As Rivals Season 2 barrels toward its midseason finale, the tension in the Cotswolds is thicker than ever. The first five episodes have thrown viewers into a full-blown television franchise war, with Rupert (Alex Hassell) clawing back the board's favor after a triumphant 'Golden Gauntlet' recording—only for the tapes to mysteriously vanish. The final shot of Episode 5 delivers a chilling image: Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) shredding those very tapes in his home, cigar in hand, as Tiffany's 'I Think We're Alone Now' blares in the background. It's a moment that sets the stage for a darker, more desperate Tony—and a marriage on the brink.
In a recent interview, Tennant and co-star Claire Rushbrook (Monica Baddingham) peeled back the layers of their characters' complicated relationship. While Rushbrook teased a potential romance between Monica and Dame Enid (Selina Griffiths), Tennant revealed an unexpected new affair between Tony and Maud O'Hara (Victoria Smurfit). Both actors hinted at contrasting fates for their characters by the end of Part 2, suggesting the drama is about to reach a fever pitch.
Legacy and Loyalty: The Baddinghams' Unspoken Rules
For Tony and Monica, legacy is everything. But as Tennant explains, that legacy comes with a dangerous tension. 'It's a tension between doing whatever he needs to do in whatever moment he finds himself, fairly ruthlessly, and not blowing up what he has,' he says. 'There's a sort of assumption between Monica and Tony that he can do whatever he likes as long as he doesn't bring it home and as long as he doesn't embarrass Monica.' It's a fine line—and one Tony often crosses.
Rushbrook adds that Monica is deeply traditional, holding onto her marriage out of fear of judgment. 'She cares deeply what people, her family, and the community would think, so she's holding on for dear life,' she says. This stoic loyalty, however, may be tested as the season progresses.
Monica and Enid: A Blossoming Connection?
When asked about the hints of a romantic connection between Monica and Dame Enid, Rushbrook was candid about her character's internal struggle. 'I think Monica is deeply blinkered to her own feelings,' she says. 'To acknowledge anything that's unconventional, that would rock the boat, it's really hard for her to give oxygen to that.' While the show has teased a bond between the two women, Monica's rigid sense of propriety may keep her from acting on it—at least for now.
Tony and Maud: A Kindred Spirit in Anarchy
On the other end of the spectrum, Tony's affair with Maud is far from conventional. Tennant describes it as 'slightly more opportunistic' than his previous fling with Cameron. 'He sees Maud's attributes and her talents, and he sees what she could mean, both as an artist in the work he's producing, but also as a pawn in his bigger game,' he explains. But Tony gets more than he bargained for. 'Her anarchy, her freewheeling nature, I think takes his breath away a little, and he tumbles into this relationship with her and finds himself far deeper in it, far quicker than he imagined.'
Despite the affair, Tennant insists Tony compartmentalizes his marriage and his dalliances. 'Not for a second thinking that takes away from his marriage with Monica. The two are very separate.'
A Marriage on the Edge
As Monica begins to push back, the cracks in the Baddinghams' union become impossible to ignore. 'I think he knows the rules,' Tennant says. 'I think he knows there are things he can get away with, as long as he doesn't bring them home, as long as he doesn't embarrass her, as long as he doesn't threaten their public reputation.' But as Rushbrook notes, 'Things become impossible to ignore, so she has to draw on some power, challenging him.'
With the midseason finale looming, the Baddinghams' future looks increasingly uncertain. For fans of the series, the question isn't just whether their marriage can survive—it's what kind of wreckage will be left behind. For more on Rivals, check out our deep dive into Hulu's 'Rivals' Season 2 Takes a Bold Election Twist That Changes Rupert Forever.
