With season 3 of Bridgerton ending earlier this year, you may have a period drama hole to fill. Hulu’s new series Rivals will satisfy any desire for a gripping drama. Although the series replaces the Regency era with the roaring 1980s, Rivals manages to tackle more modern social issues while still maintaining the lavish luxury of the upper class. Wealth isn’t just given away in the world of Rivals, and there’s a clash between old money and new money, with characters constantly seeking status or careers while still making sure to maintain their reputations. Set all in the Cotswolds, the show is thoroughly British and perfect for those who aren’t into the glamour of Bridgerton.
Like Bridgerton, Rivals is based on the popular series of novels by Dame Jilly Cooper. The vast world-building means the series has a large cast of characters whose lives are intricately intertwined. They have a wide range of personalities, traits and values, allowing the show to explore different types of romantic love with such nuance that every viewer will have a different favourite. The show’s focus is on the complexities of marriage, with a large number of characters who are together in public but are having affairs and infidelity. However, while some of these relationships are physical, there is also emotional deception, with individuals trapped in loveless relationships with no way out. This creates empathy and complexity, helping to alleviate the disconnect that can come with the voyeurism of the wealthy and humanising the cast.
The show’s slow-burn romance is both the most charming and heartbreaking: Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson) and Freddie Jones (Danny Dyer). Both are in marriages where their partners are controlling and cruel, so the couple finds comfort in each other. Lizzie is one of the show’s most beloved characters, where the other characters aren’t afraid to go after what they want, her intentions always seem kind and that provides a welcome relief to the audience. Freddie, on the other hand, is a strong, intelligent man with advanced technological skills, making him a desirable asset to the other characters on the show. He knows his worth but also seems to be a man who craves freedom, as his wife often dictates how he should act. This is a surprisingly authentic role for Dyer, who is usually associated with gangster films and more difficult roles, Rivals allows him to show off his emotional acting skills.
The couple interact at the buffet table, expressing their desire to eat and do what they want. There is a natural chemistry between them and a nagging feeling that they could be much happier together. However, since neither of them wants to upset the status quo, they try not to act on their feelings. Their romance is a breath of fresh air compared to the lustful sexual encounters that are common in period dramas and gives Rivals a real charm.
There are a lot of relationships on the show, facilitated by a large and diverse cast. The show grapples with the emotional implications of age-gap relationships through Rupert Campell-Black (Alex Hassell, best known for his role as Translucent on The Boys) and Taggie O’Hara (Bella Maclean). The pair have obvious chemistry, but both struggle with the consequences of their feelings. However, the complexity extends to the emotions of Taggie’s parents, especially her fiercely protective father, Declan O’Hara (Aidan Turner). This is the main plot of the novel and the depiction is sure to divide opinion, but there’s no denying that it’s incredibly compelling to watch.
There are also depictions of homophobia and the necessity of discreet relationships during that period through one of the fictional network’s producers, Charles Fairburn (Gary Lamont). Charles is forced to hide his relationship and faces emotional trauma as the show tragically portrays mental health in a less aware and less progressive era. Power dynamics are a running theme, and the show shows how deafening silence can be, exploring deeply relevant topics like anxiety and sexual assault.
However, the show isn’t all romance. There is something compelling about seeing the inner workings of a television studio, the behind-the-scenes decisions that are made and the political implications of those decisions. The moments of live television are unpredictable and tense, facilitated by Aidan Turner’s charisma and powerful performance. Rivals is a drama about
