Rivals Season 2: Rupert and Taggie’s Relationship Takes a Surprising Turn

Spoilers for the first three episodes of Rivals Season 2.

Rivals is back for a second season, and it’s bigger, bolder, and more complicated than ever before. While the show has drawn attention for its bold themes—including sex, hedonism, and the excesses of British elite life in the 1980s—at its core, it remains a romance. The series explores fractured marriages, forbidden attractions, and messy emotions across its ensemble cast.

Rupert and Taggie’s Relationship: A Shift in Season 2

One of the show’s central romances is the dynamic between Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell), a playboy Olympic showjumper turned Tory MP, and Taggie O’Hara (Bella Maclean), Declan O’Hara’s eldest daughter and an aspiring private chef. Despite a significant age gap—Rupert is roughly 17 years older than Taggie—their connection feels mature and mutually inspiring.

“I think people respond to something about the fact that they’re trying to make changes in each other, that they inspire each other to be kind of happier versions of themselves,” Maclean says. “Rupert is encouraging Taggie all the time, he’s encouraging her to not sacrifice her own needs to everyone else’s, and to put herself first sometimes. Taggie’s encouraging Rupert to be more in touch with his emotions and just be a better person.”

After sharing a swoon-worthy kiss at the end of Season 1, Rupert and Taggie’s relationship takes a platonic turn in the early episodes of Season 2. This shift is driven by Rupert’s new relationship with Cameron Cook (Nafessa Williams), a Corinium TV producer entangled in her own scandal after allegedly leaving her boss, Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant), for dead.

Rupert’s Political Scandal and the Show’s Central Themes

Rupert faces a personal scandal that threatens his political career, adding another layer of complexity to the series. Meanwhile, the show continues to explore the messy emotions and complicated relationships that define its characters, from Declan (Aidan Turner) and Maud O’Hara’s (Victoria Smurfit) tumultuous marriage to Lizzie Vereker’s (Katherine Parkinson) forbidden attraction to Freddie Jones (Danny Dyer).

Why Viewers Love Rivals

Alex Hassell, who plays Rupert, attributes the show’s appeal to its characters and their world:

“I think people just love these characters. All these characters, really. They love being in this world of Rutshire, and the character dynamics and the naughtiness of it all, and all the characters have a good sense of humor, and they’re just fun to watch.”

Rivals is based on the late Dame Jilly Cooper’s best-selling series of “bonkbuster” novels, featuring love triangles, illicit affairs, and hidden attractions. The show blends romance, drama, and the decadence of 1980s British high society into a compelling narrative.