Jilly Cooper's Rivals on Disney - episode 1 discussion thread WITH SPOILERS! Open the Pouilly Fume & curl up on the sofa with a lurcher puppy here!

[TheSecondMrsCampbellBlack]

Exciting!

@BartsPooch I think Taggie has been made a bit older and more switched on to make the relationship with RCB more acceptable.

That's a very good point.

@bookworm14 yes Johnny F should have been hotter. I think DD is good as Freddie, and Katherine Parkinson is great as Lizzie - although should really be a bit chubbier.

Monica should have short blonde hair, I pictured her as taller and yes Tony should be bullish by David Tenant is playing him very well.

Loved the end scene of episode 1. This is why I won't be watching it with my teens 🫣

Oh no, Valerie Jones has an Essex (?) accent. In the book she's portrayed as working hard on her 'posh' accent. Needs to come over more as the irritating social climber that she is.Maybe they thought the accent wouldn't matter for the American audience?

In the end scene were they hinting that valarie liked the ladies? As she smiled at 2 women kissing on tv? (I think)

"But you always answer to Cavendish" 😂
I can't wait for Declan and Maud's NYE/21st party!

Was trying to think where I'd seen Caitlin before, and she was in the (awful) The Wives on C5. I forget how stunning Victoria Smurfit is as well.

Aidan Turner feels too young (41) but thinking back to the book Declan marries Maud not long after he graduates and they have Patrick soon after, so early 40s does feel about right, with Maud a bit older.

I also just read a review which describes RCB's character as "chlamydia on horseback" 😂

Yay! JIlly has a cameo😄

Did I miss Jilly? Which episode are you up to?

Episode 5
Lizzie is with her publisher in a London hotel having tea!

Declan is canonically 42!

Agree on this - she needs the 'refained' accent. They probably thought it wouldn't translate for the US audience though.

Jilly hates a social climber doesn't she? I was hoping she'd get a cameo so looking forward to that, and to Lieutenant Gruber as the Bishop

Thanks Tooty, I will look forward to it, am just about to start episode 3.

Yes bookworm we need "refained" Valerie. At least she's getting plenty of "Fred-Fred"s in.

I'm enjoying it very much, but sorry to say RCB isn't working for me. Anyway on to episode 3!

Just watched the first one - very happy with this, it's true to the spirit of the books and the casting is on the whole, excellent.

Looks like it's split in two?

Ah I wasn't sure about the RCB casting but actually I think it's perfect after three episodes. I'm really enjoying it. David Tennant is brilliant too. In fact they all are.

Klop

I'm sorry they didn't cast the O'Hara's hopeless "housekeep", Amizing Grice, getting sloshed and singing seasonal songs at the wong season.

This is BRILLIANT!

Oh my god I never would have recognised Danny Dyer & Hell must have frozen over because he's actually good 😆

Loving it so far, not sure about the casting for RCB though?

Unfortunately, for me the actor playing RCB is not attractive, just not my type at all, which is spoiling the character for me. I need to fancy Rupe a bit!
It's quite an admission to make, but I'm finding DD's Freddie Jones more attractive 😂 I imagined Freddie in the book to look quite different, but DD's version is growing on me.

Finished it all ( yes, I’m that sad!)

I won’t give it away for anyone who hasn’t got that far, except to say…

…they’ve left it open for a season 2!!

I wasn’t expecting that!

Ageee about the female cast. I’m liking the fact that they’re not all polished Hollywood types. Conversely I’m a bit sad that none of the men are remotely attractive - even the lovely Aiden Turner is spoiled by that dreadful ‘tache! And the actor playing RCB is all wrong. I could live with the dark hair if he were good looking - the bit when he walked down the aisle on the plane and all the women were gazing at him in lust was almost laughable.

Danny Dyer has been a revelation to me in this, I've never watched him in anything and just got this impression of him being a brash London geezer.
As Fred fred he is brilliant!

I'm 2 eps in, and agree with everyone else that it's fab. Yes, Rupert should be blond, but Alex H has the caddish manner exactly right.
Lizzie Vereker is the emotional heart of the whole thing, and lovely.
The clothes, hair and furnishings are all just spot on for 1986.... those terrible Austrian blinds and lots of the colour peach! 😂