As a dedicated fan who’s been binge-watching period dramas since the days of Downton Abbey, I must say that Rivals has truly captured my heart with its captivating storylines and stunning performances. The romance between Rupert Campbell-Black and Taggie O’Hara was a rollercoaster ride, filled with anticipation and uncertainty, just like my own love life!
*Warning: This article contains spoilers for Rivals episode 8.*
In the midst of Corinium’s and Venturer’s struggle for control over independent television, amidst the interwoven tales of passion, scandals, and shocking revelations characteristic of this genre, Rivals successfully incorporated a delightful, second-glance-worthy romantic subplot that is a hallmark many viewers crave in period dramas.
Through eight episodes, the growing bond between ex-Olympian-turned-politician Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Taggie O’Hara, a hopeless romantic (Bella Maclean), has been evident. However, it reached its climax in the final episode.
However, their relationship held an intriguing tension, reminiscent of a game of cat and mouse, which made portrayal enjoyable as the outcome remained uncertain for me.
There was a sense of anticipation throughout, as I didn’t know how things would unfold until the very end. It was quite thrilling.
Victoria Smurfit, portraying Taggie’s mother Maud, commented: “It was both beautiful to behold and deeply moving. There’s an abundance of enjoyable moments, stunning backdrops, and striking costumes. The scriptwriting is exceptional and brilliant.
Indeed, within it lies a large, pulsating heart, where every character yearns for something. Just as humans do, occasionally the pursuit they’re engaged in isn’t what truly benefits them. Instead, it’s their desire, though it may not align with their actual needs.
Smurfit expressed: “I believe by portraying Maud, I simply emphasized her suffering and her instinctive responses.
Indeed, the finale brought significant advancements in many character arcs, and what’s more, long-standing feelings between Taggie and Rupert were confessed after a whole season of evasion.
Although it’s uncertain how a hypothetical second season might unfold, Maud’s storyline concluded on a more melancholic tone in the final episodes. The source material from Jilly Cooper’s original books provides us with a fairly clear picture of what could happen next.
After pausing her own acting journey to support Declan’s aspirations, she chose to move to London. Could a return be in the works for her?
Although no news about a second season has surfaced yet, Smurfit didn’t hesitate to express her thoughts on the last episode and hint at potential future installments.
She said: “Just eating and drinking, just delicious. And always thinking, ‘I want more,’ just more. So you want episode 9 and 10 and 11 and 12.”
McLean concurred, expressing: “Indeed, it resonates. I believe we all shared that sentiment while working. We were all quite disappointed when it concluded, as we forged a strong bond quickly, and the plotlines were genuinely entertaining.
Rivals was released on Disney Plus on 18th October 2024. Sign up to Disney Plus now for £4.99 per month or £79.90 for a full year.
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2024-10-19 11:33