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Episode 14 - Waterboy (Second Down) · 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: I have had a really busy real life this week. And frankly, I was struggling to get the notes for this done. Since I had only had time to watch it once. So we have to thank our good friend Jeanette Kaufman for completing them for us. We appreciate you so much, Nettie. Lucy: Thank you, Netty. Yes, this is a collaboration at this point for all of these notes, so near the end, it'll be a lot of Netty's words, and that's the only reason Waterboy 2 is happening Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: right now. So ⁓ Aleta: So true. How has your week been, Lucy? Lucy: So I feel like most of my week was more based off of Waterboy 2 and my reaction to it. what is really interesting ⁓ is Waterboy second down me ⁓ in a that no other vertical has. ⁓ And I think that there has been ⁓ a lot of verticals that have upset me and that I've had feelings about, Waterboy 2, ⁓ while I liked it, I really liked it. It was really well done. It like it affected me in a way that did not affect most people I'm speaking to. I think there's people on one hand I can count that have expressed to me they were devastated ⁓ and really traumatized by it, but they're able to watch it more than once and I can't watch this more once. So it's been ⁓ fascinating. So I feel like if I were to explain how my week has been, that's all can really say. Aleta: Righty. Lucy: So we have a little housekeeping. it came to our attention from Leah, thank you, girl, ⁓ Aleta: Ha ha ha ha. Lucy: that ⁓ somehow ⁓ through all of our efforts ⁓ with Waterboy One podcast, there's a scene where ⁓ Caden throws up in his backpack and we just I wrote in notes ⁓ ⁓ Aleta: No, I just read it out without locking it. Lucy: Elite Yeah. And and then we used it in audiograms and still did in. We tagged everybody. We tagged real Aleta: In our defense it was so late we were so Lucy: So tired. Just like we are now. But I Aleta: so tired. True. Lucy: don't think I I I don't think this will be podcast episode will be like the first one ⁓ at all. Yeah. Aleta: No, probably not. But starting it at eleven o'clock at night is probably never the best idea. ⁓ true. ⁓ my god. ⁓ Lucy: ⁓ I'm starting this at midnight. It's not okay. And I work tomorrow, but we but I'm assuming we can't do it tomorrow night because you got stuff you gotta do. So it's gotta be. Yeah, it's gotta be tonight. Aleta: I do, yeah, unfortunately. Lucy: ⁓ but yeah, so it was Caden who threw up in the backpack and whoopsies. Sorry about that. Aleta: So as Lucy said, today we are recapping Waterboy's sequel, ⁓ Second Down, which is on Real Short and stars Declan Clifford and Sky Kawai, with return performances from Tori Harris and Sean McHugh, and a great supporting role for our very own Evan Gambardella. Yay! ⁓ Lucy: The summary from Real Short In Waterboy's second down, three after Caden broke Donovan's heart to save his NFL dreams, superstar quarterback Donovan Miller is back and signed with the agency where Caden is barely surviving as an intern. Donovan says he came to Boston for revenge, but the tension between them says otherwise. ⁓ In a world that could destroy Donovan's career if the truth comes out, falling for each other again might cost them everything. Mm hmm. Aleta: The vertical opens in Caden's bedroom. He's packing for college, but Donovan is more interested in smooching. He gets a call from his dad telling him to turn on the TV. He's the first pick in the NFL draft for the California Cobras. The names. He asks Caden to come to California with him. But Caden is off to college in Boston the next day. Caden says that they can do long distance. Signing, Donovan says that he's turning down the NFL because he doesn't want to be separated from Caden. Donovan's mom, played by Rebecca Ritz, is horrible from the beginning. She's not happy when Donovan wants Caden by his side to sign, and she's furious when Donovan says he's giving it out. When Donovan leaves the room, she berates Caden. First you turn my son gay. Eye rolls. And now you're ruining his life. You are the worst mistake he has made in his life. She wants Caden to break up with Donovan. Lucy: I hated this part. I fucking hated it. this actress was too good at playing this role. It was brutal. She sounded really hateful. It just tugged at me ⁓ so hard. And Caden's face here, honestly, Declan such a good job. I could feel what he was feeling in the scene. Like he just looked like there was so much indecision and pain in what she was asking him to do. Aleta: I feel like I'm gonna say this every single time, but I absolutely loathe the parents in all of these verticals. It just ⁓ my heart that this is a reality for so many people when they come out to their family. Anyway, once again, seriously, do not have kids if you cannot love and support them unconditionally. Lucy: That's right, people. Aleta: Not that the people who do that will be listening to us anyway, but drives me crazy. Anyway, okay. Next, we see Caden packing his car for his to Boston. He decides that he can't let Donovan give up his dreams, ⁓ and if it's meant to be, they will find their way back to each Donovan appears and we see that he has a ring and is planning to Caden to marry him. He's positive that Caden will say yes. ⁓ Lucy: Awww. Why? Aleta: He even get a chance to ask because when he goes to Caden, Caden immediately breaks up with him, and he is not at all gentle about it. He tells Donovan that he was just a high school experiment. New school, new pool of men. ⁓ Ouch. says that he found someone better. ⁓ And we meet a new character. It is none other than ⁓ Lucy: Evan Gambardella ⁓ is playing Jones who says we gotta hit the road soon, babe. Aleta: Donovan doesn't believe him, but Caden says, Believe what you want. It's over and kisses Jones. Lucy: I was so torn here as an Evan fan. Aleta: Ha ha ha ha. Lucy: course, I was delighted to our dearest Evan. ⁓ actually liked seeing Caden being the aggressor and of kissing Jones. And when the trailer came out, ⁓ was into ⁓ even though like I knew it was a ⁓ scene and it was gonna suck. In the trailer it seemed fine. ⁓ And then in the actual vertical, just like, dude, ⁓ my God. But Evan ⁓ and Declan did really good together. And I was talking with a couple of other fans and we both we were surprised. We ⁓ had felt Riley and Evan were where it was at. But after seeing Declan and Evan, I'm like, does Declan just work with everybody? Like Aleta: Maybe. Lucy: I think he I think he does. He's like he just he's just has it has chemistry with everybody. but but but fuck, seriously, the way ⁓ Donovan looked at Caden right after the kissing scene, it hurt me Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: And then there's Jones looking all innocent and sh ⁓ after and Aleta: Ha ha. Lucy: you know, can I just say I love the name Jones? I really it. I know that was very but So here's where my feelings lie. Caden was everything to Donovan, right? He turned his entire life upside down to be with Caden and to come out and risk so much. And now he's basically losing Caden in the worst way possible. Caden was his source of comfort and help in navigating this new part of himself. You know, he he's newly out. And now he doesn't even have the person who he considers his best fucking friend. Like fuck. and when when ⁓ when Sky said that, ⁓ like ⁓ my god, ⁓ it just hurt me so fucking much. And you know what it you know I'll talk about it the end too, but gonna say it a little bit here. One of the reasons this vertical fucked me up. It really did. ⁓ my god, I shouldn't be re I shouldn't be fucking ⁓ I sh I know. ⁓ I should be the one recapping this shit. ⁓ my god. I know maybe Nettie should recapped with you. Aleta: H beep, beep. I need a I need a buzzer to beep her out, guys. Lucy: okay, but for real. There's a lot in this vertical that reminds me of my relationship with my ex-wife. So before we were married, we ⁓ had a very tumultuous, long distance ⁓ breakup situation. ⁓ And this woman was like love of my fucking life. ⁓ I didn't notice ⁓ while I was watching the vertical. ⁓ I I didn't notice these things, and it was after when I realized I was starting to have an anxiety attack. ⁓ god, this sounds terrible. What's the truth? ⁓ actually took me a full 24 hours to even suspect that that's what happened and why I was so affected ⁓ by the vertical, right? And This line here is one of the lines I think is the problem is so devastated to lose his friend. Aleta: Mm. Lucy: And ⁓ my ex-wife was my first real gay experience, ⁓ right? And ⁓ when she ⁓ and then really like left for college, but then she really, really left and broke up with me, ⁓ I I lost source comfort. I I lost that friend. It wasn't just losing the love of my life at that time. It was wait, wait, wait. ⁓ You are the person who understands who I am, ⁓ right? ⁓ And with her gone, I was gone. So I think I think that really hit. Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: And I do apologize to everyone listening. This might actually be a fairly depressing episode. ⁓ we'll try to laugh. We'll we'll we'll we'll try to do something. Maybe Alita, you you gotta lead that. ⁓ Aleta: So at this point we hear Caden's interior monologue I'm sorry Donovan, you won't go and join the NFL if I don't cut you off. And he replies Staying friends with a high school hookup is pathetic. I don't want to be your boyfriend or your friend. And he gives him back the water boy uniform. Donovan's face is just ⁓ so broken. ⁓ he tells Caden, then I guess that makes us enemies. Caden just ⁓ gets in the car. Jones tells him that Donovan will understand eventually, and they drive off. ⁓ Lucy: Caden in the car ⁓ Declan did a really good job of conveying his fucking pain. Good job, Declan. ⁓ was here, our shining light of joy. ⁓ A small but mighty Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: can right off the bat that he is a really good friend to Caden. ⁓ I'm just gonna hold on to Evan. I think Alita's laughing, but I don't know why. I'm suffering and she's laughing. ⁓ my god. Aleta: I'll tell you, but you can't put it in. Lucy: ⁓ my god, tell me Aleta: Small but mighty part. Lucy: The only funny thing in the entire episode is you've probably said ⁓ Aleta: Cheese. Lucy: It's literally probably the only time we're gonna laugh like this. Aleta: For my the 12 year old in my head thought that was so funny. ⁓ Lucy: That's okay. ⁓ my god. ⁓ my god, I just can't. ⁓ Aleta: Donovan his and says he changed his mind and he's going to sign with the NFL. His voice over here, you think I'm disposable? Just wait, Caden. I'll get so big you won't be able to escape me. Now we jump to three years later in Boston, Massachusetts. ⁓ Lucy: My favorite city. ⁓ Aleta: And Caden has an internship at a sports management firm. He's being bullied by the other interns and his boss, who tells him that he's just the diversity hire. That's like the best thing he says. Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: Lots of name-calling and slurs. The interns are Aaron, played by Garrett Clayton, and Camille, played by Margot Parker. And the boss is ⁓ named Dick. ⁓ Lucy: Ha ha ha ha. Aleta: Appropriate is played by Seth Brubaker. Lucy, we have already talked about how much we hate that bullying is always a trope in verticals. But to me it just really doesn't work in college or workplace settings. Like I don't know how things are in the US, but I have never had a job or been in a university classroom where this would be tolerated. Lucy: All of this would be an HR nightmare and could get a lot of people sued in the States, so Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: it's fascinating how they threw it in there, but okay. Aleta: just all the time. ⁓ don't know. Lucy: Mm-hmm. Aleta: The boss leaves the room and the other interns are ordering Caden around. They watch a press conference and it's Donovan Miller. He tells the interviewer that he is motivated by his first love from high school. Donovan says the love inspired him once, till he got dumped for another guy. Then hate became the bigger motivator. Donovan tore his ACL and is leaving the Cobras, but says he will be back by the end of the season. When the other interns find out that Caden went to school with Donovan, they bully him more. The next scene is in the classroom at Ivy University. Camille texts Caden to say that the next is theme day and that boss will love it if he shows up in something tied to Donovan Miller. Caden decides that he will wear Donovan's old jersey. Jones arrives in class wearing another bright fun outfit. Can I say how much Jones' wardrobe suited Evan? So fun and colorful. A little side here in this scene, Jones is eating an orange. ⁓ Declan told us on a live that they had a break between shooting different angles and they were chatting, and Evan eating the orange. Then ⁓ it was time to shoot the other angle, he had no orange left. Oops But fortunately JP had put one aside and she saved the day. The next day, Donovan shows up at the agency, much to Caden's surprise. The other interns have decorated the meeting room with Donovan's face and hearts. They joke about him kissing the cardboard cutout, and just then Donovan comes in and says Why kiss the cardboard when you can have the real thing? When the boss arrives the others tell him that it w tell them that it was Caden who decorated the room. And we get our first interactive choice. Be honest, I've always been your fan, ⁓ or deny it, that's in the past. Of course we're going with the premium option. Caden tells Donovan that he has watched all his games and tracked of his career moves. You know I'm your biggest fan. Donovan says ⁓ It must be nice. Wish I could turn on the TV and see the person I miss. Lucy: Awww It's kind of a double-edged sword though. ⁓ you really want to see the person miss? ⁓ Aleta: No. Lucy: Yeah. The free choice ⁓ is ⁓ deny that's in the past, ⁓ and it's only two lines. Caden I to be ⁓ not anymore, ⁓ in ⁓ of ⁓ saying he's not a fan of him ⁓ And then it just resumes with the boss asking Caden why he wore this outfit. Aleta: When the boss sees that Caden is wearing Donovan's jersey, he demands an explanation. Camille says that they're worried Caden may be a dangerous stalker. Caden asks Donovan to admit that they knew each other in school. Donovan says, ⁓ Who are you? And all the interns laugh. Caden says, Still a bully. You haven't changed at all. The interns are still laughing, and Donovan tells them they're not funny and to clean it up or they can kiss his contract goodbye. He follows Caden into a supply closet where he says he prefers Caden with glasses. Lucy: forgot the part where it's a fan favorite, I think, already. ⁓ taking off the Waterboy jersey and then screaming into Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: Declan was really good here. ⁓ I've never ⁓ gotten to see like that actually. To express like that. ⁓ Ugh, the emotions. ⁓ The emotions. ⁓ Aleta: Donovan says that he wants Caden to be honest for once about why he dumped him. He tells Caden that he had five offers and chose Boston for Caden. Lucy: They are almost kissing, and Caden says you came here for me? And then Donovan starts laughing at him and replies Come on, you don't actually think I came here to get you back. They have more discussion and there's the famous boner situation. So many boners in Waterboy One And they really worked to make the boners happen again. And Waterboy 2. Honoring Waterboy 1. Aleta: It's our second interactive choice. Admit I still want him or get defensive. Caden says of course I want you. You're gorgeous, you're talented, well endowed, but just because I want to sleep with you doesn't mean I want you back. Donovan tells him that he came there to make his life a living hell. Lucy: In the free choice, where he gets defensive, Caden says, You wanted me to to come out in front of entire town after the homecoming game. Donovan says, and then dump me like none of it And then it resumes where he says he came to make his life hell. Aleta: Back in the meeting, the interns suck up to Donovan, but they have miscalculated. He takes a chair and sits next to Caden. They pitch him some ideas for PR, but they're terrible. And Donovan says, if this is all you have, I'm not sure this is a match. He says he'll give them one more chance. Since Caden knows him so well, why don't they hear his ideas? ⁓ He's grabbing Caden's knee under the table at this point. Caden says he was told not to prepare a pitch. And Dick, the boss, aptly named, says Caden is just there as a diversity hire. It's another interactive choice at this point. Impress Donovan with my pitch or fail in front of everyone. Caden suggests a brand deal. Anything he would authentically use and sell. And a school visit to show Boston that he's ready to join the community. Dick tells him his ideas are awful. Under his breath, Caden says they would probably want him to get a PR girlfriend. Camille overhears and says, She has an idea Get him a famous PR girlfriend. Dick wants Camille to take the lead, but Donovan insists that Caden lead. As he heads out of the office, he tells Caden Looks like you're mine again. Lucy: In the free option, fail in front of everyone, Caden says, I don't know. The animal thing is fine. And the magazine. He's very nervous. Donovan tries to kind of get in there and he says, but Caden, those aren't your ideas. And then jumps back, then a brand dealer, visit a school. Anything that gets people talking about you. Then it falls into Dick saying his ideas are awful. Aleta: There's basically no difference really. Lucy: No. Aleta: Just delivery. ⁓ Lucy: I wasn't there was only one actual there were maybe okay maybe two actual unpaid options that I feel like were worth anything and it's such a big difference from Stable Boy because I feel like there were unpaid options in Stable Boy that were kind of special. And I feel like in Waterboy and Waterboy Two, the unpaid options they just don't even try. Aleta: Well, I feel like the paid option wasn't great there either, 'cause you basically get the same thing either way, right, in that one. But Lucy: Yeah, I think some of the paid ones weren't super great in this. And it was Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: interesting because Stable Boy they tried harder. Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: In Stable Boy, the paid options had a huge payoff, in my opinion. Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: But the unpaid weren't awful either. Like remember the scene where he's pinned against the stable Aleta: Mm. Lucy: wall and and and in the unpaid options, Sky pulls out what was it, a tool? Like 'cause he was saying it's Yeah Aleta: A hoof pick or something? Yeah, pulls something out of his pocket. Yeah. Lucy: And that was actually hilarious. There was like actual effort into ⁓ making an unpaid option funny. Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: ⁓ yeah, I don't know. So I I don't I don't what goes into ⁓ these your own adventures and like who makes those decisions. But Aleta: Hm, yeah. Lucy: maybe it was a different person on Stableboy or they tried I don't know. Aleta: In Dick's office, Donovan tells Caden that he just gave him job security. Donovan says that he learned everything about Caden. The way you feel, the way you taste, and they are interrupted by Dick. He's set up a date with Alicia, a rising pop star. Donovan says ⁓ he will agree to the date as long as he makes Caden his assistant. Dick says that gays don't know sports. ⁓ Lucy: Mm. ⁓ Aleta: Donovan Okay, but Dick, I'm gay. is taken aback but says all the more reason to sign that contract and go on the date. My agency can keep your secret. says, And what if I don't want to keep it a fucking secret anymore, Dick? as Dick says, you know any other gay NFL players? The offers dry up pretty fast for your kind once the word gets out. Lucy: ⁓ Aleta: Dick agrees to make Caden the assistant. I ⁓ just hate so much of the dialogue. ⁓ Lucy: Me too. Me too. I hate it too. I think it sucks. it made me think about heated rivalry a little bit. Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: No well, maybe a lot, because of how worried they all were to come in heated Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: rivalry. I mean that's still the case, obviously, in hockey, but it the case in football too. American football, sorry. Aleta: I just every time I watch one of these and they have this horrendous ⁓ slurs and ⁓ it just I feel like ⁓ how ⁓ I don't know. I feel like it must be hard for them to to hear that, you know? Lucy: I feel like it's extra hard for us right now, you and I, because we literally just did Waterboy and then Waterboy 2 back to back, right? Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: And then a week before that, or a week or two, we did Stable Boy. So ⁓ I think our only reprieve was the summer in between. And that didn't have a whole lot of that in it. Aleta: No. Lucy: So I think going from Stable Boy with the dad, who was probably one of the worst ⁓ I I have seen. Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: And it and it hit me because I know people like that. I know parents like that. It didn't trigger me the way the mother did in this one. So it's fascinating to me. It's so I feel I Aleta: 'Cause we're mothers. Lucy: think so. Yeah, you know, I I it it's it's very interesting to me. ⁓ Aleta: It's just yeah. Lucy: so yeah, I think you and I are just it just turned out timing wise. ⁓ That we did all of the boy universe ones so close together. And Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: they all have the same themes ⁓ Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: and are written very similar. And so I think if this had been spread out, like we're not gonna pool boy for a long time. Like pool boy will come much later, but I I think that's probably what it is for you and I that we're just like, the fuck? It's because it's the same story bit, you know, with the parents. Aleta: Yeah. The next scene is at a restaurant. Donovan is on his PR date with Alicia, but he's looking for Caden. She tells him a PR date works better when you at least pretend to be interested. Caden is at the bar drinking a martini when his friend Jones shows up. He's meeting his boyfriend. ⁓ We Lucy: Maverick! It better be Maverick real short. Aleta: wish ⁓ we wish for that, please. Jones tells him he looks terrible, and Caden tells him that Donovan signed with his agency and is determined to torture him. Jones says he has no idea what you've given up for him. Donovan has to know. Donovan shows up just then and insists that they join him on his date. Lucy: ⁓ but Donovan shows up and wraps his arm around Jones, and all I could think about was Chris and Lucian and how much of a mind fuck it is to see all three of them together in a scene. Especially when like, you know, it's Sky and Declan and not Sky and Evan. Aleta: Mm. Lucy: But that's okay, hey. It's okay. We need see this happen more often. And yes, I This scene did get used in edits. I I like Evan's face here. He's always so good at playing OHIT on his like face. ⁓ I ⁓ Aleta: He's very expressive without saying anything. Lucy: I love that. He acts with just expressions. ⁓ He doesn't even say a damn word. Aleta: Mm. Donovan orders a ribeye and says that Caden will have the mushroom ravioli. Caden says he will order for himself, but when he looks at the menu, he does in fact want the mushroom ravioli. Alicia calls Donovan out for knowing so much about his assistant. Donovan admits that they knew each other in high school, and once again he grabs Caden's knee under the table. Alicia asks whether she would have been Donnie's type. Donovan says, tell them my type. ⁓ Lucy: Ha ha ha ha ha. Aleta: And Caden says that Donovan was into nerds. Donovan tells her that his ex was student body She asks, what was she like? ⁓ Caden says can't answer, but Donovan says his was strong. Confident in who they were, and being around them made him feel safe to be himself for the first time in his life. Just as Caden is wondering whether he should tell Donovan why he really broke up with him, Donovan says, and then they dumped me, told me I was a pathetic high school experiment, and left. The person I loved most played my ass. Caden says that no one played him. Donovan notices that once again Caden has a boner from the knee fondling, ⁓ Lucy: Huh. Aleta: and Caden runs off to the bathroom. Donovan follows him. In the bathroom Caden admits that Jones is not his Donovan demands the truth about why Caden broke up with him. Caden says it's complicated. And we have another interactive choice here. Tell Donovan why I broke up with him, or keep up my lie. In the premium choice, Caden admits that he did it because Donovan was going to give up the NFL, and the Donovan that he loves would never abandon his dream. Donovan says he'll forgive him if he begs on his knees. ⁓ Lucy: Which Caden does get on his knees, but Donovan pushes him down ⁓ and Caden Aleta: Mm. Lucy: goes very willingly. ⁓ Aleta: And Alicia walks in and catches them. She can't believe that the country's hottest football player is gay. Donovan tells her she signed an NDA and she says it's not her first time as a beard. She'll keep the secret, but don't get caught and make her look stupid. Lucy: In the unpaid option, keep up my lie. Caden says, Look, I told you the truth when we broke up. It's not my fault if you don't believe me. Donovan replies, The longer you hold out, the more I'm going to torture you. says, ⁓ What is it gonna take you to leave alone? I'll do whatever you want. And then that's when he pushes him down on his knees. Right? ⁓ Aleta: That's actually better! Hahaha! Lucy: ⁓ that's beautiful. This entire bathroom scene was actually pretty emotional from Caden's point of view. It was hard ⁓ cate to see Caden's reaction and how upset he was. ⁓ Declan! I just feel like you were able to like both him and Skye like they I don't know I I don't know. I I I say this a lot, but I'm like What were they thinking of when they did these scenes? Because if this was me acting it out, I'd be a hot fucking mess. Do you know what I mean? Like I I would just be like snot and and and huge tears just would be disgusting. Aleta: The next day at the office, Donovan brings in his dry cleaning, and it's Caden's old water boy uniform. When the other interns start in bullying Caden again, saying that he's bitch, among other things, Donovan just can't help coming to his defense. He tells one of them to get him coffee, another to clean his jock straps, and the last one to get on the floor and shine his shoes. Echoes of Waterboy when he says If you fuck with Caden again, you're fired. In the next scene, Donovan is looking at fan mail, and he tells Caden to sort through and pick out the hot ones. Caden asks if he should just pick out the guys, or is Donovan looking for another PR girlfriend? Donovan asks if he's jealous, ⁓ and Caden is pretty harsh in return. Why would I be jealous of someone getting my sloppy seconds? Donovan says he'll give them all a chance then. ⁓ Later that night Caden is trying to do his homework, but Donovan keeps calling. He makes Caden bring him fancy donuts and tells him to wear his glasses. Lucy: Hey, hey, let's know did you notice the box? It says fancy donuts. Aleta: No. Does it? Lucy: Yeah. So I I don't know how like that happened and how they got a box printed like that, but that was cute. Aleta: ⁓ no, maybe a blank box and someone with a with a pan, gold pen or something. Was it gold? Really? Hmm. Lucy: No, it looked legit. It was like all printed out nice. Yeah. It was just I you know what's funny is these thoughts and musings, they're not even mine. ⁓ Like ⁓ I don't know if it was Netty or Tosh or God, somebody we we were up late watching it and someone mentioned it. Val, I don't know. I'm just name-dropping everyone in the chats now. ⁓ Someone said it, but I'm trying to give credit where I can and It wasn't me. ⁓ Aleta: Ha ha ha. When he gets there with the donuts, Donovan makes him come inside, saying, I'm not done with you yet. Caden says he doesn't have time for it, and Donovan reminds him that Dick said Caden is there for anything he wants. Caden looks around the big fancy house and reminds himself that this is why he gave Donovan up, so that he could enjoy that kind of success. Donovan makes Caden feed him a donut. But Caden takes a big bite himself. Donovan says he needs a real taste and knocks the donut out of his hand and kisses Caden. Lucy: Declan's expression here. It's like Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: ⁓ Aleta: Caden stops the kiss, saying he doesn't remember being on the menu. And it's another interactive choice. Give Donovan a proper kiss or reject Donovan. You already know what we're picking. They kiss, ⁓ and Donovan can tell that Caden still wants him. Caden says it can't happen Donovan asks if he's scared that his star quarterback X is the he'll ever have. Caden reminds him that he's the one who broke them up. Donovan tells him to find him a brand deal by tomorrow. As he's about to leave, Donovan hands him his new uniform, ⁓ and it's a pair of boxer briefs covered in Donovan's face. He says there will be surprise checks to make sure wearing them. Lucy: In the free choice for Jack Donovan, Caden almost touches him, but then stops himself. Caden says, we can't do this. Donovan challenges him. What are you afraid of? And then it jumps back into the star quarterback X is the best he'll ever have. Can we talk about Donovan's shirt? Cause I was completely enthralled seeing Skye wear this damn flower shirt. It was like this flower muscle shirt. I had no idea what to think, but I was kinda like, he is rocking this. And I stared at it hard for a long time. I did. I did stare at it hard. ⁓ But for real. I ⁓ so hard. I know. ⁓ Aleta: I'm su I'm sure you did. It's so it's so hard to stare at these boys. The next morning he's secured a brand deal, and he's wearing the Andes. His boss tells him good work getting the brand deal, but immediately spoils it by calling him a slur. Donovan opens a bottle of water and spills it down chest. The photographer blames the two extras and sends them away. demands Caden's pants for Donovan. When Caden doesn't want to give them up, Donovan makes him comply, telling him he'll take them off for him. When Caden removes them, ⁓ everyone laughs and calls him a stalker because of the underwear. Caden says Donovan made him wear them. Dick says that it's sexual harassment and Caden is fired. Donovan then admits he made Caden wear them. And they need to delete the pictures they took or they will be hearing from his army of lawyers. Dick wants to know why, and Donovan says, Because I want him back. Dick jumps in saying, You mean you have his back? ⁓ And they all start saying, ⁓ you gave them to him because you know he's a fan. Donovan wonders to himself why he still wants to protect Caden when he destroyed three years ago. In class the next day, Caden is about to fail. Lucy: Yay more Evan Look at him sitting there looking adorable drinking his strawberry smoothie He is the joy He's the joy of this vertical ⁓ I'm living for his scenes ⁓ Aleta: And you know, yeah, ⁓ get back to his wardrobe again. It kind of reflected that joy, all bright colors and Lucy: I wonder if they allowed him to pick his style ⁓ or ⁓ Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: for reals because unless whoever dressed him has worked with before, how they dressed Jones is how Evan dresses in real life. Aleta: ⁓ yeah, it's so Evan. Lucy: It is so Evan, and I wonder if those are own which maybe does happen with supporting actors. I've heard I've heard sometimes they ask actors to bring in their own clothes, so maybe it was that. Or it's just somebody who loves Evan or like a designer who loves Evan and were just like, yeah. Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: ⁓ And I kinda wonder I'd be curious to hear what Evan thinks about Jones as character. Like, out of all of his characters, I could imagine Evan saying he relates to Jones the most. I feel like Jones was the most like Evan, maybe. Aleta: Mm. Mm. Maybe. ⁓ Lucy: Maybe, but I don't know. God, I hope we can get him on the podcast someday and he'll tell us. ⁓ Aleta: know, I just thinking about the wardrobe thing. There have been a few things like that. ⁓ in Drive Him Wild, Greg is wearing his own jeans for ⁓ much of that movie. Lucy: ⁓ yeah. Aleta: ⁓ I think ⁓ in ⁓ in his most recent ⁓ vertical where he plays a villain, Andrew was wearing his own sweater, that cream sweater, cable knit sweater. Lucy: ⁓ I didn't know that. Aleta: Yeah, I think so. Lucy: This might happen with the really tall actors. They just don't have anything to fit them. Aleta: Well, you know, that's kind of been a thing in a lot of the I remember why when I first watched Straight Until He Kiss Me and I was like, Could they not find a jacket with long enough sleeves for Greg? Lucy: Right. Aleta: Like, ⁓ everything is too short on him. Lucy: Yeah, and the fast-paced world of verticals. ⁓ Aleta: So, know, I can see wearing their own pants 'cause ⁓ that just be that would be hard to find pants long enough for them. Lucy: But with how much they cast really tall dudes, you would think, Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: right? Like you would honestly think that they would have a bunch of clothing that they could use. But maybe? Aleta: They do, but in so many of them they just buy stuff off Amazon and stuff, so you know. Lucy: ⁓ fair. Fair. Yeah. Aleta: Cadence Prof says he gets Donovan Miller to guest lecture, he will guarantee a passing grade. Nate, a football and a bully, says no way he can get Donovan and calls him ⁓ a slur. Jones tells him ignore the bullies. They all have small penises. ⁓ Lucy: Evan's cute little he takes the failed paper and it around Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: he's like joking, ⁓ look, it's a smiley face. ⁓ Not a failing grade, it was cute. So cute, Evan! Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: wish you were in more. ⁓ Aleta: I wish they were all in more. Lucy: Well, I wish he was in I do wish that, but I do wish he was in more of Waterboy Two. Aleta: Mm, yeah. Lucy: Like I just need a little sprinkling of Evan throughout Waterboy Two, like Aleta: Well that's like in Stable Boy, it's like three minutes of Maverick and I was like ⁓ Lucy: You're like, I need more. Aleta: I need more. Lucy: I will not lie, I was I was very pleased he was utilized throughout the vertical Aleta: Mm. Lucy: and it wasn't just one scene. I I felt for the Gregness ⁓ for sure. I Aleta: You know, I mean they could have brought Maverick back at the rodeo or something, like a little Lucy: Yeah. Aleta: some little bits, like but anyway Lucy: Anyway. Aleta: Spin off real short, spin off. Lucy: That's right. Aleta: After class, Caden's waiting for the bus when the bullies come up to him and start in about how he doesn't know Donovan. Once again, more slurs. Caden stands up to them and they threaten to stuff a jock strap in his mouth. Nate says Isn't it his dream to lick a hot football player's junk? Lucy: Yo Aleta: Kudos to Caden, who responds, let me know if you find any hot football players. ⁓ Lucy: Ha ha ha. ⁓ Aleta: He knees the jerk ⁓ and they grab him, but Donovan arrives to save him He tells them Caden his. That's a to such a thing in these BLs, right? He's mine! ⁓ He's mine! Lucy: Right he's mine I'm just missing the growl. I just need the growl. Aleta: Donovan tells Caden, I thought I taught you to defend yourself better than this back in high school. The bully is stunned to find out that they really knew each other. Caden tells Donovan about his professor, telling him to invite Donovan to guest lecture. Nate says Caden was asked acting like Donovan does his bidding. He says he was teaching Caden some respect. Donovan says he will do his bidding. I'd do anything for Caden. And then congratulations today was your last day as a football player. Donovan tells Caden to get in the car. In the car, Donovan tells him that the reason they mess with Caden is because he's better than them. And their fingers inch slowly towards each other on the seat. Lucy: This made me think of Everett Industries edit they just released earlier. They did a little com like a parallel of Waterboy 1 and Waterboy 2 with the fingers almost touching and the tackling scenes too. That was really cute. We have some like amazing people who do edits. I love people. ⁓ I'm delirious. ⁓ Just so you guys know, it's almost 1 a.m. ⁓ Aleta: ⁓ Lucy: ⁓ I'll keep it in. Anyway. Aleta: Donovan repeats that he would do anything for Caden. you can break my heart a thousand times and I'd say the same. Crying ⁓ Declan really does such a great job conveying the emotion here. Lucy: Yeah, yeah, another extremely painful and triggering scene for me. Thank you. ⁓ Thank Real Short. Thank you, JP. Thank you, and Declan, for being too fucking good at your damn jobs. ⁓ Aleta: Hmm! Lucy: You sucked. Shit, but my god. Boys, you just killed it with the acting, ⁓ and you're me. ⁓ Aleta: Of course, it's time for another interactive choice. ⁓ Take his hand and thank ⁓ or avoid the question. Caden ⁓ thank you, I don't know bad that would have gone. They share a laugh about how Nate was scared, and then Caden realizes that he's holding Donovan's hand. He drops it ⁓ and asks why Donovan came that way. Donovan answers. ⁓ Your ass is mine tonight. Eyebrow waggles. ⁓ Lucy: The free choice here simply consists of Caden staring at Donovan with no lines at all. Aleta: Ha ha. Lucy: then the scene just resumes. Aleta: Donovan takes him to the football field to help him practice. Caden asks Donovan if he's sure he should be doing it with his injury, and Donovan says it's the only thing that kept me alive after you he trails off and stares at Caden. Caden has another voiceover about breaking up with Donovan so that he could be in the NFL. Next up, Caden holds Donovan's feet while he does push ups. ⁓ We we are treated to a view of Sky Kawai's perfect abs. This is Nettie! Ha ha ha ha ha! ⁓ Lucy: Is this Netty is that Netty? Okay, from you know, moving moving on, whatever Alita says ⁓ is really nutty talking, so this is great. ⁓ Aleta: Caden, of course, gets another boner, which Donovan can't help commenting on. In the next scene, Caden comments that after three years of football he thought Donovan would have more muscle, which triggers Donovan to ask if he isn't fit enough. Caden asks Donovan if he has trouble tackling the other guys, ⁓ which leads to the next interactive choice. See if he can tackle you ⁓ or refuse to engage. course we pick the premium choice. Caden playfully dodges Donovan several times before Caden knocks Donovan down and climbs on top of him. Donovan quickly flips, then pins Caden under him, their lips a few inches apart. Lucy: The free choice refuse to engage, Caden says I'm not interested in being tackled by you. Donovan says, Aleta: Lies. Lucy: Right? ⁓ Really? Are you just scared to have me pressed against you? Caden replies No, I've seen bigger. refuses. ⁓ Donovan tackles him, taking him by surprise. Then the scene resumes with Donovan pitting Caden. Aleta: In the next scene, Caden is pinned under Donovan, hands over his head, as Donovan playfully asks, You sure you've seen bigger? Caden reassures Donovan saying, No, Donnie, you're the biggest. This time, in a refreshing twist, it's Donovan who gets the boner as Caden stares. Donovan asks if he's supposed to pretend he isn't attracted to Caden. Caden says that they're in a public, and Donovan decides to run cone drills. I don't know what that is. He sets them up, but nearly the moment he starts he falls over in pain, tweaking his injured knee. A frightened Caden runs to Donovan's side in the next scene, and he explains his knee is hurt. The physical therapist usually massages it, but Donovan can't do it himself because his body is locked in pain. There's another interactive choice here. Massage Donovan's injury or leave Donovan in pain. Of course we decide to massage Donovan. Caden berates Donovan for working out with the injury, but reluctantly gives him a massage on the knee. Donovan soon visibly relaxes, saying he feels better. Lucy: Sky was really good in this scene. when he got hurt. I just I'm assuming it was just so well acted that he's torn something in real life ⁓ Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: and just knew exactly what to do how to act. It was very convincing. Like to down to the point of like where he closes his eyes, covers eyes with his hands, where he's pissy. Like he was really pissy in this scene, and I was like, that's what happens when you're fucking hurt. ⁓ And I don't know. It was just too convincing. I was like, he's a personal trainer, he probably busted something at some point. ⁓ yeah, I don't know. Aleta: True. Donovan and Caden stare at each other and Donovan says Caden, I'm going to kiss you now. Lucy: Free choice is leave Donovan in pain. ⁓ god, okay. We we I I choose that and Caden says there's no PT staff here this late. I could make an appointment ⁓ sorry ⁓ I know, right? Like fuck ⁓ Aleta: Just suffer. Ha. Lucy: Donovan says no, it's fine, don't worry about it. And he doesn't say it like that. He says it and he's not happy. ⁓ Aleta: Ha ha ha. Lucy: He ⁓ tries to push through the pain. He says it while trying to through pain. Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: Caden says, I warned you not to work out, and now look at you. massages own knee, we think, but pulls up still in pain. And then it resumes ⁓ with Caden and Donovan staring at each other. Aleta: In the next scene, Caden admits in a voiceover that he never stopped wanting Donovan. Donovan says that if Caden doesn't want to kiss him, he needs to tell him. The two men lean in and we are not so shockingly treated to another interactive choice. Pull Donovan into a kiss or lie and say you don't want him. Of course, who wouldn't choose to kiss Donovan? ⁓ Netty ⁓ Haha ⁓ Lucy: Right. She likes Donovan. Aleta: Hm. Caden pulls Donovan into a kiss, which quickly gets heated as Caden ends up in Donovan's lap. Caden soon freaks out that they're in public and may get caught. Donovan asks Caden to come back to his place. He wants to talk about what happened and make up for l lost time. Lucy: In the unpaid choice lie that I don't want him. Caden says, I don't want you to kiss me. Donovan laughs at him. Caden, I can tell when you're lying. ⁓ and we get a half ass sort of hot kiss. It's the unpaid choice actually gives us a little something something. Caden freaks out and pulls away. And then it resumes with the Donovan talking about Caden coming back to his place. Aleta: Caden accuses Donovan of manipulating him to get the truth about the breakup. He has a voiceover about Donovan's evil mom forcing him, and thinks Donovan will never forgive him. He storms off telling Donovan this was a mistake. In a devastating scene, Donovan asks What was a mistake kissing me or liking it? And Caden hesitates before saying all of it. Donovan thanks Caden for stopping him from doing something he would regret, and says he lost the right to care when he broke his heart. Caden walks away, but we soon learn he doesn't leave. Instead, he sleeps in the bleachers, concerned that Donovan would injure himself again. Hmm. Lucy: Awww I'm not gonna read my repetitive notes, I'm just gonna say pain Aleta: Ha ha. Lucy: pain pain and sadness. ⁓ Aleta: The next scene begins with Donovan saying he won't take Caden home. Caden says he expects nothing from Donovan anymore. A few minutes later, Caden is sitting at the bus stop where Donovan's driver pulls up. Donovan says the bus isn't coming and it's too late. Caden wants to walk, but Donovan refuses to let him. In a huge nod to the original Waterboy, Donovan counts down and then physically picks Caden up and throws him in the car. Caden protests, but this time Skye doesn't hook the seatbelt. A missed opportunity. Lucy: Right. That would have been cute. Aleta: Once in the car, Caden tells Donovan he lied before, and he doesn't regret their kiss or being with him. Donovan tells Caden to rest, and Caden thrashes around a bit, trying to get comfortable before finally laying down and wrapping his arms around Donovan as he drifts off. Donovan thinks, I came to Boston to try and destroy Caden for breaking my heart three years ago. But no matter how hard I try, I can't stop loving you. The pause after this is a really lovely moment from Skye. The next morning Caden is sleeping in his underwear when Donovan bursts in to tell him he was cleared for training camp, and Donovan's taking him along. Caden objects, saying he can't miss class. Donovan reminds him that as long as he lectures, Caden passes. Donovan opens Caden's drawer and begins to pack for him, ⁓ only to find photos of himself. Comically from Skye's real IG Lucy: Hm. Aleta: on the top of the drawer. Rather than telling Donovan the truth that he looks at them when he misses him, Caden lies and says he jerks off to them. Is it a lie though? ⁓ Clessic eyebrow waggle from sky here. Lucy: Is it Aleta: Donovan taunts Caden, saying he will need the pics tonight as he will be taking someone else to his room. A bit later, Skye and his extremely sleazy teammate Peter sit in a bar at a training camp. Peter catcalls several of the women. When Donovan reminds Peter that he has a girlfriend, he's unfazed and makes many inappropriate comments about needing regular ⁓ To play well. ⁓ Lucy: You didn't want to say Poon. ⁓ That is ⁓ now, here's the thing. Is that Netty's word or is the Okay. Well, I was Aleta: That is Nettie's word. That is not my word. ⁓ no, it's probably in the it's probably in the script, actually, prob ⁓ yeah. Yeah, yeah. Lucy: That's that's what I was thinking. That's what I was asking. I was like, I think Peter says Poon. ⁓ Aleta: He probably does. But I would have I would have put in something else. Lucy: Me too. But it's funny because I think Netty's a writer, so she just knows all the words. Like Aleta: Yeah. Yeah. Lucy: I I don't even know what poon is, but I know it means some kind of boom boom. So we're just going with it. ⁓ Aleta: It means Lucy: Say it. If you're doing it, Alita, you have to say it. I love it when she cracks up. Aleta: It just means vagina. Far as I know that's how I've seen it used, yeah. Instead of like pussy or something. Lucy: ⁓ really? Okay. ⁓ shit. Okay. Well if you have a vag if you a vagina, you should be able to say poon. ⁓ Aleta: It just makes me laugh. yeah, no, not the yeah, Lucy: Anyway. Aleta: Moving on. He tries to get Donovan sleep with a woman and Donovan brings up PR girlfriend. Peter offers Donnie the room, just as Caden enters to ask if Donovan needs anything for the rest of the night. Donovan lies about needing water and switches Caden's keys with his. Then he says he'll take the room. Immediately in the next scene, Donovan tells Caden to enjoy the photos of him and hands him the wrong key. Then Peter says a lewd comment about Caden playing with Donovan's balls and not his. This triggers an interactive choice. Stand up to Peter or let him bully me. We are not going to let Caden be bullied, so we stand up to Peter. This choice is honestly lose lose, but we go with the premium and Peter makes a bunch of vile remarks after Caden says he wouldn't touch his balls. He tries to pay a woman ten grand to fuck the gay out of Caden and says being gay isn't real. At this point Donovan intervenes. Lucy: The unpaid choice, let Peter bully me, Caden says, defeated, like, or stenoid. Sure, whatever you say. Peter replies, gross. Then turns to Donovan and says, Don't you worry about having an assistant who maybe is sniffing your jock strap when you're not looking. Donovan, and I love the look on Skye's face here, like he's he's kinda he's pissed. He's like, Don't worry about it. I like that. Peter says, Nah, I got you, man. Hold on. And then he moves to trying to pay a woman to Yeah. Interesting. Aleta: After the cut, Peter drops the F slur and Donovan punches him. Peter asks if Donovan is gay for defending Caden. He tells him to keep his hands off his assistant. Peter says he wants to know if Donovan is gay right this instant, because he doesn't want to shower, etc., with yet another slur. He says he feels unsafe. Lucky for the audience as well as Caden and Donovan, we get a reprieve when a woman runs in, who Peter introduces as his girlfriend Maya. ⁓ Lucy: Horry. Aleta: Shround to reveal bully Maya from high school. She quickly recognizes Caden and Donovan and tells Peter she went to school with them. Peter asks her Donovan is gay. Lucy: And who plays Maya? Aleta: Tory Harris? Lucy: Tori Harris, our lovely Tori. I loved her redemption arc in this. It was one of the best parts of the whole thing, and I'm not the only one who feels that way. It's she was a fucking delight. Aleta: To our shock, Maya instantly covers for the boys, saying she dated Donovan and he isn't gay. She then tells Peter off about his attitude and tells him to go wash the blood off his face. With Peter gone, Maya tells them she's changed and is actually super woke now. She says she's happy the boys are still together. Caden says they aren't, and realizes he's holding Donovan's hand and drops it. Maya says it doesn't look like that to her. Caden heads to bed, leaving Maya alone with Donovan. Lucy: I liked this ⁓ little ⁓ scene with ⁓ Maya ⁓ and ⁓ Donovan alone. They got to a cute discussion and got learn a little bit more about Maya and how much she seems to care about Donovan and Caden. Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: Yeah. Aleta: when Caden gets to the room, he doesn't know that it's Donovan's. He notices two beds, but assumes he has a roommate. Meanwhile, back at the bar, Maya encourages Donovan to go after Caden. She says, Maybe your high school love didn't make it, but there's definitely something new there, and you would be stupid not to go after it. Donovan realizes she's right. and when Peter returns he takes up his offer again to have the room to himself. Peter seems happy, having no clue that Donovan plans to sleep with Caden. Back in the room, as Caden takes off his shoes to climb into bed, Donovan enters. Donovan, what are you doing in here? Caden says. And Donovan says, This and plants an epic kiss on Caden. Lucy: Whoop whoop! Aleta: Caden and Donovan continue to kiss, but as always Caden stops it, saying he can't do this because if it if anyone found out. Donovan cuts him off, stating, The only thing standing in the way is Caden lying. Donovan says he's always needed Caden, And this triggers the next interactive choice. Admit my feelings to Donovan or keep my feelings bottled up. We of course want Caden to admit his feelings. Caden says he tried everything to get over Donovan and sacrificed his own happiness for Donovan to be happy. He says no matter how hard he tries, he wants him. And they kiss. Lucy: Aww unpaid choice, keep my feelings bottled up. Caden says, I don't know what you're talking about. Donovan says, Fine, don't tell me, show me. And he still kisses Caden and the cut resumes at the kiss. Aleta: The two men passionately kiss, but Caden again worries they'll get caught. Donovan promises they won't. Then Peter comes back to the room after promising to stay away. Donovan and Caden run for the closet while Peter sits on the bed for no apparent reason at all. Back in the closet, Donovan and Caden laugh about the irony of hiding in the closet before Donovan goes down on Caden. Caden moans and Peter sits up Luckily, Maya calls and Peter leaves again. After Peter's gone, Donovan and Caden come out of the closet, and Donovan is forced to admit he switched the room keys. In yet another massive Waterboy 1 throwback, Donovan says, If you want it, come and get it, and drops the key down his pants. Caden, as before, bravely reaches into Donovan's pants and retrieves the key card. This is one of the biggest callbacks to the originals so far. Donovan then locks the door again and booms. and begs Caden to stay vulnerable, telling him he needs him. This triggers the next major interactive choice, and this one is big. Give in to Donovan, finally, or fade to black. Nettie wrote this for you. We of course have to see the Lucy: Це Aleta: You Lucy: Can you s can you say it? You say it. Can you say it in French? I need I need something to make me smile. Aleta: You say it. That's yours. No You had some French, go look at the chat. Lucy: No can you say this in French? Aleta: I'll say it in English, I guess. Of course I have no idea how you would say that in French, so ha ha ha I mean that's well no, I mean I know how to say it properly, but not how to say the way you say it. Anyway, we of course have to see the boom boom scene. ⁓ my god, she did. Lucy: ⁓ come on. Think of how sad this vertical made me. Really? ⁓ we're gonna ask Say Nab. ⁓ Nettie did write that for me and I was so grateful. Aleta: We give in to Donovan. Caden admits he needs Donovan now, and they aggressively kiss and strip each other. Lucy: like how she put that in. She's a writer, so she was just watching this shit and she was like that's aggressive. That needs to be written down. I love it. I love it. Aleta: She's just like Ha ha ha ha. The scene gets pretty steamy ⁓ and Caden is stripped down to sexy undies as he and Donovan passionately kiss and roll around on the bed. The scene does fade to black before all their are removed, however. Lucy: The other choice, ⁓ fade to black, has Caden ⁓ saying, I do need you. ⁓ And then it straight up just fades to black. Aleta: The next morning Caden and Donovan cuddle together, but Caden sneaks out, fearing he will yet again destroy the career Donovan has now repeatedly told him he doesn't want without him. Donovan, secretly awake, stirs and says he isn't going to let Caden leave him again. Back at Ivy University, Caden sits down next to Jones in class, and Caden asks what the lesson is, clearly flustered. Jones reminds Caden that it is actually the day of the guest lecture. Caden panics and tries to leave, but Donovan arrives before he can. Donovan baits with football trivia, while his classmates make slurs and say he couldn't possibly know anything. Caden answers Donovan's questions perfectly. Donovan calls Caden out for leaving his bed without saying goodbye, and Caden covers to keep Donovan from outing himself. Lucy: I love the look Jones gives Donovan after Donovan said he likes to play games ⁓ when he gets up on the podium. I was like, that's awesome. Aleta: After the lecture, Caden goes to work to find them setting up a press conference. His coworkers make more nasty comments about him being a bad assistant as he goes to find Donovan. He learns Donovan has been cleared to play, and Caden asks why he never told him. Donovan asks when was he supposed to do that? When he was sneaking out of his bed or pretending he was never there in the first place. Donovan storms off to the press conference. But then is surprisingly kind to Caden and introduces him as his assistant to the press as he announces he's back to playing. The next scene begins with Caden cleaning up the conference while everyone is in the next room celebrating. Donovan enters and he and Caden have some lines about Caden not being at the party. In one of the best acted scenes in the vertical, Caden says that Donovan came back to torture him, and Donovan throws a glass, asking, Did you ever think why I did that? Donovan's notable lines here say How do you not see that I am broken without you? And I keep trying to give you my heart, but you throwing it down and stomping on it. Caden tells Donovan he believed he was ruining his life. Caden says, I gave up my dream of being with you so you could have everything you ever wanted. Donovan tells Caden he loves him and begs him to tell him if he still loves him too. This ⁓ triggers an interactive choice. Yes, I love you, ⁓ or ⁓ it's complicated. We have to tell Donovan we love him, so we pick the premium choice, of This triggers a very sweet and very tear filled I love you scene that is a culmination of all the pain these two have now caused each other. Caden says he never stopped loving Donovan or moved on, and Donovan says victory has meant nothing since he didn't have Caden to share it with. The two passionately kiss, all of the pain pouring into this moment. Kudos to the boys for this one so well acted. Lucy: For the unpaid choice it's complicated, Caden says It's complicated, I just I don't know how to say it, I just Donovan replies It's fine, I'll tell you how I feel and it cuts to Donovan's saying nothing he accomplished means anything. Aleta: The two continue to passionately kiss until they are interrupted by Peter and Netty says Please God Maya dump him he's the worst ⁓ Peter takes a photo of them together. Caden tries to get it, but Peter refuses, saying the world will know and saying he won't play with Donovan. Even saying Caden turned Donovan gay. and Donovan hug and cry after Peter leaves, with Caden truly believing he has failed at everything he tried to do for Donovan. They comfort each other. The next morning, Caden is confronted yet again by Donovan's mom. Who is livid that he fucked everything up? She shows him the photo and says he is the only person who can destroy or save Donovan. Caden lets get in his head yet again when she threatens to get him kicked out of school. The next cuts to Donovan watching TV and hearing that Boston is trying to cancel his contract. He is when he sees Caden on TV. ⁓ Claiming he's a stalker who kissed Donovan, and Donovan shoved him off. He's angry at Caden for protecting him, but is immediately stopped by his mother. In one of the most emotional scenes in the vertical, Donovan confronts his mother, who is happy he's being allowed to play. He realizes she has no empathy for what Caden did, and in fact, thinks Caden has less to lose than Donovan. Donovan realizes that she is why Caden left him. She admits it and says things that hint she is better off with a rich, famous son. He says that if she can't accept Caden as his family, he doesn't want her in his life and goes to get his man. Lucy: Si, si, si, si. ⁓ Aleta: Big kudos to Sky Kawai for this scene. It's a rough one and his emotion feels raw and very real. Lucy: This was very brutal. ⁓ I personally it's one of the hardest scenes the entire vertical being a parent. I just keep thinking of the queer kids out there who have POS mothers, basically. Just like this. And I wanna just hug all of them and protect them from this fucking bullshit. But it's true. I mean this is this is a fucking thing. This is a fucking thing, you know? Aleta: I just don't get it. I just don't I'll never understand it. ⁓ This is why we're doing all of this. ⁓ Lucy: This is why we are friends ⁓ and you know, this is is why we love what we love. This is why yeah, you know what it is. There is there is not enough representation out there. There's not. And we said it in the first episode we ever did, but we fucking mean it. Th this type of behavior combined with our love for queer ⁓ romance. ⁓ is a hundred percent why we're doing the damn podcast is we want to be able to talk about these things and we want queer creatives to be able to talk about these things and talk about what it meant to them. You know what I mean? Aleta: Mm. Lucy: Yeah. Aleta: The next scene cuts to Caden in his room with Maya and Jones. This is really cute. They're lying on the bed. Caden's crying and Maya's trying to look on the bright side. Donovan has called Caden thirty-two times. Jones says he should talk to him. And just then Donovan bangs on the door saying he will tear it down. Maya opens the door and she and Jones leave Donovan and Caden alone in the room. Kudos to Evan for a super funny facial expression when Donovan bangs on the door. Lucy: ⁓ it's actually really cute. I feel like it's almost like a freeze frame. Both Declan and Evans expressions here, like when they hear the loud banging, they're like eyes bugged out, and it's it's they're they're very similar and comical and it holds for like a minute or like not a minute, but it holds for a little bit. And I'm like, this is Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: great. If if I didn't love my ⁓ current profile picture that was made by Eddie, I would Absolutely screen grab this and put it as my profile picture because it's they're fucking Aleta: You should. Lucy: cute. No, I can't rid of Greg and Evan as my bae, my booze, my everything's. And Eddie made it. ⁓ Aleta: Donovan enters and tells Caden he knows everything. He calls him an idiot for listening to his mom. Then kisses him. When Caden asks, what if he doesn't get to play? He says, fuck the NFL. He's going to show Caden how much he loves him. They kiss for a moment, ⁓ and ⁓ one of Netty's favorite lines in the vertical happens. When Donovan says, see something you like and Caden says No, I see something that I love. Lucy: Sa Aleta: Swoon after ⁓ ⁓ Lucy: ha ha ha. ⁓ She's so red. Holy shit. She's so off afraid for her right now. She went like tomato red. She she's being accurate though. She's not wrong. Dude, I've never seen not even for Stable Boy or Waterboy, holy fuck. ⁓ my god, are you okay? Dude, you're the most red I've ever fucking seen you. Holy shit. ⁓ my god, like tomato red. Aleta: Red? Greg when he was saying but all the child button. Lucy: Dude. Aleta: Let's try that again. to cut that out. ⁓ Lucy: You say butthole vagina? Aleta: God it's so late ⁓ my god I'm even redder now. Lucy: You're tired of- Aleta: ⁓ Lucy: you are so red. Aleta: my god ⁓ Lucy: you gonna be able to this part? ⁓ Okay, go for it. After Sky literally dry humping Declan. ⁓ But but but but but she's their but she's using the but she's using their real names. ⁓ We ⁓ it has to get It to get fixed! ⁓ Aleta: ⁓ can I redo that? Ugh Alright, where was I? There you go D Against a wall. An interaction ⁓ shit. Lucy: ⁓ it hurts. Okay. Aleta: Hmm. After Donovan starts literally dry humping Lucy: Heh heh. Aleta: Caden against a wall and interactive scene triggers have makeup sex with Donovan or cuddle and fall asleep. Who wants to miss the makeup sex? Donovan continues. ⁓ Nanny, you're gonna give me a heart attack from laughing too hard. Lucy: God ⁓ Ha ha ha ha. You know, we're not gonna be able to take any of this shit out. That's the worst part. I'm gonna have to take all my serious shit out so we can leave this shit in. ⁓ Aleta: ⁓ my god. Guys, I'm literally crying from laughing. ⁓ Lucy: ⁓ God. Aleta: ⁓ Okay. Donovan Don't laugh. Lucy: Ha ha ha Aleta: Setting me off again. Can I y go go Okay, okay, okay. Lucy: I've had like three bottles of water. No, it's almost two hours. I can't. I am tired. Alright. Aleta: Donovan continues to hump Caden into the wall. Lucy: Ha ha ha. Aleta: ⁓ And as Caden nods, Donovan says he remembers how Caden likes But Caden objects and says he wants to see him. Caden turns and Donovan lifts him and continues to kiss him. They make it to the bed and fall on it shirtless before the scene fades to black. Lucy: Unpaid choice, cuddle and fall asleep, Caden says, We've been through so much, can we just cuddle tonight? Donovan looks at him sweetly and says anything you want. He carries him bridal style to the bed, where they make out fully clothed. Then it fades to black. And then they wake up in the morning, clearly having boom boomed. Anyway. Aleta: That's boring. Anyway. Lucy: Ha ha ha Aleta: The next scene cuddling in the naked. Are they? I don't know. When Caden tries to shift and Donovan grabs him, Caden asks if he's afraid he will leave, and Donovan says he would just come find him. He invites Caden come watch the game. Caden isn't sure. In the next scene, Caden and Maya are sitting in the stands. Caden steals Maya's sunglasses trying to disguise himself, and he tells Maya he has to be Donovan's secret for the rest of his career because he loves him. Maya is sad that they have to hide. Donovan wins the game, only to realise he wants to share the moment with Caden. In a true Scott and Kip heated rivalry moment he tells the reporter he's gay and pulls Caden onto the field, saying, Now winning means something. Lucy: Hey, so there was behind the scenes, there was BTS showing there was a proposal scene here. Uh-huh. And it did not make it into the vertical. Like, what the fuck? we're gonna say it on the pa Yeah. I Aleta: Why would WHY would you leave that out? Lucy: it was Sky on his fucking knees, ⁓ one knee, front of fucking Caden, we all fucking knew it. And were like, that's a proposal scene! Like all of us in the comments were freaking the fuck out. So I'm gonna say it on the podcast. Hashtag JusticeForTheProposal. Release the deleted scene. Damn it. Seriously. So and if you wanna go on social media on all of real shorts comment sections ⁓ and and and start a movement, let's do it. Hashtag Aleta: Ha ha ha ha. Lucy: JusticeForTheProposal. Hashtag Waterboy. They'll know. Second down. ⁓ Aleta: The final episode takes place two years later and they're now engaged. Donovan doesn't have a ring, apparently, but Caden's wearing the ring that Donovan had way back at the beginning of the f of the show. Caden and Donovan make their way to the Maple Hill School to announce that they plan to open a sports management company for queer athletes. A boy approaches, saying he's captain of the hockey and tennis teams, and asks Donovan how he knew it was safe to come out. Donovan says it isn't easy, but if he finds the right person he will know. Donovan and Caden smile at each other. ⁓ In the final scene, Caden sits on the couch eating popcorn when Donovan says he has a surprise. He comes out wearing Caden's famous waterboy outfit from the first film, dances for a smiling Caden, and then the two kiss as the vertical fades ⁓ out. Lucy, would you like to share your thoughts? Lucy: So before I kind of share my thoughts, I wanted to talk about the waterboy outfit. This was exciting. I want to talk about a couple things actually. So Declan, I'm pretty sure, said on one of his lives that that was not his Waterboy outfit. ⁓ Aleta: Yeah, he did. Lucy: Yeah, so they didn't keep it, and so they had to get a new one and I think like size it Aleta: Hmm. Well, yeah. Lucy: for Sky. Yeah, and ⁓ my gosh, he looks so good in it. And he looked like he was having so much fun in the water boy outfit. There's a lot of good BTS of that. I thought it Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: was really cute. We also wanted to shout out to Declan. He didn't know we were doing it, but we asked him tonight on his live tonight who the actor was who played his boss Dick. And a Alita panicked and like tried to ask him eight times, but the chat was going so ⁓ fast. Aleta: ⁓ it was going so fast. Lucy: Yeah, but we're literally like sitting here waiting to record and and w having the live in the background. It was Aleta: Going, Declan, please answer. ⁓ Lucy: I know, like we're trying to record. And then I did ask, and he eventually at least saw mine. So thank you, Declan. You helped us and you didn't know that you were part of the podcast tonight. But as for my thoughts of Waterboy Second Down. Okay, I'm gonna be very frank on a few things. Waterboy Second Down was a very good vertical. It really was. It was well written. It was written by Taylor and Crystal again. ⁓ So same little team there. It was directed by the same director, ⁓ acted by the same boys. But I did hear from Declan on a live recently. He's been doing a little more of them. And he said that him and Skye put a lot of effort into this one. They put put a lot of feeling into it. And we could tell. We could fucking tell. And like I said earlier, I when I first saw it, I was just like, ⁓ my god, this is great. And then I was really traumatized for an entire day. Like real I was I I was like devastated. I and I and I think it was confusing like other fans because I I ⁓ was like, no, I I didn't dislike it. I I it. was very good, but it was very painful. And it took me almost a full 24 hours to realize holy fuck this actually deeply affected me. And then it took almost another twenty-four hours for me to realize that I ⁓ related to it ⁓ much more than I realized. And so, yes, it has to do with my first serious relationship, my my first my marriage. And ⁓ You know, before my ex-wife was my wife, we had a very similar story, I think. And I and I don't even think it was like the exact storyline. And I heard this from other fans too. They talked about, wow, like I really relate to this. So I think there were a few of us who probably had a long distance situation or a breakup situation. And the way Skye and Declan acted out the scenes throughout, like I think that's what got to So like The scene in the conference room where, you know, Caden finally ⁓ fucking admits it, just the way looked at him you know how desperate they both looked, how hurt they both like just the pure pain on both of their faces. ⁓ I I have had that fucking conversation. I have had that fucking heartbreak and and and hope and I've been in the situation where I lost my ex wife and then we got together and I think just how it was written or how it was acted. I related to it ⁓ so ⁓ like so deeply and it was very subconscious at And yeah, now as time has gone on, I'm like, holy fuck. So yeah, let me be clear that it was a wonderful vertical. As usual, it was special, it was different from Waterboy. But it was painful. But great job guys. I am glad that I did get to watch it. ⁓ I just might some heavy therapy for a couple years. Thank you. Your turn, Alita. Aleta: Well Mean I I enjoyed it. I I don't have the same feelings, obviously. ⁓ obviously, you know, I still feel the pain of it, but not not personally, not from my own experience. ⁓ at least not for this kind of pain. as always, though, I am so beyond ready for some verticals that don't have the bullying and the endless vertical tropes. I really think that verticals could appeal to so many more people if they moved beyond that into more nuanced stories and gave these great actors a chance to shine. yeah, it just frustrates me. We can see how great they all are, even within the constraints of the vertical format. That's what I really loved about that real talk shoot, Love Whispers, that they shared for Pride Month. It looked beautiful. It gave the actors a chance to share a little glimpse into their own first loves. And I just loved everything about it. And I would love to see verticals that look like with that feel. The only thing I didn't love was the fact that Evan wasn't there. But Lucy: Boom. Aleta: they need to make full length vertical that feels like that. ⁓ And you know, I think The problem I see we see a lot of people making comments about bad acting when it comes to verticals. And I really feel like that's just their freaking tropes, you know? That it it just looks bad. The dialogue is sometimes no it wasn't in this one. But sometimes the dialogue is so bad and the there's so many tropes that it just Yeah, it does make them look bad. They they would do so much better with more to work with. Lucy: I do think that's true. I I Declan has confirmed though that Real Short asks them specifically to overact because he got that question a lot after Bound because people were so shocked to see him just act like you would expect kind of Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: any talented actor to act in a movie. And Aleta: Yeah. Lucy: there was no overacting in Bound. So ⁓ Outside of the villains really, and even then not really. So he has said no, Real Short ac asks us to act like that but yeah. Aleta: ⁓ for sure. No, I'm not I'm not saying it's their choice. I'm saying that r Lucy: Yeah. Aleta: the apps need to need to do something more interesting with them, you know, because they act really well. They're just being forced to do this ⁓ nonsense, you know. But Lucy: Right, right. Aleta: ⁓ and of course the other thing that we loved was the appearance of Evan as Caden's Jones. We have been telling Real Short nonstop since Stable Boy came out that we want to spin off with Maverick and our boy Greg Duffy, and now we want his love interest to be Jones. Lucy: Mm. Aleta: Make it happen, Real Short. Lucy: That's right, real short. Let's make it happen. Yeah, I also loved Evan. He was my shining light of it. I was so excited he was in this. He was in it so much more than I thought he would be. And of course, he did a fucking phenomenal job. He always almost always steals the show Aleta: Mm-hmm. Lucy: when he is not the lead. Like it's his presence is so large and so bright. And he d he wasn't even like given that many lines. It was just With how he portrayed himself and his expressions and just his vibe, like I just love that man. Anyway I'll take it out. ⁓ Aleta: Well, that's what I felt about Andrew and Daughter of Zeus, too. He totally stole the show. Like he put them all to shame. Lucy: he did. ⁓ he was so good. did. He was so good. So good. Aleta: Okay, well it is 1247 AM Pacific, and that about wraps it up for our recap of Waterboy 2 second down. We hope that you will come back and hang out with us next time. Bye besties. Lucy: Bye, besties.