Hulu Will Return to Rutshire for More Rumpy Pumpy in 'Rivals' Season 2

Forget Christmas; Santa has already brought us the gift we most hoped for: the Season 2 renewal of Rivals. The throwback soapy drama, based on Dame Jilly Cooper's bestselling novel of the same name from her Rutshire Chronicles universe, was one of the most underrated series of 2024. A celebration of 1980s excess, it tells a story of greed, sex, and betrayal among the British upper crust. Complete with a banging soundtrack, nostalgic fashion, and a truly excellent ensemble cast, it's a show that's unabashedly out to have a good time from its first moments (which involve two characters joining the mile-high club in an airplane toilet).

Season 1's plot ostensibly follows the titular rivalry between former Olympic showjumper turned Tory MP Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and ambitious television executive Lord Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) but took some liberties with Cooper's source material, fleshing out the book's characters and adding a few unexpected narrative swerves. The series also expanded the story to include an ensemble of over a half dozen main characters and central relationships.

This renewal news is especially welcome after the first season's bonkers cliffhanger ending, which saw [redacted] threaten to divorce [redacted], [redacted] hit [redacted] over the head with a [redacted], and [redacted] finally kiss [redacted].* Yes, I'm working double time to avoid spoilers in this description because I can guarantee this is the most fun show most of you haven't watched yet, and now you have no excuse!