Rivals Stars on Rupert and Taggie’s “Emotional Edging” in Season 2 

The following contains spoilers for the first three episodes of Rivals season 2.

Rivals is back for a second season, and it’s bigger, bolder, and more complicated than ever before. But while the show has garnered plenty of buzz for its copious amounts of sex, hedonistic attitude, and gleeful depiction of some of the worst excesses of life among the British elite in the 1980s, at its heart, Rivals is a romance. From Declan (Aidan Turner) and Maud O’Hara’s (Victoria Smurfit) fractious marriage to the sweet but definitely forbidden attraction between Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson) and Freddie Jones (Danny Dyer) — who are both married to other people — the show is a study in complicated relationships of all stripes and the messy emotions that come along with them. 

“I think people just love these characters,” Alex Hassell, who plays the aristocratic Rupert Campbell-Black, tells Den of Geek when asked what it is about Rivals that has captured so many viewers’ imaginations since the first season premiered. “All these characters, really. They love being in this world of Rutshire, and the character dynamics and the naughtiness of it all, and all the characters have a good sense of humor, and they’re just fun to watch.”

Based on the late Dame Jilly Cooper’s best-selling series of so-called “bonkbuster” novels, Rivals features love triangles, illicit affairs, ill-advised flings, sweet crushes, and hidden attractions. But if the show has a central romance, it’s probably the forbidden attraction/overt yearning going on between Hassell’s playboy Olympic showjumper turned Tory MP and Declan’s eldest daughter, Taggie (Bella Maclean), a wannabe private chef with her own catering business. Though there’s a significant age gap between the two — Rupert is roughly 17 years Taggie’s senior — nothing about their relationship feels juvenile or scandalous. In fact, they often seem to be better together than they are apart. 

“I think people respond to something about the fact that they’re trying to make changes in each other, that they inspire each other to be kind of happier versions of themselves,” Maclean says. “Rupert is encouraging Taggie all the time, he’s encouraging her to not sacrifice her own needs to everyone else’s, and to put herself first sometimes. Taggie’s encouraging Rupert to be more in touch with his emotions and just be a better person.”

Despite the pair sharing a swoon-worthy kiss at the end of Rivals’ first season, Rupert and Taggie’s relationship takes a decidedly platonic turn in the initial episodes of season 2. There are several reasons for this, not the least of which being Rupert’s relationship with Corinium TV producer Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams), who, in her own messy subplot, is busy trying to cover up the fact that she left her boss, Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) for dead after whacking him over the head with an award statuette. But Cameron’s attempted murder situation is the least of Rupert’s problems as he faces down an embarrassing personal scandal that leads to the ruin of his political career. It’s a big swerve for a character who wasn’t necessarily granted a ton of emotional depth in much of the show’s first season. 

“It’s so nice to play different aspects of a character like Rupert and to try and show as many layers as possible. Trying to get in touch with that sort of human vulnerability was really exciting to play, and kind of [help] make [him] a fully fleshed out human being.” 

But although Rupert pushes Taggie away romantically speaking, season 2 still adds some intriguing new layers to their relationship by having both continue to show up for one another at key emotional moments. 

“I think they’re trying to make very clear boundaries,” Maclean says. “I mean, when she picks up the phone to him during that dinner party gone wrong [in the second episode], I think he’s probably the last person she wants to talk to, because she feels mortified. But Rupert can’t help but want to save her in lots of ways; he always wants to rescue her. And even though he’s chosen Cameron, he still leaps at any opportunity to see Taggie or be with her. And, yes, she’s frustrated and angry and cross and furious and all these things, but she can’t help but enjoy the thrill and the fun of him saving the day.” 

The second episode is a classic rom-com romp, which features the pair working together to salvage Taggie’s professional reputation — and getting shoved in cupboards together at the same time. 

“They have a wonderful, fun dynamic together, and a really great sense of humor with each other,” she says. “I think that was especially fun to play because they can be quite serious, and it’s seldom that you get to see them running around being silly together.”

Season 2 also introduces Rupert’s children, Marcus and Tabitha, whose presence also offers another important glimpse at their father’s more vulnerable side, particularly when it comes to Taggie’s relationship with them both.

“I think it’s amazing, seeing them together, and I also think it’s really, really painful for him,” Hassell says. “He sees the way she is with them and how much she brings them to life, especially [his son] Marcus, who Rupert himself struggles to connect with. Taggie’s so natural and easy [with them], she sort of guides the conversation and looks out for both them and him. She’s so amazing with the kids — when she talks about how lovely Cameron is, actually, and how she’s not that scary at all, actually, it’s an incredibly generous thing for her to do, to say that about [someone who is] her love rival. He just sees them all together, and he sees this family unit that he wishes could be the case, but he daren’t go there.” 

But though much of Rupert and Taggie’s arc seems to be focused on their deepening understanding of one another’s vulnerabilities, this is still Rivals, which means that there’s plenty of drama — both sexual and otherwise — to come.  When asked to describe Rupert and Taggie’s overall season 2 dynamic in a single word, Hassell’s response is quick: “Edging,” he says. “Emotional edging.”

“That’s two words!” Maclean breaks in with a laugh. “How about I’ll say emotional, and you say edging? Can we do that?” 

Buckle up, folks.