00 The Club Scene: Book vs. TV Show
22:08 Fashion and Social Expectations in Club Culture
29:00 Body Image and Insecurities
31:56 Fashion and Identity
35:51 Atmosphere in Storytelling
39:21 Dancing Dynamics
44:28 Sexual Tension and Character Development
49:08 Missed Opportunities in Narrative

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/hnlLC04hXjU

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

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.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Fanfiction and AO3
01:46 Exploring Heated Rivalry Tropes
07:22 The Community of Fanfiction Writers
11:20 Understanding Gender Dynamics in Romance
18:09 Recommendations for New Readers of Romance
18:39 Exploring Romance Preferences
20:56 Character Connection in Storytelling
23:40 The Value of Emotional Stakes
26:33 The Role of Antiheroes in Fan Fiction
29:03 Transforming Villains into Heroes
32:25 The Impact of Fan Fiction on Canon
35:55 The Appeal of Catastrophe in Stories
39:57 The Creative Process in Fan Fiction
42:46 The Challenge of Traditional Publishing
45:24 Understanding Canon vs. Fanon
51:40 The Separation of Fan Fiction and Traditional Publishing
01:08:00 The Fallout of Public Breakups
01:11:01 Fan Fiction and Social Media Dynamics
01:13:58 Exploring Alternate Universes in Fan Fiction
01:19:36 The Complexity of Relationships in Fiction
01:23:44 The Appeal of Fake Relationships
01:28:42 The Intrigue of Cheating and Open Relationships

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 Jenn:
Instagram: thebookrefuge18
Youtube: TheBookRefuge

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/ua60zP9zahk

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

Fic 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

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.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Setup
00:40 Exploring Heated Rivalry and Fan Fiction
03:41 Diving into the Fan Fiction World
06:28 The Impact of Adaptations on Romance
09:42 The Role of AO3 in Fan Fiction
12:29 The Significance of Romance in Storytelling
28:30 Exploring the World of Fan Fiction
30:21 The Legal Landscape of Fan Fiction
37:18 The Gift Economy of Fan Fiction
42:11 The Allure of Heated Rivalry Fan Fiction
46:35 Understanding Tags in Fan Fiction
58:03 The Impact of Wolfbird and Opal Apparition
01:00:33 The Popularity of Fan Fiction
01:02:25 The Impact of Unfinished Works
01:05:17 The Drama Surrounding Fan Fiction Authors
01:07:02 Navigating Fandom and Parasocial Relationships
01:11:03 The Role of Fiction in Understanding Diverse Experiences
01:13:51 Creating a Safe Space in Online Communities
01:14:00 Handling Criticism as a Content Creator
01:15:37 Exploring Diverse Romance in Literature
01:21:00 The Journey into MM Romance

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 Jenn:
Instagram: thebookrefuge18
Youtube: TheBookRefuge

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: 

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

References 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/

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