Disney+ has launched the second season of Rivals, a high-octane drama set in a stylized version of the 1980s . The new installment focuses on the escalating feud between Lord Baddingham and Rupert Campbell-Black amidst a backdrop of social scandal.

The Jilly Cooper legacy and the 1980s aesthetic

The production of Rivals draws heavily from the spirit of the late author Jilly Cooper, whose literary work defines the series' high-society chaos. As the report notes, Cooper approved the early scripts to ensure her specific vision of social upheaval and hedonism remained intact before her passing at age 88. this creative oversight ensures that the show's "rollicking" nature and oversized gin and tonics feel authentic to her original intent.

This connection to Cooper’s literary world provides a broader context for the show's unapologetic embrace of 1980s excess. the series utilizes a neon-soaked aesthetic to recreate a fantasy version of the decade, where social etiquette is often secondary to personal desire. from skinny dipping in sponsor pools to the absurdity of the "Heavenly Twins," Sebbie and Dommie, the show leans into a lifestyle of uninhibited behavior.

David Tennant’s Baddingham vs. alex Hassell’s Campbell-Black

David Tennant reprises his role as the menacing Lord Tony Baddingham, returning to the fray after appearing incapacitated by an awards statuette in the first season. According to the source, Baddingham is driven by a ghoulish energy to dominate the television industry and dismantle his eternal nemesis, Rupert Campbell-Black, portrayed by Alex Hassell.

Aidan Turner also returns to the series as the journalist Declan O'Hara, a character described as having a mustache reminiscent of an "otter with an afro." The chemistry between these leads, alongside characters like the lip-gloss-wearing gossip-slinger played by Emily Atack, creates a tour de force of dramatic irony and romantic entanglement.

A May 2026 premiere at London's BFI IMAX Waterloo

The cast and crew celebrated the season's debut at a world premiere held at the BFI IMAX Waterloo in London on May 13, 2026. The event showcased the "Rolls-Royce quality" of the production, which features impeccable production values and an electric storytelling pace that avoids the boredom often associated with on-screen sports like polo.

The debate over Andrew Parker Bowles as a real-world model

The series explores the thin line between fiction and reality by hinting at real-life inspirations for its characters. While the show remains a stylized fantasy, the report mentions rumors that the promiscuous Rupert Campbell-Black may have been modeled after figures such as Andrew Parker Bowles.

This leaves several questions regarding the show's commitment to historical accuracy versus pure invention. It remains unverified whether other characters are based on specific socialites,and the source does not clarify if the production intends to lean further into these real-world parallels in future episodes. Furthermore , while the show hints at these connections, it does not explicitly confirm the identities of the inspirations behind the more scandalous plot points.