Published May 16, 2026, 2:38 PM EDT
Therese Lacson is a Senior TV Editor who has been with Collider since 2021. She got started in this business over ten years ago working primarily as an interviewer and critic. At Collider, she works closely with the features team to support the writers and also ideates and develops content daily. She has covered major industry events including Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Toronto International Film Festival, and San Diego Comic-Con. Although she reviews and covers both film and television, her focus is in television and her expertise is in fantasy and sci-fi genre shows. Her favorite shows to cover include House of the Dragon, Bridgerton, Fallout, 9-1-1, and Rivals.
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Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for Rivals Season 2, Episode 1-3.
Rivals Season 2 has officially dropped, and with three glorious episodes to dig into, the show is already kicking it up a notch from its freshman season. The '80s bonkbuster based on Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles novels is back and it's raunchier and messier than ever. We jump right back into the action, with the series only jumping forward in time about a month, with the war between Venturer and Corinium raging. The Season 1 finale saw Venturer winning the opportunity to compete against Corinium in a rousing debate scene, but the win came at a cost. Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner), who won the crowd over with an emotional speech about the power of television, also lost his wife Maud (Victoria Smurfit) that same night, when she packed up her bags and chose to take a job in a play rather than play house with him any longer in the Cotswolds.
We spoke with Turner and Smurfit about Declan and Maud's chaotic relationship and where we see them in the first three episodes of the season. When Declan turns up at Maud's play, the two unsurprisingly strike up a physical relationship again, but quickly it goes sour when Maud realizes her husband still hasn't seen her in the play. Turner and Smurfit discuss this tense moment between the married couple, and Turner speaks on his own surprise that Declan would act in such a way. Smurfit also discusses how her new potential job working for Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) will affect the family. Finally, the two break down who would be the worst romantic candidate for the O'Hara children (it's not the answer you'd expect) and give us a hint at what's to come in the latter part of Season 2.
Victoria Smurfit and Aidan Turner Break Down Declan and Maud's Toxic Reunion in 'Rivals' Season 2
"But to go and lie to her, that surprised me."
Image via HuluCOLLIDER: Victoria, I can't tell you how happy I was to see Maud leaving Declan last season and seizing control of her life, so to speak. How has she taken to adjusting to this new role and her new job?
VICTORIA SMURFIT: I think the thing that she's got to adjust to is the fact that she's taken a huge lump out of her ego, and she's popped that in her back pocket to say, “No, I would prefer to go do a lesser part, but actually be working and be on stage,” and I applaud her for that. She takes a big punt going and doing it, but I think she really, really enjoys being back at work. But also, she then gets an opportunity to go on as the lead, and within that moment, that's where she feels like she's back. But she has further to go, which is great.
I’m curious, Aidan, if you have a perspective on why Declan won't go see Maud in her play. Because I think that's a really big point of contention when they first get together. I was like, “Oh, they're hooking up together again,” but that instantly falls apart the minute she's like, “You still haven't seen my play.” What do you think prevents him from going to see her perform?
AIDAN TURNER: Well, clearly, work or whatever, or just something that pops up that, maybe in the moment, he doesn't think it's as big a deal as it is. I don't think it's even that that's the most important thing. It’s the fact that he lies, and he tells her he's seen the play.
SMURFIT: So stupid!
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TURNER: It's not not going to it. I mean, I've often missed friends' plays or whatever, and you go, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I can't go," or "I missed it, but hey, listen, I'm going to catch you next week." Whatever. But to go and lie to her, that surprised me. I mean, it shows how desperate he is to have Maud back in his life, so I could sort of channel that, and I could lean into that side of him, that he really does love her, and he wants the family to be reunited. I do think he feels a sense of guilt and shame about what he's put her through in recent years and whatnot. But, yeah, it's the lying bit that really surprised me and shocked me. And also, thinking he'd get away with it! I mean, Maud, for all her faults, is as sharp as a tack, and I don't think that was ever going to win. And for a man who's all about the truth and finding the truth in situations, to tell such a huge transgression was a strange moment.
SMURFIT: I took it as he lied because he knew how important it was to Maud, so he felt like that was the easier...
TURNER: Well, sure, but you don't do that, though. It's such a crazy move. It's a crazy chess move to play.
SMURFIT: He knows she'll go for him.
TURNER: And the truth is, if he had gotten away with it, he would have just continued that lie. He wouldn't have corrected it, and he probably wouldn't have gone to see the play either. It just would have freed him up to do more meetings. So yeah, if that answers your question.
SMURFIT: Men!
Smurfit Teases What's To Come With Maud Working for Tony in Season 2
"The two of them are trying to navigate their new world, Maud's new world..."
Image via HuluObviously, we see Tony offering Maud the part of Titania for A Midsummer Night's Dream, and I'm sure Declan will not be happy with Maud working with the enemy. What should we expect from the fallout of that between these two characters?
SMURFIT: You can expect what you'd hope for, which is it doesn't go down brilliantly. But the two of them are trying to navigate their new world, Maud's new world. He's trying to be respectful. “I respect that you're working, but I don't like it. You respect that I'm working, but you don't like it.” So, that's sort of where the cracks start appearing because they start fudging what's real about their relationship, and I think that's what can cause any relationship to get into trouble. Because, I mean, they're fiery, but they're always pretty straight up. So yeah, it's the beginning of more delicious drama for you, love.
Turner Contemplates Why Declan Voted Against Rupert in Episode 3 of 'Rivals' Season 2
"This is a huge opportunity to do something different."
Image via HuluWell, it's been drama-filled already just in the first three episodes. Aidan, in the final moments of Episode 3, I was unsure where Declan was standing with Rupert, but then he votes against him. How much of that is motivated by wanting to protect Venturer versus keeping this very messy, controversy-riddled man away from his family, specifically his daughter?
TURNER: Yeah, I think it's both things, but I think what you said first is probably more prevalent. At this point in time, it's probably about saving the company. He feels like he is that chairman-of-the-board kind of mentality. I think it's “the company comes first.” It's a big opportunity for him to branch out in a different way, and given the stress and everything else that was involved in his demise, as far as when he was let go of or exited Corinium. I think it does put his work in jeopardy slightly, and I think he's trying to find his feet again. So, this is a huge opportunity to do something different.
SMURFIT: Looking after your true love.
TURNER: I think it is. I think saving the company is probably front and center, maybe.
Smurfit and Turner Decide Who Is the Worst Romantic Candidate for the O'Hara Kids
"I think Declan, like a lot of Irish daddies, just tends to put the blinders on and not see that particular thing..."
Image via HuluI'm curious for both of you, who do you think is the worst O'Hara significant other for these kids? Is it Archie Baddingham, Rupert Campbell-Black, or Cameron Cook?
SMURFIT: [Laughs] Good question!
TURNER: Yeah. I know Declan is not fond of the Baddinghams. I mean, that's certainly not a great family member to be part of his family, I suppose. I don't know. I mean, Cameron Cook is alright, though, isn't he?
SMURFIT: I don't think Maud is a fan.
TURNER: She's not a fan, though. Declan is different, but yes.
SMURFIT: Maud’s not a fan, but also, nobody's good enough for her boy. She's an old-school Irish mummy. Like, nobody. I would say that's worse for them, it would be Archie.
Rupert gets a pass then!
TURNER: Well, I was going to say, it is awkward for Declan having Rupert involved. I think Declan tends to park this side of his life, well, he doesn't for the entire series, but it definitely becomes a thing, I suppose. But yeah, I don't know. He tends to not give it too much air. They have a relationship outside of the Taggie-Rupert relationship, and I think Declan, like a lot of Irish daddies, just tends to put the blinders on and not see that particular thing, and just rally on with their relationship, and they just don't talk about it. It's probably a very ‘80s trait. I don't know. Don't talk about the thing they find painful.
Smurfit on Maud and Taggie's Changing Relationship and Tease the Future of Season 2
Image via DisneyVictoria, you just mentioned that Patrick is very much her favorite, but I really like that Maud and Taggie have this sort of caustic relationship with each other, but there's still love underneath it. Is their relationship going to improve at all this season, or is that tension still there?
SMURFIT: It's a bit of both. Obviously, both of them are a little bit older, and the power and the snit behind their relationship, the rivalry in many ways, was lessened by Maud leaving the house and Taggie taking over as the matriarch of the house, and her rightful place just doesn't have to deal her mother’s mess, and she looks after dad and the rest of them anyway. She just said, “One less person to cook for.”
Well, that's fair. Just one final question. Use one word to describe your character's story by the end of the season.
SMURFIT: Unresolved.
TURNER: Consequences.
Release Date October 18, 2024
Network Disney+
Directors Dee Koppang O'Leary, Alexandra Brodski, Elliot Hegarty
Writers Clare Naylor, Mimi Hare, Kefi Chadwick, Dare Aiyegbayo, Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Laura Wade, Marek Horn, Sophie Goodhart
English (US) ·