Rivals Season 2 Returns With Betrayal, Heartbreak & Tony Baddingham at His Worst

Spoiler Warning: This recap contains spoilers for Rivals Season 2, Episodes 7, 8, and 9.

Well, Rivals is back, and apparently, nobody in Rutshire learned a single lesson during the break. Three new episodes arrived on Hulu on November 11, and between the affairs, betrayals, family drama, and Tony Baddingham behaving like an absolute lunatic, there's plenty to unpack. We knew things would get ugly after Monica's death, but goodness, these people are really determined to make their lives as complicated as possible.

The midseason return picks up after Monica Baddingham's heartbreaking death, and her absence hangs over just about everything. Some characters are finally realizing how much they've taken for granted, while others are using the tragedy as another opportunity to manipulate everyone around them. Yes, Tony, we're looking directly at you. And while the battle between Corinium and Venturer continues, it's the personal relationships that really take a beating across these three episodes.

Monica Deserved Better, and Tony Keeps Proving It

We begin with Monica's funeral, and it's a painful reminder that one of the few genuinely decent people in this ridiculous social circle is gone. Her son Archie delivers an emotional tribute to his mother, while Tony seems almost offended by the idea that anyone else might be grieving. Watching him struggle with the loss would be easier to sympathize with if he weren't so determined to punish everyone around him.

Remember, Monica had discovered Tony's affair with Maud O'Hara before her fatal accident. She was finally ready to leave him, only for her life to end before she could escape the marriage. It's heartbreaking, especially because Monica deserved the chance to find happiness outside of Tony's shadow. Her death has left everyone reeling, including Rupert, who was with her during her final moments.

Tony, meanwhile, takes his grief to some seriously disturbing places. He blames Caitlin for Monica's death, drives mourners out of his home, and even threatens people with a gun. There is a brief moment when he breaks down in his brother Bas's arms, reminding us that somewhere underneath all that cruelty is a man who has suffered an enormous loss. Unfortunately, that moment of vulnerability doesn't make him any less frightening.

And then there are the peacocks. Monica loved those birds, so naturally, Tony decides to kill them. Sir, what exactly is the thought process here? David Tennant is doing incredible work making Tony increasingly terrifying, but this character has officially crossed from wealthy, controlling nightmare into someone who genuinely needs to be stopped.

The arrival of Monica's younger sister, Araminta, adds another interesting wrinkle to the Baddingham household. Played by Rachael Stirling, she has plenty of history with the family and isn't easily intimidated by Tony. Their interactions suggest there's much more to explore there, especially now that Monica is no longer around to hold parts of this family together.

Declan Finally Learns the Truth About Maud

If you thought Tony was having a rough time, imagine being Declan O'Hara and discovering that your wife has been sleeping with the very man you've spent so much time trying to destroy. Talk about a spectacularly bad choice, Maud.

Her affair with Tony has been a disaster waiting to happen, and Episode 8 finally delivers the confrontation we've been anticipating. Maud attempts to end things with Tony, but he's not exactly known for accepting rejection gracefully.

Meanwhile, Declan is becoming increasingly suspicious that someone close to him has been betraying Venturer.

When the truth finally comes out, it's ugly. Declan and Maud unleash years of resentment during a brutal argument that makes it painfully obvious their marriage was in trouble long before Tony entered the picture. Declan's obsession with his career has often left Maud feeling overlooked, but sleeping with his biggest enemy is certainly one way to make an already troubled marriage considerably worse.

The revelation that Maud and Tony had sex inside the O'Hara family home is particularly devastating. Aidan Turner and Victoria Smurfit bring so much anger and hurt to the confrontation that it's difficult to imagine how these two could possibly recover from it. By the time Declan publicly acknowledges his wife's betrayal, the damage is done.

And because Tony is Tony, he wastes absolutely no time using the situation to his advantage. By Episode 9, his camp is pushing the narrative that Maud seduced him, conveniently ignoring his own responsibility in the affair. He even uses Monica's death to gain sympathy in the franchise battle. At this point, expecting Tony to take accountability for anything feels like expecting the entire population of Rutshire to suddenly become faithful to their partners.

Cameron Is Tired of Being Everyone's Scapegoat

While the O'Hara marriage is falling apart, Venturer has problems of its own. Someone has been leaking information, and the search for the mole becomes another excuse for the men to turn on Cameron Cook. The way Cameron is treated is infuriating, especially considering everything she's contributed to the company. She's intelligent, ambitious, and more than capable of helping Venturer succeed, yet the moment things become uncomfortable, she's suddenly the easiest person to blame. Apparently, being good at your job still isn't enough to earn the benefit of the doubt from these men.

Cameron finally reaches her breaking point and walks away, making it clear that she's tired of constantly having to prove her loyalty. Good for her, because the disrespect was becoming exhausting to watch. Even Taggie recognizes how unfairly she's being treated and challenges Rupert over his lack of faith in her.

Of course, by Episode 9, Rupert and Declan realize they need Cameron if Venturer has any chance of defeating Corinium. Funny how quickly people discover your value when they realize they can't manage without you. The franchise presentation becomes a crucial moment for the team, with Declan making a passionate argument about what television should offer the public. Taggie also contributes an important idea involving Rupert's son Marcus, showing that she has more to offer than simply being caught in everyone's romantic drama.

But Tony isn't interested in losing gracefully. He continues finding ways to undermine his rivals, including exploiting the sexual assault of Daysee by Reverend Penney. It's another ugly example of how far he's willing to go to protect his position. The franchise fight is no longer just about television ratings or wealthy men arguing over power. Real people are being hurt, and Tony couldn't seem to care less.

Rupert and Taggie Are Making Us Work for This Romance

Now, can we discuss Rupert Campbell-Black for a minute? Because this man is becoming one of the most frustrating people on television, and that's saying something considering the company he keeps. Monica's death forces Rupert to examine his own life, particularly the mistakes he's made as a husband and father. He reaches a better understanding with his ex-wife Helen and begins making an effort to repair his relationship with Marcus. It's encouraging to see him finally taking responsibility for some of the damage he's caused over the years.

But when it comes to Taggie, Rupert apparently believes the best way to prove he loves someone is to push her away repeatedly. He knows how he feels about her, and his fear of hurting her is understandable given his history. Still, there's only so much emotional distance one woman should have to tolerate before deciding she'd rather spend her time elsewhere.

Enter Bas.

Bas has been growing closer to Taggie, and their relationship takes a romantic turn with a kiss during Bonfire Night. He's charming, attentive, and encourages her to start thinking about what she wants instead of constantly worrying about everyone else. After spending so much time putting her family first, Taggie certainly deserves someone who makes her feel appreciated.

Unfortunately, Bas doesn't handle rejection particularly well either. By Episode 9, after Taggie makes it clear she's not ready to pursue things further, his wounded pride leads him to make a bet about when he'll sleep with her. And just like that, a potentially sweet romance becomes another example of a man making a questionable decision.

As for Rupert, Taggie eventually goes to him because she desperately wants Venturer to win and her family to remain in Rutshire. Their connection is still very much alive, and Rupert is clearly moved by her faith in him. Unfortunately, when she finally allows herself to follow her feelings, Rupert continues insisting he can't make her happy.

Sir, at some point, you're going to have to let this woman make her own decisions. The third episode ends with their relationship still unresolved as the Hunt Ball approaches. Rupert may be getting better at confronting his past, but accepting the possibility of a future with Taggie remains another matter entirely.

Freddie and Lizzie Are Adorable, but There's a Problem

I love Freddie and Lizzie together. There, I said it. Their chemistry is wonderful, and there's something genuinely sweet about Freddie encouraging Lizzie's writing ambitions and treating her like someone whose dreams matter.

Freddie even whisks her away to Paris, giving their affair the kind of romantic escape that would make just about anyone swoon. Lizzie is also becoming more confident professionally, refusing to settle for less than she believes her novel deserves. It's refreshing to watch her recognize her own worth after spending so long feeling unappreciated.

But we cannot ignore the rather large elephant in the room. Freddie is still married to Valerie, and Lizzie is still married to James.

What makes this situation particularly uncomfortable is that Freddie continues sharing an intimate relationship with his wife while pursuing Lizzie. Valerie has no idea what's happening, and her friendly interactions with Lizzie make the secrecy even worse. The two women aren't simply strangers competing for one man's affection. Valerie genuinely trusts her.

By Episode 9, James discovers that Lizzie and Freddie have been having an affair, and his reaction says plenty about how little he understands his own wife. He's so accustomed to overlooking Lizzie that the possibility of her having an entirely separate romantic life barely seems to have occurred to him.

It's difficult not to root for Freddie and Lizzie, but Rivals wisely reminds us that even the sweetest love stories can leave a trail of hurt behind them. We can appreciate their chemistry while acknowledging that this situation is a complete mess.

Gerald and Charles Deserve Their Own Happiness

Away from the more scandalous affairs, Gerald and Charles are dealing with something far more heartbreaking. Their relationship is complicated by the realities of living as gay men in 1987, particularly as fear surrounding AIDS continues to shape public attitudes.

Gerald's engagement to Muffy offers him the appearance of a conventional life, something he believes will provide safety and the possibility of having a family. But choosing that future means walking away from Charles, and neither man escapes the decision without considerable pain.

Muffy's perspective also deserves attention. She has her own hopes for marriage and family, and her concerns about AIDS reflect the fear and misinformation surrounding the epidemic during that period. This isn't simply a situation where one person is standing in the way of another couple's happiness. Everyone involved wants something understandable, even if those wishes can't all coexist.

Watching Gerald and Charles confront the possibility of losing each other is devastating, especially when so many other characters are free to pursue their desires with relatively few social consequences. Rivals has always enjoyed its outrageous romantic scandals, but this storyline reminds us that love isn't equally accessible to everyone in Rutshire.

Tony May Have the Upper Hand, but for How Long?

By the end of Episode 9, Rutshire is a very different place from the one we left before the break. Monica is gone, Declan's marriage has exploded, Cameron has been pushed to her limit, and Venturer is fighting to remain competitive against a man who seems willing to do absolutely anything to win.

Tony has become more dangerous precisely because he has so little left to lose. His grief is real, but so is his cruelty, and he has shown repeatedly that he's perfectly willing to weaponize other people's pain. David Tennant makes him impossible to look away from, even when you desperately want someone to wipe that smug expression off his face.

Meanwhile, Rupert and Taggie are still dancing around their feelings, Freddie and Lizzie's secret is becoming harder to protect, and Declan is being forced to confront the consequences of a marriage he didn't realize was falling apart quite so spectacularly.

What I appreciate most about these three episodes is that the drama doesn't exist simply because everyone is sleeping with someone they shouldn't be. The consequences are finally catching up with these characters, and the series isn't letting them escape quite so easily.

That doesn't mean Rivals has abandoned its deliciously scandalous personality. There's still plenty of romance, outrageous behavior, wealthy people making terrible decisions, and dialogue that makes you want to grab some popcorn. But Monica's death has cast a shadow over Rutshire, and even the lighter moments feel different now.

With the Hunt Ball approaching and the franchise battle growing more vicious, there's no telling who will be left standing when all these secrets finish unraveling.

One thing is certain: if these three episodes are any indication, the residents of Rutshire have absolutely no intention of behaving themselves anytime soon. And thank goodness for that, because we wouldn't have nearly as much fun watching them.

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