David Tennant and Alex Hassell Heat Up British High Society in Hulu's 'Rivals' Season 2

The 1980s Rutshire Drama Returns with Razor-Sharp Satire and Savage Power Games

Television lovers yearning for the decadence, sharp wit, and unrepentant glamor of 1980s British television are in luck. Hulu and Disney+ have officially dropped the highly anticipated new chapter of Rivals, the acclaimed drama series based on author Jilly Cooper's beloved Rutshire Chronicles. Holding a glowing 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating, the series has rapidly become one of streaming's hottest sleeper hits among millennials who adore smart character banter, boardroom betrayals, and intoxicating romance.

David Tennant and Alex Hassell's Sizzling Screen Chemistry

At the beating heart of Rivals is the electrifying, poisonous feud between Tony Baddingham, portrayed with sinister pomposity by David Tennant, and Rupert Campbell-Black, brought to life with smoldering rakish charm by Alex Hassell. Tennant's portrayal of a ruthless independent television franchise controller willing to burn down his empire to crush his rival offers some of the best acting in modern television drama. Opposite him, Hassell commands the screen as the former showjumper turned politician seeking redemption.

The stellar ensemble cast also boasts magnetic performances from Aidan Turner as passionate TV journalist Declan O'Hara, Nafessa Williams as brilliant American producer Cameron Cook, and Bella Maclean as Taggie O'Hara. Director Elliot Hegarty and lead writer Dominic Treadwell-Collins have maintained the breathless pacing and biting humor that made Cooper’s novels legendary worldwide cultural phenomenons.

Peak Escapism: Why Millennials Can't Get Enough of Rutshire

In an era dominated by bleak dystopian dramas and grim crime procedurals, Rivals stands out as a luxurious breath of fresh air. It offers pure, unapologetic melodrama where shoulder pads are wide, power ties are bold, champagne flows endlessly, and every conversation is laced with double entendres and strategic malice.

Yet behind the opulent country estates and flamboyant parties lies a perceptive critique of class warfare, media deregulation, and corporate ambition in Thatcher-era Britain. As Season 2 plunges Corinium Television into hostile takeover bids and scandalous private liaisons, Rivals cements its place as the definitive British guilty pleasure you never need to feel guilty about watching.