Warning: This article contains spoilers for Rivals Season 2 Episode 6.
Rivals Season 2 just hit its midseason point with a jaw-dropping death that even surprised fans of Jilly Cooper's novels. Showrunner Dominic Treadwell-Collins sat down to unpack the shocking twist, the late author's final stamp of approval, and what's ahead when the series returns this November.
Jilly Cooper's 'That's My Rupert and My Taggie' Moment
Cooper, who passed away last October at 88, was deeply involved in the adaptation process. Treadwell-Collins recalls the exact moment she knew Alex Hassell and Bella Maclean were the perfect incarnations of her beloved characters. "She watched the chemistry read and just smiled," he says. "She turned to me and said, 'That's my Rupert and my Taggie.' It was a huge relief and a thrill." The showrunner admits he wishes Cooper could have seen the fan response to Season 2. "She would have been over the moon."
Why Declan Is Telling the Truth About Ireland
One of the season's biggest questions is whether Declan (Aidan Turner) lied to Maud (Victoria Smurfit) about his trip to Ireland with Cameron (Nafessa Williams). Treadwell-Collins confirms: "Declan is telling the truth." The writers' room debated this extensively, even with Cooper herself. "At one point Jilly said, 'Oh no, they didn't!' and we had to show her the book where they did. But we decided to keep them platonic to show that not all men are love rats, and to give Cameron more agency. She's not just sleeping with unavailable men."
New Faces and Fresh Chaos
The second half of Season 2 introduces three key players: Rachael Stirling as Araminta Pemberton, a new character designed to stir up trouble; Rupert Evans as David Hawkley from The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous; and Santiago Cabrera as Alejandro Mendoza from Polo. Treadwell-Collins teases that Araminta will shake up Tony's (David Tennant) world after the devastating loss of his wife, Monica (Claire Rushbrook). "She's a force of nature," he says. "Tony is vulnerable, and Araminta knows exactly how to exploit that."
Staying True to Jilly's World
Throughout the adaptation, Treadwell-Collins and his writers constantly returned to Cooper's books. "If in doubt, go back to Jilly," he says. "She's so clever." One of his favorite details—Valerie's snobbery about not being able to see her house from the end of the drive—finally made it into Season 2 after being cut from Season 1. "Those little touches are what make Jilly's world so rich."
For fans eager for more, the showrunner promises that the second half of Season 2 will deliver even more drama, romance, and surprises. "We're just getting started," he says. Rivals returns this November on Disney+.
