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!

but he doesnt go on to seduce her @JollyJibes

It is so long since I read the book (over 30 years), didn’t the time frame of Taggie and Rupert getting together take a few years?

@WillowTit ah, I just assumed that was where it was headed. Will watch on...

Rupert reminds of Buzz Lightyear.

Re the Taggie and Patrick age, they aged her in the tv series, she’s 18 in the book. But I think we just have to suspend disbelief, it’s the Jilly-verse!

I think Rupert groping Taggie is of course completely inappropriate and awful and wouldn’t happen today (you’d hope) but that sort of thing did happen back then andI agree with whoever says they left it in because a) it’s faithful to the book and b) to show Rupert’s later redemption

I’m not sure of the book’s timelines in terms of ages, but at my school in the 80’s (Catholic Girls school) it wasn’t uncommon to have siblings in the same school year who weren’t twins. I assume JC was making a reference to ‘Irish Twins’ (a phrase used at the time to describe siblings who were very close in age). I agree 8 months is a stretch tho…

I really loves the whole series - David Tennent was the only disappointment. (Hoping if there's a second series his character is dead - couldn't take one more of his angry/mean face pulls!) I started off thinking it would be Danny Dyer who was going to be awful but he totally turned me around on that opinion. He was amazing in it. Totak opposite thoughts on David Tennant.

Must admit there's a touch of disappointment that the men weren't better looking!! Just for the eye candy. Also wasn't there supposed to be "one willy for every two boobs"? As some sort of leveller. Did I miss them all?!!!

Not read JC's books. Bar the time when I was 11 and my best friend and I snuck into her parents' room and giggled over bits in the copy of Riders on her bedside cabinet. Think I'll be seeking them out now - seemm so fun.

That's it!

Just finished watching it. Rupert reminds me of buzz but also a slightly uglier version of Hugh Laurie and sometimes Rufus Sewell.

Also, I only read one book when I was a teen so not sure if it's in the book, but was 'four men went to mow' a nod to Aiden turners previous role as Poldark? Basically when he was scything he was always topless.

Totally over the top TV but fun!

Four Men went to Mow is in the book.

Ah cool. Thanks for clearing that up!

Anyone else think that the actor playing James Vereker would have made a more accurate RCB?

Nooooo. Alex Hassell is gorgeous IRL, I totally got it when I saw him,

Oh I agree AH is gorgeous! But not blonde like RCB in the book.

Third episode much better, I'm glad I watched on, made me a bit emotional, the bit where Maud talks about rotting at home really hit home.

Oliver Chris is a really great actor, and he nailed James Vereker, but I don't think he would have been right for Rupert. At least not in my head.

I thought the actress who played Cameron was a weak link, did not rate her at all. Both miscast and a poor performance.

everyone else was fab though.

I didn't believe that she would want to sleep with either of them.

If anything 'Four Men went to Mow' inspired the BBC adaptation of Poldark. Dame Jilly was ahead of her time

@Hemiola Yes, I thought Hugh Grant also and found myself wishing he was more like Hugh Grant in Briget Jones diary. He was just too serious for me.

I also think RCB had two personalities - there was the older mp etc, and the younger playboy. The actor suited the more mature aspect of the role, rather than the younger version.

I was trying to think of a current example where everyone, both young and old fancied, and the best example I could think of was David Beckham in his younger days. He made you stop and stare, partly due to looks, and partly due to his celebrity status. I don’t this RCB has this appeal (and he should be blond!).

I'm halfway through reading Rivals now... I'm not great at picturing people in books, so I've found in nearly every case, the actor portraying the part in an adaptation is what I see while I'm reading. In this case EXCEPT for RCB and Tony. Without any conscious effort I've found my brain has replaced AH with a younger Rupert Penry-Jones and horrible Tennant with a younger Mark Strong in my mind's eye. Makes the whole thing much more palatable for me.

Interestingly RCB in the book is a bit uncomfortable at the age difference... but then again, at one point there's a bit that says "Watching Taggie, gambolling long-legged over the beech leaves, pony-tail flying, looking...not a day over fourteen, he was suddenly kneed in the groin with longing" which would never get included now, unless he was being portrayed as a paedophile! It's not like she's portrayed as 18 but old for her years.

In the mid-nineties, one of my good friends lost her virginity to a married 40 year old when she was 16. She saw it as a massive coup! I remember being squicked out but mainly because he wasn't very attractive, if he'd looked like Harrison Ford at the time, I would have been jealous. These days it would be seen as grooming.

Watched first 3 . It’s fucking brilliant. Everyone’s cast so well , James Vereka is good looking but weak, spot on. I know Rupert should be blond but I can go with the casting !

Was quoting lines ahead of the scene!

The gorgeous old house porn!

The music was amazing.

Loved the Rupert and Taggie on the dance floor.
Loved Fred Fred and Lizzie’s final scene.

David Tennent although wonderful cannot be Lord Baddingham - wasn’t it wonderful to see Caroline Quentin??

Bas is great , Maude and Declan work so well.

All the kids are wonderfully cast. On board with Taggie.

I disagree I there is a lot of gorgeous men in it.

I was NOT disappointed.

Only hope Didney will do more novels.

wasn’t it wonderful to see Caroline Quentin??

As who?

I suspect PP mistook Claire Rushbrook for CQ....

Ah possibly.

Wondered if I had missed something.