Official Trailer
Rating: 7.4/10 | Genre: Drama | Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 14 | Status: Returning Series
Starring: David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Nafessa Williams, Bella Maclean, Katherine Parkinson
Okay, so I just finished binging “Rivals” and I have some feelings. The show is basically a soap opera wrapped in 1980s glamour, and honestly? I kind of loved it. It’s not perfect. There are moments where the plot gets messy and you’re not always sure who to root for. But it’s the kind of show that makes you want to talk about it non-stop, and that counts for something.
The premise is simple: it’s 1986, Britain is thriving, and everyone in the TV industry is willing to stab each other in the back to get ahead. The show doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not. It knows it’s trashy and fun and it leans into that completely. If you go in expecting “Succession” but set in the 80s, you’ll be disappointed. If you go in expecting good old-fashioned drama with big personalities and bigger betrayals, you’re in for a treat.
Season 1
The first season sets up the main conflict: Tony Baddingham runs this powerful TV company called Corinium, and he’s basically a villain who everyone still wants to work with. He hires Declan, this talented guy who’s supposed to make a hit show for him. Things get complicated because there’s love, ambition, politics, and a bunch of people doing awful things to each other.
Season 1 is eight episodes and it moves fast. The pacing is actually one of the show’s strengths. You don’t have time to get bored because something is always happening. Someone’s affair is being exposed, someone’s job is in danger, someone’s doing something illegal. It’s peak soap opera energy and I mean that as a compliment.
David Tennant as Tony is the real draw here. He’s charismatic and horrible at the same time. You hate him but you can’t look away. Alex Hassell as Declan is solid too, though his character can feel a bit like the moral center everyone else is corrupting. That works for the story, but sometimes you wish he had a bit more edge.
The season works best when it’s focused on the TV industry stuff. When it’s about deals and competition and people trying to outmaneuver each other, it’s great. When it dips into the relationship drama, it’s a bit messier. Some of the romantic subplots feel like they’re just there to create conflict rather than because the relationships feel real. But again, it’s a soap opera. That’s kind of the point.
Season 2
Season 2 is where things get actually dangerous. This season is only six episodes, which I think hurt it a bit. The first season had more room to breathe and develop its various plotlines. Season 2 feels cramped. The story moves so fast that you sometimes lose track of why people are making the decisions they’re making.
Tony comes back more ruthless than before, and there’s this whole thing where the stakes keep getting higher. People are doing genuinely dark stuff now. It’s not just backstabbing in boardrooms anymore. Things get legitimately criminal and honestly? I wasn’t always sure the show earned those darker turns. It felt like the writers wanted Season 2 to be grittier, but the foundation wasn’t quite there to support it.
That said, there are some really strong moments. A Corinium scandal breaks that sends ripples through everyone’s lives, and the fallout is actually well done. You see how one person’s actions destroy multiple other people, and that’s when the show remembers what it’s good at.
The problem is that with only six episodes, there’s no room for things to breathe. The season feels like one long climax, and by the end you’re exhausted rather than satisfied. I wanted more space to sit with the characters and their reactions to everything falling apart. Instead it’s just one crisis after another until the credits roll.
The Characters
David Tennant really is the MVP here. Tony Baddingham is a terrible person but he’s a terrible person you want to watch. Tennant gives him just enough vulnerability that you understand why people follow him even though they probably shouldn’t. It’s a great performance in a scenery-chewing kind of way.
Alex Hassell’s Declan is the straight man to Tony’s chaos, which means his character can feel a bit one-note sometimes. But there are moments where Hassell gets to show real pain and confusion, and those moments work well.
Katherine Parkinson as one of the other leads is fun. Her character makes questionable choices but you understand where she’s coming from. Nafessa Williams is also good, though I wish the show gave her character more to do in Season 2.
If I’m being honest, none of the female characters feel as fully realized as Tony does. They’re good, but they’re secondary to his story. That’s one of the show’s weaknesses. You’d think a show about the cutthroat world of TV would do more with its female leads, but they often feel like they’re reacting to Tony rather than driving their own stories.
Is “Rivals” worth watching? Yeah, I think so. It’s not a masterpiece. It won’t change your life. But it’s entertaining and it moves fast and it has enough twists to keep you hooked. Season 1 is better than Season 2, but both are worth your time if you like shows that don’t take themselves too seriously.
Just go in knowing what you’re getting into. This is a show about terrible people doing terrible things in fancy clothes. If that sounds fun to you, you’ll probably enjoy it. What kind of trashy drama shows are you into right now?
Episode Guide
Season 1 (8 Episodes)
Episode 1: Episode 1 (7.9/10)
To ensure the success of his TV company, Corinium, Tony Baddingham hires brilliant interviewer Declan O'Hara and ambitious American producer Cameron Cook. As the O'Haras move to the countryside, Declan has a rude awakening on his first day on the job, while Declan's daughter, Taggie, and wife, Maud,must adjust to their new life and neighbors. As the O'Haras find themselves caught in the cross-fire between rivals Tony and Rupert Campbell-Black, will Declan regret his new career move?
Episode 2: Episode 2 (6.9/10)
Declan feels the pressure to deliver a new hit show for Tony and his company, Corinium, with producer Cameron on hand to help despite their fractious relationship. Keen to recruit businessman Freddie Jones, Tony agrees to attend a dinner party, but the guest list holds nasty surprises. Taggie gets her first catering job, but the evening is fraught with incidents. When the dinner party descends into chaos, can Tony salvage the situation and kill two birds with one stone?
Episode 3: Episode 3 (8.5/10)
It is Christmas time and everyone is celebrating except Declan, who worries about Maud's extravagant party plans for their son's twenty-first birthday on New Year's Eve. Taggie is eager to reunite with an old flame and works to make the night perfect, but the evening is full of surprises as worlds collide. A serious event shocks Taggie and she is taken aback when Rupert offers help. Will Taggie accept Rupert's apology? Where will the chips fall for all concerned when the hangovers fade?
Episode 4: Episode 4 (8.8/10)
Keen to punish Rupert, Declan prepares to interview and obliterate him live on television. Meanwhile, Tony invites Freddie to his prestigious pheasant shoot, eager to recruit him to the Corinium board. With a little nudge from Rupert, Taggie starts to assert herself, but she worries that Declan has lost his way. The nation waits with bated breath for Rupert and Declan's showdown. Will Tony finally get his wish to bring down Rupert Campbell-Black?
Episode 5: Episode 5 (9/10)
It is a busy week at Corinium Studios. Preparations are underway for the first beauty pageant and a historic interview with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Declan's ego is growing with each successful show, but he strives for journalistic glory and to prove his integrity. As Tony breathes down his neck, will he play ball? If not, is Corinium big enough for both of them?
Episode 6: Episode 6 (8.8/10)
Cameron attends an awards ceremony in Spain alone, and is surprised to bump into Rupert staying at the same hotel. Out of Rutshire and away from prying eyes, could this be the start of something new, and what could it mean for Tony or Taggie? Meanwhile, Rupert takes a gamble to help new company Venturer take on rival Tony's Corinium. Will it pay off or will Declan and Freddie think Rupert has finally gone too far?
Episode 7: Episode 7 (8.5/10)
When Tony learns that Rupert, Declan, and Freddie have formed Venturer to challenge his bid for the television franchise, he is furious. Things look up when Corinium is nominated for another prestigious award, and his relationship with Cameron deepens. Meanwhile, Taggie offers to help campaign for Venturer, which means a chance to get closer to Rupert. But with Rupert linked to Cameron, can Taggie ever really get close?
Episode 8: Episode 8 (8.5/10)
Paranoid, Tony demands loyalty, but can he trust those closest to him? Corinium and Venturer prepare for a gladiatorial public meeting to decide if Rupert, Declan, and Freddie can contend for the franchise against Tony. Both teams pull out all the stops to impress local residents and the IBA, but as fissures appear, could Tony and his dirty tricks derail Venturer before they have really started? With secrets exposed, which relationships will survive, and which rival will ultimately win out?
Season 2 (6 Episodes)
Episode 1: Episode 1 (8.3/10)
Following the events of the previous season, Rupert shelters Cameron whilst Tony, having survived his injury, seeks justice. A polo match takes place with both Corinium and Venturer filming for broadcast. Despite pressure from Tony, Cameron sides with Rupert. Tony promises revenge.
Episode 2: Episode 2 (6.7/10)
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.
Episode 3: Episode 3 (6.7/10)
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. As Venturer’s future is threatened, Tony exploits their growing divisions and Rupert is forced to confront the true cost of the scandal.
Episode 4: Episode 4
Episode 5: Episode 5
Episode 6: Episode 6
Where to Watch
Stream on: Hulu, Disney Plus, JioHotstar