The performances of all the actors are impressive, many of the old country houses being used as sets, gorgeous, and the script is intriguing and leaves you wanting more. I can firmly say it’s worth a watch even if it’s just to enjoy David Tennant mastering the art of playing a smarmy, entitled Lord.
The first episode really sums up what you’re getting from the show: television, heated arguments, a bit of horse riding (to cement the fact they’re all very posh and proper), Danny Dyer in a (pretty awful) wig and, of course, a rather graphic final montage in which most of the main characters are sleeping with someone - usually someone they’re not supposed to be.
The show really stops at nothing relationships wise. You’re married? Never mind, everyone cheats so why shouldn’t you. You’re twenty years younger than your love interest? Never mind, you’re a grown woman. You want something? Just sleep with the person to get it, problem solved.
I wanted particularly to touch on Danny Dyer’s performance which was surprisingly heart-warming. Dyer plays businessman Freddie Jones who, whilst being lovelessly married, is pining after Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson). Their relationship becomes the most romantic in the show Freddie turning out to be a sweet, intelligent man. When we compare this to the likes of Tony (Tennant), Rupert (Hassell) and even Declan (Aiden Turner), who plays a journalist working for Tony and then, later, with Rupert, is practically angelic.
Apart from the stellar performances and intriguing plot the show also deals in some controversial and difficult topics. Thatcherism is prominent and alongside it the unabashed homophobia of the Tories. There are hushed up rapes, sexual exploitation, racism, objectification, inequality, and snobbery. Not to mention the constant deference to aristocracy. There is a highly plausible depiction of the struggles of being a black woman in this era, we see Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams) fight simply to be seen.
Whilst most of the characters, particularly the male ones, are manipulative, cruel and give little thought to other people’s feelings unless it benefits them to do so the show is an honest (and raunchy) depiction of the 80s upper class. Rivals is entrenched in a web of lies, seduction and politics that’s graphicness is only alleviated by its ridiculousness, but I would say it’s worth a watch.
