With Taggie as the spark that lights the fire, Venturer assembles a team to stop Tony once and for all in Rivals Season 2, Episode 9. Written by Sorcha Kurien-Walsh and directed by Dee Koppang O’Leary, this episode follows the characters as they accept truths and ignore others. Most of which has to do with the ensemble finding a way to move forward after the truth came out about Tony and Maud’s affair. In the wake of something that seismic, it’s odd and rather disappointing that this episode doesn’t check in with Maud at all.
Instead, Rivals mainly sees the men involved — Tony, Declan, and Rupert by association — think and feel about it. No one is interested in hearing out, let alone understanding her perspective, which may well be the point. Relatedly, this episode does follow suit by revealing that Maud is a traitor to him, but she’s not the mole — or, at least, not the only one. Beyond that specific storyline, though, this episode also plants seeds that will be sown later in this season. There are even teases that go farther than that, which is beyond exciting. It’s evident that Rivals is playing the long game — let’s stay in Rutshire forever.
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Are Freddie and Lizzie Sustainable?
As the season gets further into its run, one of the best storylines is Lizzie’s professional choices and the protection of her novel. This episode shows why Corinium isn’t the right choice. James being set on ruining Rupert with Sarah’s baby perfectly encapsulates the Corinium will always seek revenge. (Not to mention, it represents how far off base James is about, well, everything.) It’s not about the stories — not anymore, not really. So it wouldn’t be the case for Lizzie’s novel either.
That doesn’t mean that the professional and personal don’t blend in other places, like when Freddie asks about Lizzie’s book while kissing her neck. But, then, the more pressing question is Lizzie’s jealousy of Mousie, Freddie’s wife. It’s so interesting that Lizzie has the self-awareness to know that it’s not right for her to be jealous or to ask Freddie to stop sleeping with Valerie. That’s what makes it all complex. For instance, Freddie still loves Val, but he’s willing to change his marriage for Lizzie. Just as this affair gets more dicey, Rivals cuts to James and Deirdre outside — it’s perfect. (Deirdre being totally in love with James is as good a running bit as Rupert being Sarah’s “port in storm.”)
That cut is as good as James just sitting in disbelief when he realizes that Lizzie and Freddie have been having an affair. He truly never thought Lizzie capable, which is the whole point, isn’t it? He never sees her, and he completely underestimates her on the rare occasion that he does.
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Can Perdita Prove Everyone Wrong?
Sarah living at Rupert’s place (again) and being upstairs during Bas’s bash is the most fun reveal. It’s expected, and it still makes me giggle when she’s just casually living her life while a massive party takes place. It also leads to a great scene where Perdita defends Sarah from James and Deirdre. That certainty and fierceness comes on the heels of Perdita standing up to Sebbie and Dommie about being woman enough to play polo. Holly Cattle plays Perdita just as I imagined her in the books — it’s thrilling.
As for Sarah, well, she should follow that feeling about Perdita reminding her of someone. Rivals certainly shows its hand without spelling it out, which is actually refreshing in a world of second-screen viewing. It clicks for Declan — with the score to boot — when he hears her name. After all, he’d never forget that name on the piece of paper that he burned after his interview with Rupert.
That realization comes together with Rupert calling Perdita a “stupid little girl” for standing on Rocky and Belgravia. Not to mention, Cameron says that Perdita’s parents should deal with her. It’s so juicy because Rupert knew about Maud and didn’t think it was his place to tell Declan. Now, as they’ve cleared the air, Declan finds himself in a rather similar space with Rupert.
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How Many Moves Does Tony Have Left?
Naturally, the fallout of the affair has to play in Tony’s favor, and manipulation is his favorite tactic. It’s expectedly infuriating that Tony and Ginger have spun the story into Maud seducing Tone. He even uses Monica’s death to his advantage. All of which doesn’t sit well with Paul, which is such a fun thread to pull with this tertiary character. Those awful tactics work with the head of IBA but not Declan or Rupert. That doesn’t stop Tony from being absolutely relentless.
When Tony tries to chip away at Declan, I find David Tennant’s performance most alarmingly brilliant. There’s no spark in Tony’s eyes. There’s no joy in it for him anymore; he wants to break spirits. This scene also captures Tony’s core characterization from the book — trying to build some fragile bond with Declan because they’ve both worked for everything they have. What Tony has is in jeopardy with Monica gone, and that’s something that Rupert reminds him of with two piercing lines: “Your wife died in my arms, broken by your games. Always remember that.”
Tony tries to push that blame onto anyone else, but it’s Declan who eventually accepts that his own hubris and obsession are to blame. Declan and Rupert (“I’ll have what she’s having”) also accept they can’t do any of this without Cameron. But for her to come back, things have to change. She is the smartest one in any room — these men should grovel to get her back. I love that Enid calls Cameron their “knight in shining stilettos.”
Relatedly, Venturer’s pitch is good. It’s visually entertaining in the edit alone. It culminates in that wonderful speech about democracy from Declan. I’d transcribe it all here if I could, I loved it that much. It’s vile to watch Tony (with Joyce’s enabling) retaliate by using Reverend Penney’s sexual assault of Daysee as a pawn in this. Every step Tony takes is another one too far.
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Taggie Follows Her Heart…to Rupert
Meanwhile, Taggie has this unimaginable pressure on her shoulders to pull her family together. In that vulnerability, she turns to someone she trusts: Rupert. “Holding Out for a Hero” playing as Taggie goes to Penscombe? Goosebumps! She isn’t thinking about him or them — it’s bigger than that. But it also isn’t. Both things are true because their exchange says a lot between the lines (Taggie loves Rupert, and Rupert thinks that Taggie is the most beautiful person in the world). Mostly Taggie wants Rupert to win so that she can stay, like he did in Season 1.
With that, Rupert has a renewed fight in his spirit. All the while, Rivals delivers these scenes, like the one outside Rupert’s car where they’re missing each other’s eye contact, when I can’t help but remember that he told Monica that he loves Taggie. And he’s not with Cameron anymore. It’s good that Rivals gives Cameron the space to say Rupert broke her heart. It’s a reminder of why Rupert’s keeping his distance. It also works when Cameron tells Patrick, who comes back at the perfect time, that Rupert is in love with someone else.
She’s known that for a while, and it’s hard to deny when even the smallest things add up. The moment when Rupert is overcome with emotion because it was Taggie’s idea to include Marcus in the Venturer pitch? Just stunning work from Alex Hassell. It helps that Hassell and Bella Maclean have undeniable chemistry as these characters.
This episode lets that shine in some great Bas and Taggie moments. He, too, is trying to get Taggie to live her life for herself. Those efforts come from his personal experience of having his life defined by his parents for so long — Yay, learning more about Bas! His and Taggie’s foundation crumbles a bit when he bets on when he’ll sleep with her. But Rivals plays that as a direct reaction to his ego taking a hit when Taggie politely turns him down. He’s hurt, so…chaos.
It speaks volumes that Taggie doesn’t feel up to dating Bas but takes the leap to step into her feelings for Rupert. She’s doing something for herself — following her heart. That final scene is gorgeously directed and contains this heartbreaking exchange. Rupert doesn’t see himself as capable of making Taggie happy. In reality, he’s keeping them both from that joy, that love. All of that while heading into the Hunt Ball, which surely made book readers lean forward with extra interest just at the mention of it.
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