Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Season 2 – Rivals

Play trailer 2:21 Poster for Season 2 – Rivals Next Ep Jun 5 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head.
Watch on Disney+ Stream Now

Where to Watch

Rivals — Season 2

Rivals — Season 2

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Rivals' second season reliably ups the ante by trusting in its stellar ensemble cast to skillfully steer the audience through its silly capers of melodramatic fun to winning effect.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Gerry Brakus New Statesman 5d
Rivals succeeds not because anyone mistakes Rutshire for reality, but because it offers temporary escape from a culture increasingly terrified of embarrassment, vulgarity and desire. Go to Full Review
Wenlei Ma The Nightly (AU) May 20
Audacious and delicious, Rivals is a high-end soap opera that takes the guilty out of guilty pleasure. This is just pure pleaaasurrrre, and you can shout that from the rooftops without any shame. Go to Full Review
David Opie Empire Magazine May 19
4/5
Season 2 of this undeniably enjoyable Jilly Cooper adaptation comes with more heart this time around — yet other organs still abound in TV's silliest, most decadent bonkbuster.  Go to Full Review
Hannah Brown Jerusalem Post 1d
I find it the perfect escapist entertainment from start to finish, and there is so much going on that the plot turns are occasionally surprising. Go to Full Review
Shelby Elpers Fangirlish 5d
The Shakespearean competition takes a medieval turn with a familiar Ruthshire backdrop in Rivals Season 2, Episode 5. Go to Full Review
James Delingpole The Spectator 5d
Isn’t this exactly the kind of toxic self-indulgence -- broken families, messed-up kids, squandered inheritance -- that landed us in the mess we’re in today? Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Mia L @MiaL2002 1d Real TV is back baby! This show has me laughing my head off and then crying into my pillow all within the space of 5mins. The acting is just superb and I feel fully transported into their messy world the second I hit play. Very interested to see where the season goes next, and excited to see what changes they introduce. They’ve done extremely well at updating the show for television/modern audiences while still carrying the same charm as the original source material. Part two in October can’t come soon enough! See more Bruno H @RT95351286 May 25 Very fun watch… reminds me of white lotus, but with love and passion at the forefront. See more Colette M @RT25544054 May 23 Despite the shallow surface, the show features genuinely moving subplots. The slow-burn romance between Freddie Jones and Lizzie anchors the show, providing an emotional depth that keeps you rooting for them. Despite the shallow surface, the show features genuinely moving subplots. Has to be said thought too many characters with new characters constantly being introduced leading to others being sidelined, the plot heavily revolves around a licensing bidding war for a regional television franchise. When the show shifts its focus too heavily onto business politics and TV contract regulations, the pacing sags. See more Esra Y @RT95409318 May 23 Nuclear waste level toxicity but god do they make it so enjoyable! Some sequences are just hilarious. See more Lily T @RT28554561 May 18 Rivals is a television show that you would just want to check out and suddenly you are some episodes deep, fully invested in everybody's drama. It's loud, messy, emotional, and honestly very entertaining. The series throws you into the reflection competitive world of 1980s television and media, where everyone is fighting for power, attention, love, or revenge. There's romance, betrayal, ego clashes, and enough tension to keep every episode interesting. David Tennant stand out immediately. He plays his role with so much confidence and intensity that when his character is being difficult, you still want to keep watching him. The rest of the cast also brings a lot of personality, which makes the relationships feel alive instead of scripted. See more Julia G @JuliaMEG May 16 Rivals season 2 was such a fun watch — really funny and entertaining from start to finish. It looked gorgeous too, with beautiful cinematography, amazing costumes, and really impressive production overall. The soundtrack was also a standout and added so much to the atmosphere. Stylish, sexy, and completely enjoyable. See more Read all reviews
Rivals — Season 2

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 15, 2026 Tony Baddingham is scarred, but alive and more dangerous than ever; as Declan pitches a new documentary to the BBC and attempts to rebuild his marriage to Maud, a heartbroken Taggie pines for Rupert who vanished without a trace. Details Episode 2 Aired May 15, 2026 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. Details Episode 3 Aired May 15, 2026 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. Details Episode 4 Aired May 22, 2026 Maud returns to Rutshire, igniting fury from Declan as Tony draws her into Corinium; Rupert tries to find a way forward, only for old sins to resurface; Venturer lands a lucky break. Details Episode 5 Aired May 29, 2026 A paranoid Tony demands loyalty as his Corinium network and rival Venturer prepare for a gladiatorial public meeting to decide who wins the franchise; Corinium and Venturer pull out all the stops to impress residents. Details Episode 6 Airs Jun 5 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details Episode 7 Aired May 15, 2026 Episode 7 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details Episode 8 Aired May 15, 2026 Episode 8 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details Episode 9 Aired May 15, 2026 Episode 9 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details Episode 10 Aired May 15, 2026 Episode 10 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details Episode 11 Aired May 15, 2026 Episode 11 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details Episode 12 Aired May 15, 2026 Episode 12 In 1980s England, a rivalry between two powerful men finally comes to a head. Details
Motorheads 78% 96% Motorheads Watchlist TRAILER for Motorheads Kin 94% 91% Kin Watchlist TRAILER for Kin Manhattan 91% 90% Manhattan Watchlist Snowfall 92% 92% Snowfall Watchlist TRAILER for Snowfall Mare of Easttown 95% 94% Mare of Easttown Watchlist TRAILER for Mare of Easttown Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Season Info

Executive Producer
Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Alexander Lamb
Network
Hulu
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
May 15, 2026