Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 17 hrs ago
Rivals season 2 returns with six episodes and a darker tone
Rivals season 2 returns with six episodes that conclude the series, following a five-month break between its two parts.
The story is set in Rutshire, where media rivals and wealthy families are caught up in affairs, secrets and competition.
Monica Baddingham’s death shakes the community and leaves her husband Tony spiralling, while other characters face the fallout from hidden relationships.
The second half keeps the show’s parties and romantic entanglements but takes on a darker, more serious tone.
Reviewers praise some of the performances and storylines, but one argues that the growing romance between Taggie O’Hara and Rupert Campbell-Black weakens the show.
The six episodes bring the second series to a close, with no next season details stated.
Monica Baddingham’s death leaves the characters in disarray in the second part of Rivals’ second season.
The six-episode return follows a five-month break between the season’s two parts.
The fallout includes Tony Baddingham spiraling, Rupert Campbell-Black being shaken, and the O’Haras’ marriage facing strain over Maud’s affair.
Collider says the episodes take on a darker, more serious tone, while the Independent criticizes the focus on Taggie O’Hara and Rupert’s romance.
- Who
- The characters in Rivals, including Monica and Tony Baddingham, Rupert Campbell-Black and the O’Haras.
- What
- The second part of Rivals’ second season follows the fallout from Monica Baddingham’s death.
- When
- It returned the week of November 9, 2026. The two parts were separated by a five-month hiatus.
- Where
- Rutshire, the setting of the series.
- Why
- Monica’s death follows her discovery of her husband Tony’s infidelity; the articles describe the resulting fallout.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The series took a five-month hiatus before Part 2.
Monica Baddingham died after discovering Tony’s infidelity.
Six episodes returned to conclude the second season.
- Series
- Rivals
- Season
- Season 2, Part 2
- Episode count
- Six episodes
- Hiatus between parts
- Five months
- Monica Baddingham
- Played by Claire Rushbrook
- Tony Baddingham
- Played by David Tennant
2 sources
What people are saying
There’s probably been a sleeper since we started
There’s sex, social commentary and a slow-burn romance