In the fictional English county of Rutshire, the feud between Corinium Television head Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) and the gang at rival TV station Venturer escalates as Tony seeks revenge against all who have wronged him, starting with journalist Declan O’Hara (Aidan Turner) and Conservative MP Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell).
Streaming on: Disney+
Episodes viewed: 5 of 12
Remember when hair was bigger? When shoulders were padded? When TV was fun with a capital “F”? In its second season, Rivals continues to delight in the hedonism of Dame Jilly Cooper’sracy book series with ’80s flair and cheeky schoolboy antics. Bums abound in this preposterously silly yet addictive adaptation, where it feels like everyone is having a good time in the way only two (or more) people can. But beyond all the willies and hairspray, Rivals’ second helping manages somehow to go deeper.
Amid the melodramatics and endless shagging, Season 2 expands the world of Rutshire to spotlight many secondary female characters who were previously sidelined. Beyond the central rivalry, it’s women like Sarah Stratton (Emily Atack) and Lady Monica Baddingham (Claire Rushbrook) who intrigue the most now, as they navigate the inherent misogyny that’s unavoidable both at work and home. Rupert Campbell-Black MP (Alex Hassell) also moves past caricature into something more nuanced in his evolving relationship with Taggie (Bella Maclean), which felt a bit one-note before.
As such, it’s tempting to suggest that Rivals has become more serious, maturing in its second year. While that is true to some degree, have no fear: men still rip their pants and shirts off with soothing regularity, while debauchery continues to (Buck’s) fizz with wild abandon. This time, however, the writing juggles comedy, drama and sheer horniness with more finesse.
One standout kitchen sequence in Episode 2 ambitiously combines all three, calling to mind British sitcoms of yesteryear. The only occasional drawback is that all this excess sometimes proves a tad, well, excessive. Plus, certain elements (such as a key storyline for Gary Lamont’s Charles Fairburn) do feel slightly rushed. Still, watching acting royalty like David Tennant chew on the scenery (and his cigar) remains delightfully fun with a capital “F”. And that’s something we’re in short supply of these days.
Season 2 of this undeniably enjoyable Jilly Cooper adaptation comes with more heart, this time around — yet other organs still abound in TV’s silliest, most decadent bonkbuster.
