‘Rivals’ Romance Rundown: 8 Major Relationship Revelations in Season 2’s Trailer
At long last, the Rivals Season 2 premiere is within sight. After over a year’s wait, we’re finally headed back to the Cotswolds, where the war between Corinium and Venturer is just getting started — and the romantic drama gets juicier by the minute.
The official Season 2 trailer gave us some insight into what’s happening with our favorite pairings when the show picks up. The Rupert (Alex Hassell) and Taggie (Bella Maclean) angst is painful to witness even in clips, but rest assured, we will be rewarded. Freddie (Danny Dyer) and Lizzie’s (Katherine Parkinson) love story continues to be the rare case of ethical cheating that we support, while Declan (Aidan Turner) and Maud (Victoria Smurfit) play a cat-and-mouse game that ultimately results in hot makeup sex.
Tony’s (David Tennant) got his hands full with Monica (Claire Rushbrook), and Cameron’s (Nafessa Williams) clearly rubbing her relationship with Rupert in his face. Poking the bear never ends well, and Tony’s going to have revenge on the brain post-injury.
While we love all the franchise-on-franchise backstabbing and nasty power plays, relationships are at the heart of this show. In honor of the Season 2 trailer, Swooon has a full romance rundown of the biggest moments from those glorious two and a half minutes.
Rivals, Season 2 Premiere, May 15, Hulu and Disney+
Rupert & Cameron
Rupert and Taggie fans, we must have patience. Rupert and Cameron aren’t going anywhere in the foreseeable future, especially with Tony on the warpath. In a world where Taggie O’Hara didn’t exist, these two would work, but we all know it’s not meant to be. Going into Season 2, Rupert and Cameron are certainly the strongest power couple in the Cotswolds… even if they’re not on the same page about their feelings.
Monica & Tony
Drag him, Monica, please. Mrs. Baddingham has been more than accommodating with Tony about everything, and it’s time for this queen to hold her ground. “You want to win so badly, you make yourself very easy to beat,” she tells Tony in the Season 2 trailer.
Monica is the real Baddingham Baddie, and Tony should be very afraid of what she could do to ruin him.
Rupert & Taggie
Rupert Campbell-Black, you better find a good hiding spot in the Bluebell Wood. After their perfect kitchen kiss, Rupert disappeared on Taggie, leaving her completely heartbroken. (The scene with the sibs? A punch to the gut.)
Get ready for some top-tier yearning because it’s a long way to go before these two can be together. We all know Rupert is going to try to push Taggie away because he feels like he isn’t good enough for her. When Taggie tells Rupert — in the same place they kissed — that he’s not capable of love, it felt like a slap. Rupert needs to grovel and beg and pine for Taggie so much that he throws his back out.
Taggie & Bas
Swooon has been ruminating on the Bas (Luke Pasqualino) and Taggie pairing for a while now. With Rupert carrying on with Cameron, Taggie needs to embrace her single girl era. Taggie looking at a soaking wet Bas?
Yeah, we see the vision.
Taggie’s got some Maud in her. Have a little fun with Bas. Make Rupert so jealous that he’s physically ill. We would endorse this fling before the Rutag endgame. (Book readers are well aware of the Bas and Taggie moment at the Hunt Ball that changes everything.)
Freddie & Lizzie
Who would have thought we’d be fully on board with two characters cheating on their spouses? Well, thank you, Freddie and Lizzie.
“I can’t stop thinking about you. It’s like a beautiful dream I had,” Freddie sweetly tells Lizzie in the trailer.
They’re both miserable in their marriages. FREE THEM!
Charles & Gerald
The angst! At the end of last season, Gerald “found” a girl to marry, which he says will give him “respectability” in his career, and wanted to continue his relationship with Charles in secret. In the finale, Charles was OK with that setup, but the Season 2 trailer tells a different story. Charles looks utterly heartbroken when he spots Gerald kissing his chosen lady. Poor Charles — and the girl Gerald wants to marry!
Declad & Maud
Maud took off for London in the Season 1 finale, and Declan’s not giving up on his marriage without a fight. These two like the chase, and it’s a guarantee that their makeup sex will be so hot it might make our TVs explode.
James and Lizzie
No. Just no.
Seriously, someone save Lizzie from this torture. Let’s just hope we get to see James’ reaction when he learns about Freddie — on How to Stay Married. It’s what he deserves.
