Rivals season 2 review: Jilly Cooper bonkbuster is still as steamy as ever — but troubling tensions take over in first three-episode release

Dame Jilly Cooper may no longer be with us, but her legacy continues to speak for itself — and frankly, Rivals season 2 on Hulu and Disney+ is the perfect tribute to the bonkbusting chaos that's synonymous with her name.

Picking up shortly after where we left off in season one, our Rutshire ensemble's collective horniness has turned somewhat sour. Cameron (Nafessa Williams) is lying low after being convinced she's killed her boss, Tony (David Tennant), after battering him with a TV award in self-defense.

Lothario Rupert (Alex Hassell) has immediately jumped to Cameron's defense, which puts his on-off relationship with neighbor Taggie (Bella Maclean) back in the shade. Meanwhile, Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson) and Freddie (Danny Dyer) are desperately trying to hide their feelings for one another, while Sarah (Emily Atack) is trying to climb the ranks at Tony's Corinium TV station, despite some harmful obstacles.

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Basically, we've got everything and the kitchen sink on the go, with some signature streamy sex scenes drizzled on top for good measure. But despite getting our pound of naked flesh out of each of the three new episodes, the gang's general air of horniness is nowhere to be seen.

In short, things are on the cusp of taking a turn for the worse in Rivals season 2, so it's almost no wonder that we're being left on tenterhooks before the remainder of the season drops later in the year. But one man's tale of desperation (Rupert's) is another's insatiable binge (ours).

Rivals season 2 opens up another hornet's nest — but it's not full of headiness or heartache

Rivals Season 2 | Official Trailer | Hulu - YouTube

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If I'm honest, I'm still not entirely sure if I love or loathe Rivals season 2's swing further into clothes-on heated rivalry. Tennant's Tony Baddingham is somehow even more odious than in season 1, intent on getting revenge against Rupert, Cameron, Declan (Aiden Turner), and even Sarah in one fell swoop.

For me, Declan and family are easily the weakest link of the season. While Declan gets lost in Cameron and Rupert's drama with Tony, wife, Maud (Victoria Smurfit), is on screen for what feels like all of two seconds. Taggie, relentlessly pining after Rupert, is starting to get tiresome, too.

But their loss means gains are made elsewhere, especially with Tony's long-suffering wife Monica (Claire Rushbrook). She's finally starting to bite back against Tony's adulterous ways, and instead of moping in bed with a pile of shaggy dogs on her lap (not a euphemism), she's starting to see the benefits. More of this energy in season two, part two, please.

Everyone else is feeling too stressed or fearful to be in desperate need of sex — so while steamy scenes are still present, they're often blink-and-you 'll-miss-them. The boisterous bonking in Rivals is both half the fun of watching and is integral to the show's DNA, so the missing heady energy is noticeable.

Dame Jilly Cooper's legacy is continuing in the safest of hands

What is clear about Rivals season 2 is that Cooper has obvious involvement over every inch of these episodes, with the bulk of production happening before her death in October 2025. Her input is clear, concise and has been carried off with aplomb, speaking to how highly the show will be treated in her absence.

What's more is that we're starting to see the seedlings of the JCU (Jilly Cooper Universe) being sown. Avid novel readers will know that Polo takes place between Cooper novels Riders and Rivals... and without giving anything away, there's an eye-popping ode to how the Rutshire Chronicles could easily be expanded into on TV.

My personal shoutouts of the season? Emily Atack's quietly devastating portrayal of Sarah's solo storyline, and the gift that keeps on giving in the form of Lizzie and Freddie's will-they-won't-they-affair. It's the most wholesome part of the salacious series, and that's considering the fact that they're literally cheating on their spouses.

Has Rivals season 2 made sure that it's the most bashful, bawdy and bonkers show available to stream? Absolutely. Is it a slight step down from season 1? Possibly. But will it likely pick back up with a vengeance later in the year? I'd put money on it.

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