Rivals TV Show Review: A Thrilling Dive into 1980s Lust, Ambition, and Power

No TV show has ever introduced itself with as much gusto and clarity as Rivals. From the very first scene, viewers are thrown into a whirlwind of sex, glamour, and high-stakes drama. A man and a woman, dressed in red stilettos, engage in a passionate tryst on a Concorde flight to the tune of Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love.” As the plane breaks the sound barrier and champagne corks pop, the stage is set for a wild ride. If you didn’t know what to expect, well, now you do.

Can Disney+ Do Jilly Cooper Justice?

When Disney+ announced its adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s famous novel Rivals, fans of the book feared that the fun and raunchy spirit would be lost. But those concerns were unfounded. Watching Rivals is like experiencing the very essence of Cooper’s writing brimming with outrageous behaviour, unapologetic camp, and a dose of British humour. This show is a wild mix of nudity, ridiculous wigs, and an unabashed embrace of bad taste. Think of it as a cross between Carry On films and Eurotrash pure entertainment.

A Star-Studded Cast that Delivers

One of the major strengths of Rivals is its incredible cast. It’s almost as if every notable actor from British TV made an appearance. We’re talking David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Katherine Parkinson, and even Danny Dyer. The recognizable faces are endless, and every actor fully embraces the over-the-top nature of the show. It’s as if their audition required them to simulate an orgasm on camera, and by the end of the first episode, most of them have done just that. This commitment to the eccentric and exaggerated tone of the show is what makes Rivals so much fun to watch.

Nostalgia Meets Contemporary Appeal

If you’re familiar with Cooper’s books, you probably don’t need an explanation of the plot Rivals is practically gospel to fans. But the real success of the show will lie in its ability to attract viewers who have never picked up one of Cooper’s novels. The show needs to pull in Cooper agnostics, and while its narrative may not be groundbreaking, the setting and tone are irresistible.

Set in the world of 1980s franchise-based regional television, Rivals is a study in workplace politics, media power struggles, and personal ambition. It’s not exactly a setup that screams “sexy,” but the show’s portrayal of this environment is a lot more exciting than it sounds. A TV presenter is lured away from the BBC to host a new chat show, while his bosses try to navigate the murky waters of maintaining journalistic integrity in the face of commercial interests. It’s a bit like watching a dramatized version of Michael Aspel’s career, but with a lot more sex.

The True Appeal: Kitsch, Sex, and Power Games

While the plot may serve as a foundation, no one is watching Rivals for the story alone. The real draws are the setting and the outrageous tone. With its Cotswold mansions, garish fashion, and endless parade of sweaty bodies, the show is a visual feast. It’s a world populated by clueless aristocrats who strut around half-naked, oblivious to the absurdity of their own behaviour.

The tone of Rivals is pure operatic kitsch. Yes, there’s plenty of sex right from the opening scene to a naked tennis match in the first episode but the nudity is always campy, never truly erotic. This is British sex as it was in the 1980s, a cathartic release of pent-up repression rather than something designed to titillate. It’s fun, it’s loud, and it’s completely over the top.

The Fever Pitch of Every Scene

What really makes Rivals stand out is its ability to create a sense of high drama in every scene. The show’s style is reminiscent of a telenovela, with every moment treated as if it’s leading up to a climactic showdown. Tensions rise, the soundtrack swells, the camera zooms in on the actors’ faces and just when you think the episode is about to end, it ramps up again with yet another dramatic scene. The pace is relentless, and the series knows how to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Without giving too much away, let’s just say that episode one culminates in a full-cast sex montage. Mission accomplished.

The Explosion of Fun in the Age of Dour Television

In a time when TV is often serious, gritty, and even dreary, Rivals is a breath of fresh air. With shows like The Penguin turning even comic book villains into somber, mumbling figures, Rivals feels like a joyful explosion of colour and energy. It’s not trying to be anything other than what it is pure, unadulterated fun.

Characters You Love to Watch

At its core, Rivals is a character-driven show, and the cast brings these larger-than-life personalities to the screen with gusto. David Tennant plays Tony Baddingham, a TV mogul obsessed with power, while Aidan Turner’s Declan O’Hara is a journalist with high ideals but plenty of personal flaws. Alex Hassell steals the show as Rupert Campbell-Black, a bad boy politician with a complicated love life, and Bella Maclean’s Taggie O’Hara is the heart of the show, a young woman with dreams of becoming a chef who finds herself caught in the middle of all the chaos.

These characters are full of ambition, lust, and ego, and watching them clash is the true joy of the show. Every scene is packed with personality, and the chemistry between the actors is electric.

The 1980s Setting: A Time of Excess and Indulgence

One of the most enjoyable aspects of Rivals is its setting. The 1980s were a time of excess greed, power, and indulgence were the order of the day, and Rivals embraces this fully. The costumes, the sets, the music it all comes together to create a vibrant, nostalgic atmosphere that’s impossible to resist. The show doesn’t just recreate the 1980s; it revels in it, using the era’s unique mix of glamour and grit to tell its story.

Why Rivals Is a Must-Watch

In an age where TV can sometimes take itself too seriously, Rivals is a refreshing change of pace. It’s sexy, it’s funny, and it doesn’t apologize for its over-the-top nature. With a star-studded cast, a vibrant setting, and a tone that’s equal parts camp and drama, Rivals is the perfect guilty pleasure. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Jilly Cooper or new to her world, this show will have you hooked from the very first scene.