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!

I'm confused about why so many people in this thread seem to think he's gay seeing as we also saw him with the makepiece's daughter as well as the son - as well as the "just the sex" comment at the pool party he was also kissing her when all the teenagers were in caitlins bedroom during the first big party and then shagging her against the tree (while she ate the valentines chocolates he'd bought her) before Monica aimed the "don't get entangled with the help" lecture ostensibly at him but really at TB.

It's slightly ironic to have a thread of mmers airely acknowledging the terribly dated racism and homophobia in the original books but then blithely refusing to accept bisexuality is even a thing, and even if they do begrudgingly accept it as a concept, the idea of the bi person having a viable heterosexual relationship in the future is apparently impossible or at least somewhat suspect instead of being as valid as if someone was completely straight....

The official podcast is out, 3 episodes released today but full of spoilers so don't listen until you have watched all 8 episodes.

Hmmm, just finished the series.

I fear I'm a lone voice in all this, but --

Beyond the 80s features, which were excellent, I don't understand why so many love the story. Can only assume nostalgia.

Immature, selfish rich people cheating on their partners and being perpetual embarrassments to their children. I abhor cheating and found the blasé nature of it disturbing, and don't see how unfulfilled partners creeping off with new ones is supposed to be a cause for celebration.

In the end, I was only watching for Katherine Parkinson, her dope of a husband, and his assortment of colourful knitwear. I didn't care for any of the other characters, except perhaps the dogs. Oh, and the poor woman who had the temerity not to be a gigantic posho like the rest of them, who ultimately gets cheated on. Taggie, who I assumed would be one of the main characters given her early prominence in the series, seemed to disappear halfway through, and her role was mainly to be pretty and passive. The only vaguely interesting moment was the very end with David T, but even then I just don't care enough.

Disappointed, given the hype. Ah well!

It’s wonderful exactly because it is escapist claptrap and an easy watch. A bit like Dallas or Dynasty used to be - so for viewers like me who were around in the 80’s it is reminiscent of a time when TV wasn’t trying too hard to be clever and portrayed lifestyles very different to our own. Plus the music, fashion etc is a trip down memory lane...

Yeah. For me the fact that they ARE almost all awful is the reason the cheating is funny. They are cartoon like in their awfulness and so the cheating is cartoon like and doesn't carry any weight. A bit like watching What We Do In the Shadows (insert any comedy where the subject matter would be serious if actually real) where you never have to worry about the reality of an immortal life and the killing of others to live, because the whole thing is played for laughs and doesn't bear any resemblance to reality.

It's a classic reformed rake story, really - updated Regency romance; lots of excellent class observation but no revolution. You either enjoy it for what it is or it's not for you, basically.

As it was ever thus with Jilly Cooper! Of course it’s Marmite, always has been.

Why in Ep 7 is Rupert's ex-wife "Hermione" and obviously not American (and a different woman to the red head that Taggie went to speak to?) I was totally confused - in the book, Hermione is Paul Stratton's ex wife. Helen is Rupert"s ex.

I'm pretty sure that Hermione is married to Henry Hampshire ( they were both in the shooting party with the Baddinghamds) and Henry is part of Venturer, so they were referring to him not Rupert. I was confused too and rewound it!

Yes! You're right.Thank you! I was sure Tony said Rupert, I was so confused!

And WINIFRID was Stratton's ex, not Hermione. Ive just looked it up!

Yes, Winifred who is also Monica’s old school friend, and Monica is horrified to find that Tony expects her to welcome Paul and Sarah as a couple and take Sarah under her wing. I don’t remember Rupert and Sarah’s naked tennis match being publicly exposed in the book though 🤔

Yes, it was - there’s a scene of Charles and Lizzie talking about it. Everyone knows because of the fire engines being called. I don’t think they find out it was Sarah though in the book.

Despite not really warming to this in the first episode I have persevered and ending up rather enjoying this. It’s not deep or meaningful but is entertaining.
AH is i think only 37 in real life, so about the right age for RCB - I wonder if he’s slimmed down for the role and looks a little gaunt?
Love the romance between the Danny Dyer and Katherine Parkinson characters and it seems to be a rarity in that whilst it’s still adultery it seems quite sweet!

He's 44.

From what I remember (ages since I read it ) didn't they think it was Beattie Johnson who was also blonde (in the book) and Rupert delayed the flight by having a quickie in the hotel beforehand . Tony saw them in the lift then when Rupert turns up on the plane he blames the traffic .

I haven;t watched the TV series yet .

I'm coming along to this too- expecting it to be v fun and hopefully some interesting questions!

I also have tickets. Looking forward to it!

Yes that does happen but that’s a separate event to the naked tennis.

Just finished the series. Wow, what a journey.
It took me so many years to finally notice that they are RUTshire Chronicles.
Also some scenes hit very differently than many years before (women practically forgotten and ignored by their husbands with their oh so very important careers - and how they try (or give up) to still be relevant somehow).
And I could almost smell all that I saw: cigarette smoke, most probably Opium or Poison perfume, the food that Taggie made, lord Baddingham's hair oil...
Pure entertainment.
And just loved Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica. Brilliant.

Yes but if Taggie just saw a blonde haired woman and she wouldn't know about Sarah/RCB and everyone just assumed it was Beattie who was RCBs current girlfriend.
RCB thought Sarah was fun but a bit clingy and he really didn't want her leaving Paul to move in on him.

Is it just me....

...I didnt like it 😕. I just couldn't stop myself saying "she/he isnt right/didn't say or do that" . Ive read the book dozens of times since it first came out and it all just annoyed the hell out of me so I couldn't get past that

Hermione was the opera singer, mother of one of Rannaldini's by-blows, I don't think she's featured yet.

Different Hermione.

Hermione Hampshire is in Rivals and is the wife of Henry Hampshire who joins the Venturer board.

Hermione Harefield is the opera singer who first appears in The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous.

I've now finished the book. I watched the series with no prior knowledge, and thought 'surely that teenage girl won't be interested in that near-middle-aged smarmy man?' So I was shocked when it went that way. Having read the book, I think the actor playing Rupert doesn't suit the character at all. RCB is supposed to be 37? But the actor looks at least 45.

I wasn't alive in the 80s, were these age gaps (with the female still being a teenager) really seen as normal and romantic?