# Rivals returns with grief, betrayal and deeper emotional stakes

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/rivals-review-this-tv-joy-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-romp/
- Published: 2026-11-11T08:01:32+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T08:43:29+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/nov/11/rivals-review-disney-series-two-aidan-turner-danny-dyer-david-tennant
- Topics: Culture

## Key points

- Rivals returns after a five-month break with six new episodes.
- The story balances sexual intrigue with grief and consequences.
- Monica’s death scene brings the series notable emotional weight.

## Summary

The second half of Rivals’ second series returns to the tangled lives of Rutshire’s wealthy residents, picking up at Monica Baddingham’s funeral after her death in the Great Storm of 1987. The review says the episodes retain the show’s mix of sexual intrigue, betrayals and comedy, while giving greater weight to grief and the consequences of past actions.

Across the six episodes, the rivalry between Venturer and Corinium continues, but the review considers the personal dramas more compelling. Tony, grieving and furious, becomes increasingly unsettling; the series also reveals the father of Sarah’s baby and deepens several relationships. Monica’s death scene is singled out for its poignancy, with the critic arguing that the mix of melodrama and emotional sincerity is what makes the show work.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.