Shane McRae

> "*I am good at getting my face kicked in back home and also getting busy in the bushes with closet cases who'd pick me up and do their worst. Plus, trying to get my straight best friend to fall in love with me and wrecking everything in the process. So, yeah not a whole lot of experience in this out-on-a-date small talk.*"
> ― Shane to Dev in *Catch and Release*
>
>

**Shane McRae** is a character on Netflix's Tiny Pretty Things. He is portrayed by Brennan Clost.

He is stacked and fiery, from a small town, he grew up tormented for loving dance and has become a hot-headed scrapper – and his family’s greatest hope.

## Early Life

Shane was born in Colorado. He comes from a family of felons and grew up constantly teased for loving dance.

## Throughout the Series

### Season 1

Shane is amongst the first students to welcome Neveah Stroyer to The Archer School of Ballet, becoming a close friend of hers almost immediately. His rivalry with Bette Whitlaw is evident, especially for the attention of Oren Lennox, Shane's roommate and secret hookup. The relationship between the boys appears friendly to outsiders, but they have been secretly having sex for months, unbeknownst to Oren's girlfriend, Bette. As Oren grows increasingly more self-deprecating and his eating disorder amplifies, Shane attempts to help Oren but is pushed away. Their conflict amplifies until it turns physical, with oren punching shane when he implies that Shane is only good for sex, thus, ending their relationship. Shane is left heartbroken and confides in Neveah, only leaving out that Oren is the man he's heartbroken over.

As he focuses more on his dancing career, he scores the lead dance in Ramon Costa's play, *Ripper*. He dances opposite Bette Whitlaw and later, June Park when she takes over for an injured Bette. When the play is changed from a role-based play to an open one, Shane still has a prominent role as one of Jack's desires. He struggles with Ramon who doesn't believe that Shane has the power needed to dance the role due to his feminine traits. In the meantime, Neveah confides in him about her imprisoned mother. Shane, in turn, shares that everyone in his family from his Grandmother to his cousin has served jail time. If it weren't for the Archer he would probably in prison. He accompanies Neveah to see her estranged mother and is supportive of Neveah when she feels conflicted over repairing their relationship.

Upon returning to ASB, Oren emotionally admits to Shane that Bette found out about their relationship and he's afraid she's broken up with him. Shane comforts Oren as he cries. Things seem to be looking for Shane until he is questioned once more by Officer Cruz, who knows that the ASB dancers lied about where they were the night Cassie was pushed. She also knows that Shane was slated to dance the role of Prince Désiré. He tells Officer Cruz that Cassie was blackmailing Shane to step down from his part in Sleeping Beauty so she could partner with her boyfriend, Nabil. Shane told her to screw off so Cassie sent an email to Bette outing Shane and Oren’s relationship. Shane snuck into the room delete the email before Bette had the chance to read it. Bette wasn’t in her room sleeping. He then returned to his room where he spent the night with Oren. When Officer Cruz follows up on the story with Oren, he tells a very different story than Shane and claims he was with Bette in her room.

Shane also goes on his first date with a guy he met online, Jason, and ensures that Neveah has the address of where he's meeting the guy in case things go South. While the location where they meet, the man's house, is rather shady at first they have an instant connection and hook up. They seem to get along and leave things open for another date. His relationship with Jason goes smoothly and Shane rallies with his other ASB students to support Cassie as her parents' withdrawal life support. Though Cassie is able to breathe on her own, Shane admits that part of him is worried that she'll wake up and spill everyone's secrets.

Things begin to crumble as Shane learns that his date's name isn't even Jason, but Dev Ranaweera, a financial assistant to Hadrian Talbot and a closeted man. They take some time apart before agreeing to start over. When Monique DuBois refuses to promote *Ripper* after more negative press circulates the school, Shane enlists the help of Dev in directing a commercial. He is surprised when he sees that Bette's new boyfriend is Matteo Marchetti, the homophobic man street heckler that the group met at the beginning of the year. He refuses to forgive Matteo and shows aggression at every chance. Dev warns Shane that if he doesn't learn to let go of the painful memories from his childhood bullies, he will never be at peace with himself. Shane counters that at least he's out of the closet, leading to an argument.

On the opening night of *Ripper*, Shane witnesses Officer Cruz arrest Bette for the assault on Cassie. He is also belittled by Ramon who once again believes that Shane doesn't have what it takes to be a dancer or dance the part in the play due to his feminine qualities. Shane dances a beautiful piece in the play and, upon storming off the stage, punches Ramon in the jaw, quipping if that was masculine enough for him. In the final act, Shane stands by his fellow students as the broadcast incriminating evidence regarding Monique DuBois' involvement in the Michi Beach Club scheme to the entire audience. Dev shows up at the afterparty with flowers for Shane and passionately kisses him in front of everyone to show that he's ready for their relationship.

## Physical Appearance

Shane has gleaming sepia eyes framed by dark, prominent brows. His unkempt hair is dyed a shocking blond and his lush lips reveal a charming smile that can light up a room. Luminescent golden skin highlights an oblong face and toned, slender build with sturdy hands.

## Personality

A committed dancer, Shane is both protective and optimistic about his future, knowing that he deserves more than to dance in the shadows of Oren and everyone else. He is outgoing and friendly but doesn't push Neveah to open up unless she wants to. He understands what it's like to be singled out from the crowd and not fit in, a trait that gives him a sense of kindness not found in the school. But with that kindness comes a fierce protectiveness over his dancing career and those he values, not hesitating to stand up to street hecklers or get in a fight.

## Appearances

### Season 1

* Corps
* Range of Motion
* Class Act
* Dance Dance Revolution
* Split Sole
* Joie de Vivre
* Catch and Release
* Relevé
* It's Not the Walking, It's the Rising
* Push Comes to Shove

## Trivia

* Shane was in a secret sexual relationship with his roommate, Oren Lennox.
* In the books Shane's name is Will O'Reilly. In "Shiny Broken Pieces" it's reveled that Will is the one who pushed Gigi in front of the taxi.
* In the books Will is in love with Alec, he's best friend with Alec, and Bette's ex-best friend.