Rivals - First episode
In the first episode of Rivals we are introduced to the wonderfully colorful British television world of the 1980s. Reason enough to continue watching! Last Friday, the episodes of Rivals appeared on Disney+, a series that I later understood was based on the book of the same name by Jilly Cooper. This series revolves around the rivalry between Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant, Doctor Who) and Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell, Everything Now).
The series is set in the 1980s, a time when television is becoming increasingly important. It gives us a look behind the scenes in television land. Baddingham works for Corinium Television, a TV channel that wants to compete with the BBC. He goes to great lengths to poach presenter/interviewer Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner, Fifteen-Love) from the BBC. And with success, because O'Hara and his entire family pack their things and move so that he can make that transition.
The emerging television market is becoming increasingly expensive and nothing is too crazy. This is also immediately apparent from the first episode of Rivals. The excess is wonderfully exaggerated and depicted with a good dose of British humor. From landing personal helicopters in backyards to play croquet to playing nude games of tennis, it's all so wonderfully exaggerated that it's fun.
As mentioned, the rivalry between Baddingham and Campbell-Black is paramount, although it is not immediately clear where it comes from in the first episode. But in addition, the arrival of O'Hara also causes friction among those who wanted to move up and now have to wait their turn. There are also some things going on within the O'Hara family that will undoubtedly play a role in the rest of the series. It is not yet too in-depth and the question is to what extent this will develop further.
Does the above seem a bit soap-like to you? That may just be right. It feels like the soaps from the 80s, but one where they have gone into overdrive and everything is even more extreme. Everyone does it together (except with their own partner), one cigarette is lit with another, the alcohol flows freely and everything is excessive. And both Tennant and Hassell are able to portray this perfectly.
As said, it therefore lacks some depth. Perhaps that will come in the remaining episodes, but even if not, I find it less disturbing here because the excess ensures that there is so much fun humor for me that it is fun to watch and hopefully remains so. In any case, I am very curious to see how the undoubtedly increasing rivalry will be developed in the remaining episodes.
This series was on my list purely because of the presence of David Tennant and even though I realized during the first minutes that I had ended up outside my own comfort zone in terms of series, I will also watch the remaining seven episodes without a doubt.
© Disney+
The series is set in the 1980s, a time when television is becoming increasingly important. It gives us a look behind the scenes in television land. Baddingham works for Corinium Television, a TV channel that wants to compete with the BBC. He goes to great lengths to poach presenter/interviewer Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner, Fifteen-Love) from the BBC. And with success, because O'Hara and his entire family pack their things and move so that he can make that transition.
The emerging television market is becoming increasingly expensive and nothing is too crazy. This is also immediately apparent from the first episode of Rivals. The excess is wonderfully exaggerated and depicted with a good dose of British humor. From landing personal helicopters in backyards to play croquet to playing nude games of tennis, it's all so wonderfully exaggerated that it's fun.
At the same time, there is indeed a story being told. Everything revolves around money and power, who has it and wants to keep it and who doesn't have it and wants to have it. Most of them are in the same social circles and meet each other regularly, but actually do not give each other the light and do not hesitate to get ahead at each other's expense. A perfect recipe for some uncomfortable situations.It feels like the soaps from the 80s, but one where they have gone into overdrive and everything is even more extreme.
As mentioned, the rivalry between Baddingham and Campbell-Black is paramount, although it is not immediately clear where it comes from in the first episode. But in addition, the arrival of O'Hara also causes friction among those who wanted to move up and now have to wait their turn. There are also some things going on within the O'Hara family that will undoubtedly play a role in the rest of the series. It is not yet too in-depth and the question is to what extent this will develop further.
© Disney+
Does the above seem a bit soap-like to you? That may just be right. It feels like the soaps from the 80s, but one where they have gone into overdrive and everything is even more extreme. Everyone does it together (except with their own partner), one cigarette is lit with another, the alcohol flows freely and everything is excessive. And both Tennant and Hassell are able to portray this perfectly.
As said, it therefore lacks some depth. Perhaps that will come in the remaining episodes, but even if not, I find it less disturbing here because the excess ensures that there is so much fun humor for me that it is fun to watch and hopefully remains so. In any case, I am very curious to see how the undoubtedly increasing rivalry will be developed in the remaining episodes.
This series was on my list purely because of the presence of David Tennant and even though I realized during the first minutes that I had ended up outside my own comfort zone in terms of series, I will also watch the remaining seven episodes without a doubt.
About the writer, Karzal
Mike (1995) has been a member of MySeries since 2016 and is mainly active on the English version of the site. Since 2018, he has been actively translating news articles, columns, reviews and basically everything that ends up on the Dutch site. The original articles, columns and reviews were actually written by others. During the week Mike can be found at IKEA, where he is a national systems specialist and occasionally also in the classroom to teach an English lesson. In addition, Mike logically enjoys watching series and has actually been spoon-fed this from an early age. The genre doesn't matter, there is a place for everything in the otherwise busy life.
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