Rivals Season 2 is here, and the drama is already thicker than a Cotswold fog. The hit Hulu series, based on Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles, picks up just a month after the Season 1 finale, with the battle between Venturer and Corinium still raging. But for Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner) and his estranged wife Maud (Victoria Smurfit), the war is personal.
In the first three episodes, we see Declan and Maud rekindle their physical relationship when he shows up at her play—only for it to implode when Maud realizes Declan hasn't actually seen her perform. Turner and Smurfit sat down with us to unpack that explosive moment, Maud's new job offer from Tony Baddingham (David Tennant), and even which of the O'Hara kids has the worst love interest.
Declan's Lie Shocks Even Aidan Turner
When Declan visits Maud backstage, he claims he's seen her play. But Maud, sharp as ever, quickly catches him in the lie. Turner admits he was surprised by his character's deception. "It's not the not going—it's the lying," he says. "To go and lie to her, that surprised me. It shows how desperate he is to have Maud back in his life." Smurfit agrees, calling the move "so stupid." She adds, "He knew how important it was to Maud, so he felt like that was the easier path." But Turner counters, "If he had gotten away with it, he would have just continued that lie. He wouldn't have corrected it."
Maud's New Role and the Fallout With Tony Baddingham
Maud's decision to leave Declan and pursue her own career was a highlight of Season 1. Now, she's been offered the lead role of Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream by none other than Tony Baddingham—Declan's rival. Smurfit teases, "You can expect what you'd hope for, which is it doesn't go down brilliantly. The two of them are trying to navigate their new world, Maud's new world. He's trying to be respectful, but the cracks start appearing."
For more on the series, check out our full review of Rivals Season 2, which we called "bigger, raunchier, and more addictive than ever."
Which O'Hara Kid Has the Worst Love Interest?
In a fun twist, Turner and Smurfit were asked to pick which of the O'Hara children has the worst romantic partner. Their answer might surprise you. Without giving too much away, they agreed it's not the obvious choice—and it involves a character who seems charming at first but reveals a darker side. "It's the one you'd least expect," Smurfit hints.
As for what's next, the actors promise more chaos. "It's the beginning of more delicious drama," Smurfit says. With Maud working for the enemy and Declan's lies piling up, the O'Hara family is in for a bumpy ride. Rivals Season 2 is streaming now on Hulu.
