I knew just from the premise of the show that I was going to like it. It depicts two of the activities that I like the most in life: hockey and gay sex. I highly recommend watching it if you also like that kind of stuff.
Spoilers below.
One thing that hits me is how realistic it is in the sense that it starts with sex and the emotions (and those are strong emotions!) come from the intimacy. How the show achieves it is very well explained in this article and this article. In my view, unlike what the first article (written after the first 3 episodes only) says, sex is the initial part of the plot but not the whole plot. How it happens sets the stage for the emotions that build up next.
Another thing that I like seeing in the show is the amount of emotion points depicted: closeted and non-closeted people fearfully having to keep track of who knows what, who will be the next to know, the headrush of someone easily figuring out the secret you tried so hard to keep, the relief (or tension) of seeing how people you care about react to openly gay people. On top of it all, figuring out what you like, whether it’s a good idea to open up your heart and how, and figuring out whether the others are up to the same or distancing themselves. Phew!
The soundtrack is really good and really matches the show’s vibes. I was familiar with “All the Things She Said” by t.A.T.u., coincidentally Russian, really well put in the club scene and with really well timed transition into the remix as the emotions change. Another song I was familiar with (and I can play in the piano!) was the first movement of the Piano Sonata No. 14 (Moonlight Sonata, Quasi una fantasia) by Beethoven, in a particularly emotional part of episode 5 (commentary on how good it was).
I haven’t yet read Rachel Reid’s books, but I definitely intend to read them. Either in preparation for upcoming season 2 or as a reminiscence of how good this show was.