As the opening episode of Rivals begins, Farah (Nisha Aaliya) tries to get into the bathroom of a plane where a man and woman are having sex. Once they finish, Beattie Johnson (Annabel Scholey) leaves the bathroom first. Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) asks Farah if they broke the sound barrier. When Rupert sits down, Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) asks if he’s enjoying his flight. He asks Rupert if the Prime Minister gave him permission to sleep with a journalist in the onboard toilet. Tony suggests he’s a powerless backbend politician now. Rupert suggests he’s going to lose his business if he doesn’t start making decent television. Tony says he’s hired a hot shot producer by the name of Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams). At the BBC Television Centre, Declan O’Hara (Aidan Turner) interviews the Deputy Prime Minister who complains about nudity and homosexuality.
They argue until they’re stopped and told to do this again. Declan asks Paul Stratton (Rufus Jones) about being married to Winifred for 15 years. He suggests Paul is spending time with his 29-year-old secretary Miss Sarah Price. Alistair (Jamie Chapman) asks for a take without the slander. Declan curses him. When Declan goes to his room, he finds Tony waiting for him. Tony says they both know the BBC won’t show tonight’s episode. Declan insists he’s not interested in commercial television. Tony offers to put him up live and give him complete editorial control. Declan knows he’d have to persuade Maud. Tony keeps pressuring him to come over. Later, Tony lands in an airplane and says hello to his family. He tells Monica Baddingham (Claire Rushbrook) that he has been very successful. Declan tells his family they’ve reached The Priory. Maud (Victoria Smurfit) calls the place a prison. Caitlin (Catriona Chandler) and Taggie (Bella Maclean) see a woman outside and believe she’s a Jehovah’s Witness.
Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson) tells the women that she found the Bible on the lawn. They day Declan believes it is a literary abomination so he threw it out the window. When Lizzie comes inside, she learns that Caitlin wants Rupert to ravish her. Lizzie is one of the few women around there who hasn’t been ravished by him. They soon learn that Lizzie writes novels. Maud asks about finding a cleaner. Declan interrupts and insists they’re not hiring a cleaner. Then, Declan goes to work where everyone looks at him and talks about him. He’s hounded by the media. Cameron Cook leads him inside and tells him to take a seat. Declan goes to Tony to say this is not going to work. It’s not a chat show. Declan and Cameron argue about it. Declan is introduced to Charles Fairburn (Gary Lamont) who is the controller of programs. Ginger Baines (Antony Byrne) is the Head of Operations.
Declan wants to produce himself. Cameron says Johnny Friedlander is scheduled to be his first interview. Tony reminds them he hired them because they can get ratings. Once Declan leaves, Tony tells Cameron he brought her there to be the cleverest person in the room and to terrify the rest of them. They need big game like Declan to convince the IBA to renew their contract. Lizzie shows Taggie around. They talk about Taggie’s hopes for the future. Lizzie has two children. Taggie notices smoke rising from a house nearby so she calls for help. She runs toward the house with her dog following her. Taggie finds Rupert naked with a woman. He set the fire because it’s the quickest way to get rid of the stubble after the harvest. Rupert soon fires out that she called the fire brigade. They argue until Taggie is forced to leave. Basil (Luke Pasqualino) joins Declan and Charles for a drink. When Bas leaves, Declan learns he is Tony’s half-brother.
Tony’s son Archie (Louis Landau) comes over to take their orders. Declan and Charles talk about Cameron. Meanwhile, Cameron introduces Lady Gwendolyn Gosling (Maggie Steed) to the crew. Gosling tells Cameron she marched with Gloria Steinem in the Women’s Strike for Equality. She tells Tony that Corinium’s board needs strengthening. Gosling suggests adding Rupert. Charles tells Declan about being in independent television and going up against many regional companies. He believes Declan is the golden goose for Corinium. Caitlin and Taggie talk about Rupert. Caitlin asks if it’s going to happen again. Now that she’s there, she’d like to stay. Tony speaks to Monica about Freddie Jones who he wants for the board. Declan arrives at the party with Maud and his daughters. Cameron refuses to go to the party. She speaks to another woman about Declan’s set.
Cameron asks Steve (Dan Tetsell) to move the desk off the set. She believes it’s better without the desk. Rupert’s aide, Gerald Middleton (Hubert Burton), reaches the party. Tony addresses the crowd. He says they’re confident this is going to be their most successful autumn ever. Rupert interrupts when he arrives when the journalist, Beattie Johnson. Rupert finds out who Taggie is. Valerie Jones (Lisa McGrillis) talks to Lizzie and reveals she’s moved to Wychey. She says Tony is wooing Freddie (Danny Dyer) for his board. James Vereker (Oliver Chris) leaves with Valerie. Freddie and Lizzie seem to get along better. Beattie approaches Declan to talk to him about leaving the BBC. Declan asks Taggie about her mother. Maud is busy speaking to Rupert. When Declan interrupts, he introduces himself to Rupert. Taggie speaks to Rupert who certainly remembers her. Tony goes inside to speak to Monica.
Declan gives Tony something that he calls “Declan O’Hara insurance”. Rupert and Declan play pool. Rupert says Tony’s father made his money in munitions during the war. That’s why Tony married Lady Monica of the Glen. Tony overhears him and barges in. Rupert believes Tony is going to ask him to be on the board. He refuses. Tony learns that Paul is there. Paul comes in with Sarah. Taggie recognizes her as the woman who was naked with Rupert. Tony follows her out and says he heard about the tennis incident. He believes he knows who the mystery woman is now too. Rupert warns Declan that he’s dancing with the devil. Tony tells Beattie something that seems to upset her. She approaches and slaps Rupert. Beattie accuses him of shagging Sarah Stratton who claims it was only tennis. Paul gets upset and falls into a table. He tries to attack Rupert who quickly stops him.
Beattie tells Rupert she’s going to ruin him before driving away. Taggie apologizes to Rupert who says Beattie took his car. Declan and Maud argue about moving there. Rupert walks back home to his excited dogs. He speaks to the Prime Minister on the phone. Then, Rupert admits he’s in trouble again. Lizzie begins writing her next novel called Rivals. Tony tells Cameron that Rupert is finished after today. He goes to bed with her. Taggie thinks about Rupert. The next day, Rupert tells Tony that Mrs. Thatcher has given him a promotion as the new Minister of Sport. He warns Tony to keep his nose out of his affairs. Tony believes Maggie will see through him soon enough.
Rivals Review
The opening episode of Rivals impressed with its vast cast of talent with the likes of Aidan Turner, David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Annabel Scholey, Claire Rushbrook, and others. Despite having a great cast, the episode left a lot to be desired. In particular, a strong cast can’t make up for a lackluster script and that was the case in the first episode.
After the opener, I am still searching long and hard for one character to genuinely care about considering how awful they all are. Once again, we have rich folks dealing with the petty problems of rich folks and they’re all terrible people. The episode didn’t even really do a good job of telling us where this is going so it may be better for readers of the book.
On the other hand, it may be that there’s going to be way too much going on which was the case here. It was really more about gross sex scenes and less about any rivalries or the Corinium television station. Where is this going and what is going to be the purpose of the series moving forward? There doesn’t seem to be a purpose right now.
The whole thing is bloated from the cast to the stories causing each to feel watered down and insignificant. Who are we supposed to be cheering for here? Really, I hated everyone here with Cameron probably being the worst of the bunch. Of course, there is still plenty of time to out-obnoxious each other.
A good cast really can’t make up for a weak script that is trying way too hard to be hip and cutting-edge. The opening episode was really just too much of everything without enough substance creating a monotonous experience. The episode scores a 5 out of 10. Recaps of Rivals can be found here. Find out how to support our independent site here. Learn more about advertising with us here. See what others are saying here.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
