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Season 2 – Rivals

Play trailer 2:21 Poster for Season 2 – Rivals May 2026 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 33 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head.

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Rivals — Season 2

Rivals — Season 2

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Rivals' second season reliably ups the ante by trusting in its stellar ensemble cast to skillfully steer the audience through its silly capers of melodramatic fun to winning effect.

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Critics Reviews

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Gerry Brakus New Statesman May 28
Rivals succeeds not because anyone mistakes Rutshire for reality, but because it offers temporary escape from a culture increasingly terrified of embarrassment, vulgarity and desire. Go to Full Review Wenlei Ma The Nightly (AU) May 20
Audacious and delicious, Rivals is a high-end soap opera that takes the guilty out of guilty pleasure. This is just pure pleaaasurrrre, and you can shout that from the rooftops without any shame. Go to Full Review David Opie Empire Magazine May 19
4/5
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.  Go to Full Review Jack Seale Radio Times 1d
4/5
Rather than a total upheaval every other week, one interesting thing per episode happens to each Rutshire resident. Go to Full Review Hannah Brown Jerusalem Post Jun 2
I find it the perfect escapist entertainment from start to finish, and there is so much going on that the plot turns are occasionally surprising. Go to Full Review Shelby Elpers Fangirlish May 29
The Shakespearean competition takes a medieval turn with a familiar Ruthshire backdrop in Rivals Season 2, Episode 5. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kate R. @SkateR88 6d Absolutely love this show. It’s sexy, cheeky, and you feel for each of the characters. More please! See more Tay M. @taytaymags 6d This season feels so fun and raw at the same time. I’m laughing and crying as if these characters are my real life friends. First show in a long time that I have marked reminders in my calendar to check for a new episode every week. Very highly considering a re-watch while we wait for part 2 of this season. See more Mia L @MiaL2002 Jun 2 Real TV is back baby! This show has me laughing my head off and then crying into my pillow all within the space of 5mins. The acting is just superb and I feel fully transported into their messy world the second I hit play. Very interested to see where the season goes next, and excited to see what changes they introduce. They’ve done extremely well at updating the show for television/modern audiences while still carrying the same charm as the original source material. Part two in October can’t come soon enough! See more Bruno H @RT95351286 May 25 Very fun watch… reminds me of white lotus, but with love and passion at the forefront. See more Colette M @RT25544054 May 23 Despite the shallow surface, the show features genuinely moving subplots. The slow-burn romance between Freddie Jones and Lizzie anchors the show, providing an emotional depth that keeps you rooting for them. Despite the shallow surface, the show features genuinely moving subplots. Has to be said thought too many characters with new characters constantly being introduced leading to others being sidelined, the plot heavily revolves around a licensing bidding war for a regional television franchise. When the show shifts its focus too heavily onto business politics and TV contract regulations, the pacing sags. See more Esra Y @RT95409318 May 23 Nuclear waste level toxicity but god do they make it so enjoyable! Some sequences are just hilarious.Although full premise being "who f who" became tiring. See more Read all reviews
Rivals — Season 2

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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David Tennant

Tony Baddingham

Oliver Chris

James Vereker

Katherine Parkinson

Lizzie Vereker

Alex Hassell

Rupert Campbell-Black

Victoria Smurfit

Maud O'Hara

Luke Pasqualino

Basil `Bas' Baddingham

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 15, 2026 Tony Baddingham is scarred, but alive and more dangerous than ever; as Declan pitches a new documentary to the BBC and attempts to rebuild his marriage to Maud, a heartbroken Taggie pines for Rupert who vanished without a trace. Details Episode 2 Aired May 15, 2026 Tony Baddingham returns more dangerous than ever; as Declan attempts to rebuild his life Taggie pines for a missing Rupert; a high-stakes polo match reignites the rivalry, redrawing battle lines for a costly new war. Details Episode 3 Aired May 15, 2026 A scandalous Corinium exposé sends shockwaves through Rutshire and Westminster and Rupert faces mounting pressure on election day over the future of his political career; Declan and Venturer reel from the fallout. Details Episode 4 Aired May 22, 2026 Maud returns to Rutshire, igniting fury from Declan as Tony draws her into Corinium; Rupert tries to find a way forward, only for old sins to resurface; Venturer lands a lucky break. Details Episode 5 Aired May 29, 2026 A paranoid Tony demands loyalty as his Corinium network and rival Venturer prepare for a gladiatorial public meeting to decide who wins the franchise; Corinium and Venturer pull out all the stops to impress residents. Details Episode 6 Aired Jun 5, 2026 A storm descends on Rutshire as a sordid secret is exposed and the night takes a dark turn. Details Episode 7 Aired May 15, 2026 Episode 7 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details Episode 8 Aired May 15, 2026 Episode 8 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details Episode 9 Aired May 15, 2026 Episode 9 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details Episode 10 Aired May 15, 2026 Episode 10 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details Episode 11 Aired May 15, 2026 Episode 11 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details Episode 12 Aired May 15, 2026 Episode 12 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details

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Rivals — Season 2

Rivals: Season 2 Trailer Rivals: Season 2 Trailer 2:21 Rivals: Season 2 Teaser Rivals: Season 2 Teaser 0:44 View more videos
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Rivals — Season 2

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Season Info

Executive Producer
Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb
Network
Hulu
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
May 15, 2026