Old Grudges, New Drama: Rivals Season 2 Is Old School Soap Opera Done Right

Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams)

Rivals season two continues the classic soap opera camp from season one and does not disappoint. Season one ended with a juicy cliffhanger that is resolved early on in season 2 which moves the action along. The rivalry between the two TV companies Tony Baddington’s (David Tennant, Broadchurch) Corinium Television and Rupert Campbell Black’s (Alex Haskell, The Boys) Venturer continues to escalate and the two men are again at one another’s throats.

All of our favorite Cotswolds elites are back and the storylines all pick up where they left off. The cast is huge which gives the opportunity for several love triangles where you can see several people who are in love with the person who isn’t in love with them while there is another person who is pining after the person who is going to get their heart broken. That foresight gives, especially Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams, Black Lightening) a more compelling storyline. As the only Black American woman in this town, I often worry for Cameron. In the first season we see how alone Cameron is and how she’s stuck in her situation. She finds an unexpected release in Rupert but is blind to the fact that Rupert is bedazzled by his friend Declan O’ Hara’s (Aidan Turner, Poldark) young daughter Taggie (Bella Maclean, Sex Education). If there wasn’t someone waiting in the wings for Cameron who is much more appropriate for her I would look at her toxic dalliance with Rupert with more irritation. Rivals season one drew me in because it didn’t pull any punches in terms of showing how racism works in the UK. Cameron slept her way into power and everyone knew in and talked about her behind her back. But she is also a talented producer who got positive results and knows what she’s doing. So in this case, she utilizes her position to get what she wants using the tools she has. But, she, like the phoenix, flew a little too close to the Sun and got burned.

Tony Baddington (David Tennant)

Thinking that she could reject Tony for his rival Rupert was a huge mistake. You see the institutional power that Tony has and wields unapologetically whenever he deems fit. But, what’s great in true soap opera form Tony’s wife Lady Monica (Claire Rushbrook, Home Fires) the woman with the actual title is the person who has actual power in this system of monarchy. As Tony thinks he’s womanizing in secret, Lady Monica has his number and is like this omnipotent force who inevitably knows exactly what Tony is doing and with whom he’s fornicating. But in true Soap Opera form, Lady Monica knows quite a bit but not everything. I hope to see a showdown between these two powerhouse women at some point this season.

Rivals reminds me of old school soap operas with more nuance, steamer scenes of intimacy and better acting. Season 2 is definitely worth sinking your teeth into.

Rivals season 2 is certified fresh ⅗ out of 5 tomatoes.

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