Latest / Besties Do Verticals / Episode 6 - Tutoring My Rival Boy

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Episode 6 - Tutoring My Rival Boy · Besties Do Verticals

• Aleta: Hello and welcome to Besties Do Verticals with your besties, Lucy and Alita. Hi, I'm Alita. Lucy: And I'm Lucy. Aleta: Today we're going to be ⁓ recapping Tutoring My Rival Boy, which was by Emily Q and released on Real Short. This is a summary from Real Short. Life isn't easy for Chris Banning, valedictorian at a snobby private school. It's hard enough dealing with bullies already, but when his scholarship isn't enough to cover tuition, he's got to tutor his worst enemy, Lucian Alaric, the spoiled bad boy he just saw ⁓ to seduce their teacher into changing his grades. I loved how the set designer decorated Chris's bedroom. Aside from all the fruit, which Evan made a TikTok about, there are a lot of art posters and vinyl album covers on the wall. I love the Velvet Underground and Nico poster with the banana. There are also some flyers for kids' art class, so maybe Chris is teaching one. Even worse, Lucian's figured out his deepest, dirtiest secret in return. All he can do is keep his friends close and enemies closer. But maybe Chris is getting a little too close. And the books. ⁓ It looks like a teenager's bedroom. An artsy, slightly nerdy teenager. Lucy: Thank you, Bestie. The vertical opens on Chris Banning, played by Evan Gambardella, rushing to his teacher's office to ask her if he can pay his tuition payment late, as he is waiting on tutoring money. Aleta: So often in verticals the sets are not personalized to fit the character. Lucy: he arrives at his teacher's he sees a fellow student, Alaric, played by Sky Kawaii, seductively leaning over their has been trying to convince teacher to give him a grade. Chris accidentally draws attention to himself and Lucian chases him down. Lucian slams Chris into lockers and tries to convince him that he saw nothing. Chris doesn't take it and calls Lucian out. We get some tension here between the two until Chris calls out Lucian for being hard. This freaks out Lucian enough to let Chris go and he runs off. Honorable mention from me. I really love when Lucian grabs Chris's chin and whispers in his ear. Also, I thought It was a really cute scene of Lucian covering up his crotch with his jacket and he's like, That's never happened to me before. ⁓ Aleta: Sure it hasn't. He's a teenage boy. Lucy: Right? mm-hmm. I guess it's never happened with a boy though. So mm-hmm mm. Aleta: I don't know though, he seems experienced. Lucy: Right? Aleta: This is not his first time with the boy. Lucy: That's a very good point, but I never thought of that until now. I have always assumed he was very straight. But Skye plays extremely confident he plays all of his characters very confidently. I mean they always cast him in confident roles, of course, but that's interesting. I have to think about that one now. Aleta: Mm-hmm. I think the character knew what he was doing. He was he was Yeah. Anyway, let's leave that bit out. Not the whole bit, but what I just said the last bit that I said. Lucy: Okay, no, I might keep it in. I might okay. We see Chris arriving at home to hear that one his tutoring students is waiting upstairs in his room. When he makes it to his room, he sees none other than Lucian ⁓ sitting there waiting for him. The next several episodes consist arguing, ⁓ lovely sexual tension. And Lucian pinning Chris to his bed and the wall. A lot of pinning of Chris against things. Chris is basically fighting to get a sketchbook back which is full of intimate drawings of men, which Lucian took and keeps teasing Chris that he is going to show others. ⁓ Lucian definitely looks like he is having way too much fun in these scenes, and once again gets hard pinning Chris up against something. ⁓ When Chris asks what is poking him, ⁓ Lucian out and spills apple juice all over We then get a comical scene of Lucian fleeing Chris's bedroom. I kind of wanted to talk about the POV of Lucian's face. I am surprised they went there. Sky okay, come on guys. Sky is just beautiful. Like we can admit that. He's almost ethereal. Dang it, Sky. Dang it. I also thought the mom bursting in here where she talks about MILFs. ⁓ That was also really cute. In these episodes, I think extremely to note there's a line from Chris as Lucian baits him. Lucian basically ⁓ is ⁓ baiting him, that he's going to out him as gay. Chris basically ⁓ is not for you to decide. It is my choice. I will come on my own terms. And I'm really glad that they actually put this in the vertical. And I loved how passionately Evan delivered it. I think it really shows how important it is for queer people to be able to come out when they want and as they see fit. We don't out someone. Aleta: They're just kind of like blank Airbnb type ⁓ slates ⁓ without ⁓ any of that that ⁓ injection of personality. So I really loved that. Lucy: I agree. I sometimes wonder how they get these sets, right? You know, is it just someone renting out an Airbnb and they just, rent it out and change some things up? I know a lot of them get to work on lots, ⁓ but this wasn't a lot. I'm pretty sure this was an actual house. Aleta: Yeah, so I don't know well, presumably in LA it works similarly to what it does up here, in Hollywood North ⁓ as they call Vancouver. ⁓ but people can rent out their homes to film companies to be in things. I actually know someone whose house was in a Hallmark movie, Christmas movie. ⁓ And they get paid for their home to be used. ⁓ so yeah. But some of these just really look very blank, so and the number of times that some of them reappear, if you watch verticals, you see the same places again and again. I think that they are not homes that are being lived in. They're homes that are being just rented out for for this purpose. Lucy: Yeah, no, that makes sense to me. Fair. We find Lucian in the shower in the next scene, and when Chris brings him fresh clothes, Lucian pulls Chris into the shower with him. This is clearly a hook, but I am so glad they did it. There's more sexual tension that ensues with Lucian, who is really enjoying his teasing of Chris. Lucian then goes in for a kiss. So hot and right before it happens, Chris's mom walks in, played by the lovely Amber Wagner. Despite this shower having absolutely no No open bottom Lucian picks up Chris in his arms as if Chris's feet would be showing. And that kind of makes me think, were they did they originally have a different house? Was there a different lot? Did they just how how did this Aleta: They just didn't think it through when they rented the house, presumably, 'cause they step into the tub, yeah. Lucy: I actually really like this type of hook in verticals in the straight and queer ones anyway because again it's force proximity and it's such a good way to get them close and touching. Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: I completely let this fact go because I was like, hee hee, he's getting picked up. ⁓ I loved it. There is a tense moment where they are worried they are about to be caught in the shower together. His mother eventually leaves after Chris tells him Lucian went home. In order to get Lucian to let him go, we see Chris punch him in the chest. One of my favorite parts of the shower scene ⁓ Lucian bouncing Chris up and down in his arms, and they have sound effects. ⁓ actually made me giggle so much. And I really liked the biting scene. Lucian is teasing Chris that he's going to out them to his mom, and Chris bites him. And the look on Lucian's face, I was just like, Yes, I really enjoyed it. It was good. When Chris escapes the shower and bathroom, we are treated to a beautiful scene of Chris looking soaking wet and thinking about what just went down in the shower. I just love how this was shot. Evan looks so good here. And then obviously his character is so distraught. After Lucian's shower, he changes into some of Chris's clothes and is wearing an adorable sweater with a dachshund on it. Hee hee, so cute. Lucian leaves out of Chris's window, taking his sketchbook as collateral, so that he doesn't snitch about him and the teacher, and accidentally leaving his ring. I really like the line here that Lucian says to Chris. I think a lot of people comment on it. You know, you could always let me use the backdoor. So much sexual innuendo and teasing in this vertical. Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: And there is no one better than Sky to do it, I think. He does it so naturally. I don't know what that says about him as a person, but he brings it into his characters, and I'm just like, you go. You got this. He's really good at it. Aleta: The shower scene was really fun, although I was thinking you just went and had a shower without telling Chris or asking his mom whether it was okay. He just leaves the room and gets in the shower at someone else's house. ⁓ Lucy: I thought about that too. I mean I'm assuming there was a whole conversation after it, but Aleta: The other thing that I didn't ⁓ think to mention was the ⁓ shampoo. So they have all the fruit in in Chris's bedroom and then his mum brings him in ⁓ his favorite orange shampoo. ⁓ And I I th I don't know whether it was just in this scene or whether it was on too, that Lucian calls Chris his juicy little orange. ⁓ Lucy: Yes, he does it twice. He does it in the he calls him his juicy little orange, I think, later. Does he do it in the shower scene too? Aleta: I ca I remember. I just ⁓ It stuck in my head anyway. Lucy: I do think they said juicy little orange later in the vertical and I did not put that in my notes, so I'm glad we're saying it. But he did sniff in the shower scene Chris's hair. And he he's I don't know what he said, but it was cute. And they made a point to bring it back around again later in the vertical, and I like that. Aleta: Mm. Mm. Lucy: The next day at school, Chris goes to Lucian's lunch table to return the ring. But Lucian is surrounded by all of his His friends start making fun of Chris and bait him for being poor and gay. Chris says, there's nothing wrong with being gay. At least I'm not proud of being a bully. And I know this is a common theme with Sky's characters, but I do love how Lucian is so impressed that Chris says he is gay proudly. We do see this, I think, in Waterboy and Pool Boy 2. And you know, I do want to say this. This is not in my notes, but real short, if you're listening, I know Sky can do more. Give this man. a different character to play. He played this so well in three different verticals, but Sky can do it. Trust him. He can branch out. But he is playing like the same character, even with Evan. Aleta: He is, but he does it well. Lucy: He very much does. Jasper, ⁓ played by Marcus for some reason in his anger, decides to grab a damn fork and stab Chris with it. Here comes Lucian, jumping in front of the fork just in time and getting stabbed in his chest. Chris is so grateful to Lucian and goes with him to the nurse's office. I was so excited to see that Barr Daniel is in this. She is Straight Until He Kissed Me alum. was, I think, Cindy, who was starting the rumor of Hunter's ED in Straight Until He Kissed Me. ⁓ In Tutoring My Rival Boy, she's playing one of the girl bullies. Chris helps Lucian with his wound, and we are treated to more longing looks from Lucian. And Chris tries to figure out what to make of it. One of the things I really love about this vertical, and this is so typical of Sky's characters, is how much his characters want the other lead, how much he desires the other character. We can see here that Lucian really wants Chris. And he shows it starting in episode two. Sky knows how to play Desperate Desire really well and I love it. A nurse comes in and asks if Lucian and Chris are together. They misconstrue it as if they are a couple, and Lucian trying to protect Chris says they are not. Chris gets hurt and leaves after being invited to homecoming by another boy. So this is one of the things that did bother me. There was an effort to talk about homecoming, but we never got the scene. I would have loved to have seen it. Aleta: I don't know. They seem to do homecoming in every other high school vertical, so Lucy: True, but just why make the effort? Aleta: Mhm. Well, they had they have the party later on instead, I guess. Lucy: There. In the next episode, we see Lucian arriving at school and trying to engage again with Chris. He's not having it, and instead decides to go off with the boy from homecoming. Lucian tries to warn Chris that this boy is no good, and it turns out that this is very much the case. The boy, Ethan, leads Chris to somewhere private where he gets assaulted by Lucian's friends. Quotations, quote marks. Friends? We see Jasper in the scene, and we didn't introduce her before, but Judy Bennett, a girl who really wants Lucian as her boyfriend, played by Heaven Nunez, is leading the charge. Chris basically is stripped of his clothing. Judy takes the picture of Chris's father who has passed away and destroys it. I know. Aleta: I hate that so much. Lucy: It's brutal. So brutal. The bullies then try to hurt Chris with a knife, and once again Lucian gets there just in time and says, I'm his partner. I really like that. I didn't actually notice it at the beginning when I first saw Tutoring My Rival Boy, but I started doing edits, ⁓ I ended up accidentally using it in one of my edits, and it was perfect because it is a double meaning. Because we know is really starting to care about Chris deeply. And they've already dropped the partner thing several times, you know, where I think when Lucian is pinning him down in bed, Chris says, I'm not your partner. And Lucian's like, But you kinda are. We're study partners, something like that. Aleta: Mm. Mm-hmm. Lucy: We are treated to a really good fight scene. I do love seeing Skye in fight scenes. He needs to be used in action scenes more because he's really good at them. Where Lucian wipes the floor with the bullies. Lucian takes Chris to safety. ⁓ I did want to note here that I have re-watched Tutoring My Rival Boy a lot, and I always skip this scene. I only watched it one more time for this recap, and honestly, it destroyed me. Evan, you are just too brilliant of an actor, and when you cry, this sounds crazy, but it physically hurts me. It just hurts. I know it's acting. But I don't know if Evan just acts with his entire being. I I think he said he might have pulled from some real life stuff. I think he told us on a live that scene was hard to get through. So once again, just like straight until he kissed me, where he dug deep during the claustrophobia scene. This I can we can tell, Evan. We can tell, and it hurts your fans. I mean, don't stop. ⁓ Aleta: Ha ha ha ha. Lucy: But know that when you cry, it makes everyone else cry. So thanks. it was a serious scene where they say horrible things about him being gay and honestly I know that's hard for any queer person to see. ⁓ I did hear from after we all first watched it how tough that scene was for them to get through. Aleta: Yeah, I must admit I also skip over this scene. Although Evan did do such an amazing job conveying his distress and emotion. I just hate the bullying, and it was pretty extreme here. Evan has talked about having been bullied really badly as a child and having ⁓ gone to his state capital to ha get an anti bullying law passed. So It's clearly something that he he feels deeply about. Lucy: The next scene is so beautiful. We open to Chris laying on a bed with Lucian sitting next to him. They are both shirtless here. Lucian is tending to Chris physically and emotionally, trying to make him feel better after the assault. Lucian is so concerned here, and Evan is amazing at expressing the trauma that Chris just went through. Just ⁓ incredible acting. It eventually leads to Lucian not being able to help himself any longer and he tries to kiss Chris. Chris is rightfully concerned after everything he's been through. Lucian does stop immediately and tries to soothe him, telling him he would never hurt him. We are then treated to a beautiful intimate scene. Really well shot. I loved how Lucian worked to make Chris feel safe in this scene. I just Sky made his character so earnest and sweet. And I think as a viewer, you were just comforted to know that he cared about Chris that deeply. Aleta: Yeah, which again for a teenage boy. Lucy: Impressive Aleta: Yeah, I agree. The scene is just absolutely gorgeous. The light is mmm. And it was so sweet and tender as well as spicy. So well done. Lucy: You do I I've heard you say teenage boy twice, and you are right. We have to remember that he is a teenage boy. And so when he's constantly on top of Chris, which we see a lot through this entire vertical, it kind of is realistic. Sometimes I'm like, damn, Lucian, like calm down. And even Chris says it. He's like, Why are you hard again? You know? Like he says it a few times. Like ⁓ there's a scene That we'll talk about later on. I don't even think I put it in the notes, but they're making out and he gets mad at him and he's like, Why are you you're hard? Really? And Lucian's like, I can't help myself around you. I can't control myself. And it's cute. It really is. I'm as as annoying as teenage boys can be with that problem, it's realistic. Aleta: Ha ha ha. It is. Lucy: The next day, Lucian and Chris are in the library studying. Lucian is not paying any attention to his work and instead just staring longingly at Chris. Clearly, Chris has no self-esteem and does not understand why Lucian keeps looking at him like this. So we think Chris ends up leaving because it might be too overwhelming for him. Lucian chases him down and steals a sweet. a kiss in the stacks, but they are then caught by Judy who is not happy. Aleta: Something I checked on when I was rewatching this scene. It's a tiny detail, but again I love the details that they got, ⁓ that they paid attention to in this vertical. The book that Lucian grabs off the shelf is called What Are You Looking At? And it's about modern art, which given Chris's interest in art, I thought was really cute. I also can't believe that you didn't mention one of the most edited moments of this whole vertical when Lucian grabs Chris by the belt and pulls him in for the kiss. So hot. Lucy: It is so hot. And you know what's funny? I don't even know if I've used that yet in an edit. I know. I've wanted to. I've worked Aleta: What? Lucy: around that entire scene ⁓ so many times, and I think I've used everything, but it just didn't work out with the song. But I've seen yours and others who have used and I'm like, ⁓ that's so hot. It looks so good. I need to. Aleta: Mm-mm. Lucy: But here's the thing. ⁓ I have edited Tutoring My Rival Boy more than any other vertical. And I don't know if there's a scene left outside of outside of the damn belt scene. So maybe I just do a mini edit of him pulling Chris in over and over and over again on the belt scene, just like I did with Drive ⁓ Wild when he falls. I I can't think of anything else. I I mean I do have a couple of other ideas up my sleeve, but they're ⁓ I don't know what else I can do. Like dang. During swimming class, Chris is once again attacked by Jasper and his friend. Jasper steals Chris's swim trunks and tries to get him into trouble with the swim coach. Lucian sees this and jumps in to protect Chris and instead steals Jasper and his friend's swim trunks. After this, Chris and Lucian head to the showers, where Lucian asks Chris, why they just don't tell everyone that they're together, so the bullies will stop picking on him. Lucian pins Chris against the shower wall and we get some more steamy scenes. Where Lucian clearly cannot control himself around Chris. once again just appreciate how Skye can convey this type of devotion and need. He does it with Declan too. I I just love it. Chris tells Lucian he will give him his answer about wanting to be with him as a couple once he knows if he gets into Princeton, as he is trying to help him and his mom have a better life. In the next scene, Chris and Lucian are called into misses Stone Miss Stone's office, sorry, where Chris is told he is being expelled for picking fights with his fellow students. Chris is so distraught. Lucian learns that this was Judy's doing, who has a lot of influence at the private school because her family is so rich. Judy offers Lucian a deal. She will make it so Chris doesn't get expelled if Lucian agrees to be her boyfriend. In order to save Chris, Lucian agrees. Judy is beyond thrilled and makes sure to kiss Lucian in front of Chris to hurt him even more. Judy takes Lucian's foam without him knowing and texts Chris to meet him at Judy's birthday party because he has something to tell him. Aleta: I must say here, for someone as pretty, popular and rich as Judy is, you would think she'd have a little more self respect than to want someone she had to blackmail. But it is a vertical and she is the villain. She clearly sees Lucian more as a status symbol that should belong to her rather than wanting him for himself. He's the captain of the hockey team and the most popular boy in the school, and she's the most popular richest girl, so naturally he belongs with her. Lucy: Yeah, that's a really good point. Chris does attend the birthday party even after everything he's been through because he wants to get some from Lucian. Can I just comment how much I love it when costume designers put Evan in these checkered vests? He wore something similar and you messed with the wrong nerd on good short and he just looks ⁓ so good in them. Guys, can we petition to add a bow tie, please? I want to see Evan in a bow tie. ⁓ Aleta: He wears a bow tie later on. Lucy: ⁓ he does. He does ⁓ thank you for the pleasant memory, thank Aleta: In the elevator. In the restaurant scene. Lucy: you. Once he gets his bullies somehow have a sketchbook and blast all of his drawings of men on a big screen where everyone proceeds to make fun of him. Lucian arrives with Judy and puts a stop to it. Lucian corners Chris into a bathroom and tries to explain himself. Chris isn't having it and is so upset because Lucian never explained himself. Lucian tells Chris that Judy was blackmailing him and he wanted to protect him. There is some desperate kissing here as Lucian tries to get Chris to forgive him. Eventually, Lucian and Chris find out it was Judy who texted Chris. Lucian tells Chris he's the only one he's ever wanted and all is forgiven. Back at the party, Lucian announces in front of everyone that he isn't with Judy, but that Chris is his boyfriend. And the look on Chris's face when Lucian says this ⁓ my goodness, I melt every single time. Evan, why are you so adorable? I love seeing that man smile. Lucian tells Judy that if she gets Chris expelled, he will just leave the school. He proceeds to share that he also recorded Judy stating her plans and sends it to her father. Lucian and Chris start dancing to celebrate despite angry Judy is. They are interrupted by Lucian's father Arthur, played by the wonderful Sean McHugh, showing up who is super angry about Lucian's failing grades. Back at Lucian's house, his dad is shouting at him and worse, tries to hit him. That part is hard for me. His dad really is a POS in this, ⁓ which because Sean McHugh also played Sky's Dad in Waterboy and was a fantastic parent. Chris shows up and takes the hit instead of Lucian, ⁓ jumping to try and protect him. Chris came to try and explain that Lucian is just trying to protect him. He promises Lucian's dad that Lucian will get straight A's on all of his finals. Arthur agrees that if he gets straight A's, he won't send him to military school. When Arthur leaves, Lucian tells Chris that he loves him, and Chris says it back. What the fuck, Miles? We're still bitter Where's season Aleta: We need season two of Succum. Lucy: Good short Give it to us And you know what? Screw it Good short if you won't do it real short Can you just do straight until he kissed me too please another Greg and Evan Aleta: think they can do ⁓ that 'cause copyright, but but anything with Greg and Evan together, please. Lucy: Right. Just do Greg and Evan again. Yeah, seriously, okay, you know what? And I have no shame, we will use this podcast to shamelessly plug the pairings we want, damn it. ⁓ Chris asks Lucian if he will apply to Princeton with him. Chris offers motivation that if Lucian gets into Princeton they can officially be boyfriends. And we get a really sweet kiss here. In the next episode, we see Lucian and Chris in another tutoring session. Lucian once again cannot contain himself and is just all over Chris. We as viewers get to enjoy all the cuteness of Lucian's pout, damn you Sky, which derails into a very steamy groping session that ends when Chris's mom walks in and catches them. Chris's mom is very shocked, and Chris does ask Lucian to leave. Chris's mom says she is going to call the school tomorrow and make sure Lucian gets another tutor and does not seem supportive at ⁓ all here. Aleta: Yeah, I really do not like this. ⁓ although I know it is a sad reality for so many queer kids, my heart just breaks at the thought of parents treating their children this way when they come out. As a parent, your job is to love and support your children no matter what and in every way. And in my opinion, the only right answer when you find out that your child is queer is I love you, I support you, no matter what. Lucy: Beautifully said. I fully agree with that. After this, Chris finds out he got accepted to Princeton. He texts Lucian to meet him tomorrow to share this with him. In the next episode, we are treated to a sweet scene where Lucian tries to get close to Chris in an elevator. When the other people leave, he slams Chris up against the elevator wall. Personal musing here. I just love how Lucian manhandles Chris this entire vertical. His father shows up with his girlfriend and catches them almost kissing. His father doesn't seem upset about what he just saw, just upset in general. And reminds Lucian that he has only a few days until exams. He shares with his dad they are just getting a bite to eat after a tutoring session. His dad's girlfriend, Anya, can tell they are definitely more than just tutoring partners, and she is clearly plotting and says that they should all eat together. We are treated to an awkward dinner scene where apparently it was supposed to be a romantic celebration for Lucian and Chris. Arthur gets so irritated he ends up leaving. We did find out during the dinner scene though that his dad's girlfriend Anya is pregnant, and there is a giant hint here that she intends to get pregnant and make sure Lucian is out of the family, so she can lock herself and her own kid into all that money. Lucian and Chris decide to leave as well for more interesting activities. Aleta: A few things here. The elevator scene is just so sweet. Evan as always is so expressive. That man does so much acting just with his beautiful eyes. And I think it's just so cute. As they're leaving the restaurant, Lucian is so excited he leaps over the chair. ⁓ And they've pre-ordered the romantic dinner special, which apparently includes Yodeling. ⁓ Lucy: Ha ha. Aleta: was so funny. Like ⁓ what? ⁓ Lucy: I I've watched it so many times and I missed that part, but I believe you Aleta: But once again the parents are a big disappointment here. Lucy: Completely fair. I think it's really cool that you noted how Lucian is so excited he jumps over the chair. That is also very teen Yes, and it's very teenage boy. And I for some reason just didn't even pay attention to that either, but I'm glad you noticed it. Aleta: It's so cute. Mm. Ha ha ha. Lucy: fifty-eight, boom boom scene that one could say ⁓ I love making Alita laugh. ⁓ Get it out, get it out. Get it out, get it out. Alright. A boom boom scene that could say closely rivals bound to my hot rival. There is so much teasing between Chris and Lucian here. Chris asks Lucian to strip so he can draw him. Chris is the one in control here and delivers some very heated lines telling Lucian what he wants him to do and how he wants him. Another honorable mention when Evan says spread your legs and the production team, you knew what you were doing. Perfectly angled shot from behind Evan to show him perfectly placed in front of skies ⁓ yeah. We get some Titanic references here when Jack is drawing Rose. Lucian says so strict here instead of Rose's so serious. But definitely the same vibe. Sky's expressions here are priceless. ⁓ Throughout the next several scenes he is so good at conveying surprise, desire, and irritation all in the span of a few seconds. ⁓ in the eyebrows Sky's eyebrows with sound effects. After some serious sexual teasing back and forth, Chris drops the sketch pad and goes to straddle Lucian after undressing. Chris says, take me. And Lucian is very excited about this and throws Chris on the bed. We are then treated to a very spicy scene with Chris and Lucian going all the way. I thought this was done really well. A lot of people appreciated the use of a condom here. And we don't always get to see that in B L verticals. Aleta: Mm-hmm. So hot. As we've said before, the verticals are really stepping up the spice. We have you have to love the heated rivalry effect. ⁓ and one other thing that was so cute here is Evans and well both of their expressions, as you've said, sky with the eyebrows, but Through most of it, Lucian is the one who's in control. And in the in the drawing scene, Chris is the one who's in control. And just, you know, the sort of tilt of a head and just mm so good. Evan, you're amazing. Lucy: He really is. There was a lot of attention to detail in that particular scene and I I d it must have been the director. Good job, Emily. It was really, really well done. The next day Chris arrives home and finds out his mom is in the hospital. Chris and Lucian both go to visit her. She says she's okay and apologizes to both Chris and Lucian for how she reacted after she found them together. She that she accepts them both, that she just thought Chris could have come to her with this. A good save made a lot of us a little less upset. I think this is a beautiful and sweet moment that all queer kids deserve to have with their parents. And so many queer kids do not get the support, just like Alita said earlier. And I can tell Evan put so much into the scene. I really loved it. Aleta: I'm still mad at her. Lucy: Don't blame you. We cut to a scene where Miss Stone is talking to Anya, Arthur's girlfriend on the phone and conspiring. Miss Stone tells Lucian he got failing grades on all his exams and will be telling his father. Chris knows this is bullshit and heads straight to the principal who gets to the bottom of it. Chris arrives just in time to Lucian's house to stop his dad and Anya from sending Lucian to military school. Bringing proof that Lucian actually aced all of his final exams. Arthur kicks Anya out, now knowing what she did. Arthur tells Lucian he's still going to military school, and Lucian tells him he's leaving even if he's cut off. In the final scene, it is a year later, ⁓ and we see Chris and Lucian standing outside Princeton University. It's really just a random building with a Princeton flag on it, but it's cool. We learn that Arthur is even calling Chris now to try to get into touch with Lucian, but Lucian hasn't forgiven him. A random girl walks up and asks for Lucian's number. Chris grabs Lucian's hand and says he's taken. The vertical ends with another sweet kiss. ⁓ So that was an amazing vertical. I really loved recapping that. I did want to talk about how easily Evan and Skye seem to play these characters. That maybe they could relate to them somehow. I they just played them so effortlessly, so I wonder if they took a lot from their own life and it was just easier for them to play them. I don't know. It came across very well on screen. Overall, for me, this is probably my second favorite BL of all time. Sky and Evan have a really special chemistry together. Greg and Evan do too, but this one is just ⁓ special its own way. I think Real Short and their production team should be really proud of this one, and I hope so deeply we get to see Sky and Evan together in another BL soon. Something else to note here is Tutoring My Rival Boy seems to be climbing much faster than Waterboy did. It's currently at 32.2 million. And at this rate, it's gonna surpass Waterboy, which won vertical of the year. So I'm telling you real short, Sky is not your only moneymaker. Both of Evan's BLs exploded. Anything you put him in will do really well. Aleta: Anything that Evan is in is always going to be a favorite for us. But this one is really so good. I love the attention to detail. As I said, the set design was on point and the lighting is wonderful in both of the scenes in Lucian's bedroom. Thanks for joining us. Until next time, bye besties. Lucy: Bye besties.