I’ve just looked at who’s playing Rupert Campbell-Black in Rivals and…

It’s so distracting the complete miscasting of RCB, he was blonde and blue eyed, taggies wig is an act all of its own! Still soaking up the nostalgia though, I was 16 in 1986 and the music, cars and clothes just takes me back.
 
I'm bereft. I finished it two nights ago and spent last night mournfully playing solitaire on my phone and drinking gin.

I've really enjoyed it, it was different enough from the book not to annoy me when they got a detail wrong. Love Danny Dyer, and wow! Aiden Turner. I never watched Poldark so didn't appreciate all the fuss at the time. But even with an 80s moustache he's pretty pleasing on the eye. And I have a new heroine in Monica Baddingham - the way she dealt with Archie's transgression with 'the estate worker' was hilarious.

I thought the acting was superb too, especially David Tennant. Although I hated his character I guess that was the point.

I really hope they make a second season, surely they must? It's all I'm living for atm 😂
 
Watching with the husband, camp fun. I have only read Polo, so I just see it as almost something like Armstrong and Miller, taking dig at our past, and highlighting that somethings were really that bad, it wasn't just a dream.
I worked on the outstkirts and the county set when I was young, so much money they look most of the time like they have no money, until you realised how much stuff they had.
When I watching the garden party scene it reminded how I went to help at some garden party, arrived in a helicopter after flying up the river Thames. I had never flown before, in fact I think I had only been on a train a few times. I still do not know where I went or whose house it was.
RCB casting, he is just not charming enough, and the sex scenes, discussed with my husband, perfunctory. I could say something crude, but I will just think it.
 
I have also finished it and

I don’t get the relationship between Rupert and Taggie. For me there wasn’t enough exploration into why he’s fallen in love with her and she’s so different. Loved Taggie as a character but there wasn’t enough development. Cameron and Rupert had more chemistry going on.
And thank the lord lizzie and Freddie finally got it on.
 
I’m re-reading the book, trying to work out if there’s enough for a second series as it seems to have ended miles before the start of Polo which is the next book.

Also when Declan didn’t ruin RCB in the TV interview his notes had the name of a character from Polo written on them but RCB didn’t know of her at that point.
 
HopOnTrot said:
I’m re-reading the book, trying to work out if there’s enough for a second series as it seems to have ended miles before the start of Polo which is the next book.

Also when Declan didn’t ruin RCB in the TV interview his notes had the name of a character from Polo written on them but RCB didn’t know of her at that point.
Click to expand...

shes his daughter
 
HopOnTrot said:
I’m re-reading the book, trying to work out if there’s enough for a second series as it seems to have ended miles before the start of Polo which is the next book.

Also when Declan didn’t ruin RCB in the TV interview his notes had the name of a character from Polo written on them but RCB didn’t know of her at that point.
Click to expand...
I don't think you can do a true comparison to the book/s. It says it's 'based on' the book Rivals but they have re-written a lot of it. The 'dirt' Declan has on Rupert in the TV series is certainly a deviation, but I think it might be a clue that there is more to come 😬 Although I would have thought a Polo adaptation would need a bigger budget and I don't know how they'd work all the polo match scenes into it without either boring non horsey people or getting complaints of cruelty.

Anyway, I have an idea for Lysander - that boy who played the lead in 'One Day' - don't know what his name is.

I haven't thought about this much, you can probably tell.
 
Hackback said:
I'm bereft. I finished it two nights ago and spent last night mournfully playing solitaire on my phone and drinking gin.

I've really enjoyed it, it was different enough from the book not to annoy me when they got a detail wrong. Love Danny Dyer, and wow! Aiden Turner. I never watched Poldark so didn't appreciate all the fuss at the time. But even with an 80s moustache he's pretty pleasing on the eye. And I have a new heroine in Monica Baddingham - the way she dealt with Archie's transgression with 'the estate worker' was hilarious.

I thought the acting was superb too, especially David Tennant. Although I hated his character I guess that was the point.

I really hope they make a second season, surely they must? It's all I'm living for atm 😂
Click to expand...

Aiden Turner also managed to get his top off in the first episode - if you haven't watched Poldark you would probably miss that reference.

Rivals - it is witty and I like that they have used some of the dialogue from the books. I looked to see if it was still on my bookshelf. Yes, there is a very well read copy lurking.

I always thought that Rivals was the best of the series, there is a real plot and all the characters are well developed. Rupert has his redeeming features, he definitely mellows with age.
 
I watched the whole series, mainly unimpressed but Danny Dyer's Japanese had me in fits - just so weird! Nice fleabitten hunter RC-B was riding, not really 'him' though was it?
 
OH and myself have watched this over a few evenings. We were roaring with laughter at some of the bonk scenes. I hope they do make a second follow on series. Another person remembering the music and clothes of the time also my first car which was an elderly Mini.
 
I really want to watch this after reading this thread. I’ve not read the books but I want to read them too. I will watch the series first though.
I find films/series never live up to the books but if you watch it before reading then you don’t get quite so miffed with the changes and just enjoy reading more details in the book.
 
Apercrumbie said:
Just watched the 1st 2 episodes. Now I haven't read the books, but from what I have gathered from people who have, RCB doesn't look as he is described in the books (blond, so beautiful which is why he gets away with being so awful) but IMO he looks as he actually would. In the nicest possible way, how many super upper class showjumpers are actually devastatingly good-looking? The actor is handsome but in a fairly normal way.
Click to expand...

I agree. I think the Rupert in the tv programme absolutely embodies the essence of the character!
 
We are half way through this and I’m loving it. It’s great fun.

I don’t find the actor playing Rupert particularly attractive and I know those of you who read the book didn’t agree with the casting choice but he is an excellent actor. I’m not hating his performance and I think everyone has done a great job.
I’m going to be gutted when we finish this series.
 
Last edited:
Yes, Rupert does grown on you (well, me anyway). I thought the last episode ran out of puff a bit, as it deviated the most from the book, but hopefully there will be another series.

Having dug out a well read copy of Rivals, I have also re-read Riders and now on to Score. They were fun books, rude, definitely not PC for 2024.

I can't say I was in that scene, I was married with children by the time Riders came out, but I suppose I was on the fringes during the 70s, more as an onlooker than part of.
 
Nocturnal said:
Am I the only one who found it quite uncomfortable viewing? The age gap is pretty gross, there's no way I can route for them as a couple, I just find it a bit creepy.
Click to expand...
Age gap didn’t bother me half as much as the lack of chemistry and character development for Taggie.
Give the girl something to do!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top