Credit: Disney+
Entertainment
Rivals season 2: “Everything I’m hoping for from the new series of the horniest drama on TV”
3 months ago
3 min read
Rivals was the most fun TV experience of 2024, and I’m delighted it’s returning, but I have a lot of thoughts about what I want from series two…
It’s the most perfect festive news: Rivals on Disney+ will officially be getting another series. Based on Jilly Cooper’s famous 1985 novel, its first season was a masterpiece: a joyous explosion of sex, horniness, 80s hair and massive houses and parties.
So it’s a no-brainer that the residents of Rutshire will be returning – there’s also a lot more of that 720-page book it’s based on to get through.
Jilly Cooper is thrilled her characters will get another outing: “I’m orgasmic with excitement,” she revealed. “I cannot wait for the return of my superhero Rupert Campbell-Black and the rest of the characters in season two!” (A side note: my resolution for 2025 is to only ever be orgasmic with excitement.)
So while I wait, impatiently, here’s everything I hope will happen in series two…
Credit: Disney+
Love stories
Not for a minute did I think that the most romantic thing I’d watch on TV this year (Noah Roklov aside) would be Danny Dyer (and his moustache) quietly seeing Katherine Parkinson as a whole and desirable woman. Followed by shagging her in a garden. But here we are.
So, I need to see a lot more of their love story, and I really need Lizzie (Parkinson) to leave her spineless cheating husband James (Oliver Chris) for a great life with Freddie (Dyer). I’d also like to see a pregnant Sarah (Emily Atack) ditch James too. He doesn’t deserve either of them.
Credit: Disney+
The return of Baddingham
Secondly, I want to see if Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant), the head of Corinium TV, will still be alive after being hit by Cameron (Nafessa Williams). He’s obviously a horrible manipulative man, but Tennant plays him with such delicious vigour I’m not ready for that to be over yet. I also want to see him get his comeuppance from both Cameron and his wife (Monica Dolan).
Credit: Disney+
Moustaches
Also, more moustaches. I’ve already mentioned Freddie’s upper lip hair, but Declan’s (Aidan Gillan) is equally impressive and surprisingly manly. I’m ready for all men to have full moustaches now.
Nudity
One of the surprising joys of Rivals is the nakedness ratio. In an interview for The Times, the show’s lead writer, Dominic Treadwell-Collins, said: “We’ve been ‘equal opportunities’ in our nudity. There’s a willy for every pair of tits.” I also loved how they didn’t shy away from showing female desire and pleasure.
It’s interesting, isn’t it, that it takes a show set in the 80s to showcase that. Keep it up…
Credit: DIsney+
Will they, won’t they?
I’ve read the novel (when I was probably far too young), and I know that Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Taggie (Bella Maclean) give in to their chemistry and defy the threats from Taggie’s dad to get together. I’m quietly interested to see if it plays out in the same way on screen – and how Cameron will react, given she’s ready to marry Rupert to secure a visa.
On the subject of Taggie, if anyone reading this knows where she got her perfect Levi’s, my Christmas list would be grateful.
Credit: Disney+
Charles and Gerald
My second favourite relationship of the series was between Charles (Gary Lamont) and Gerald (Hubert Burton). The pair couldn’t be together publicly because, well… Thatcher and the 80s.
At the end of series one Gerald, a politician, suggests marrying a nice girl for appearances’ sake so they could stay together. While I don’t love that as a solution, I’m rooting for them as a couple and desperate for them to stay together, so here’s hoping they find a way.
I’m orgasmic with excitement about it all already.
Images: Disney+
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