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!

Absolutely!

Love that production.

The actor who plays Bottom😂

It’s a comfort watch for me. Never fails to cheer me up.

yes, and I agree, a better RCB

I really enjoyed him in Bluestone 42, actually, but I still think he's not quite right for Rupert despite being blond and handsome

A massive JC fan here and just finished the series
RCB was not my RCB at the start (he was always blonde!! ) but he's grown on me!
Lizzie, Declan and Freddie casting absolutely spot
Not a fan of the Cameron casting either
The houses though and the storyline, amazing, I've loved it!

To my surprise I found myself really liking Alex H and thinking he did a great job as Rupert! He was casually charismatic in just the right way, while being a bit of a shit.

However, Lizzie's facial expressions won the day for me. She was just brilliant. Great decision of the programme makers to give more time to her and Freddie's story than the book does.

I would watch Katherine Parkinson read the phone book, to be fair. She's just amazing in everything she does.

Loved the costumes as well and for some reason, noticed they got the tights spot on. 10 dernier, ‘nearly black’, rather than ‘Nora batty’ 20 dernier thick tights. Little details like that appeal to me.

I loved the attention to detail. The teeth amused me. Both Declan and Rupert had less than perfect teeth, something you don’t see on today’s actors.

Back to attention to detail, did anyone notice the wine glasses? They were ones you'd get a pub (not a posh one) in the Nineties.

I did notice! Quite small too!

It's no good, I cannot get past Alex Hassell being so, so wrong for the role. The horrible scene in episode 2 just portrays him as a giggling pervert and I can't find him remotely attractive.

but sigh @Butteredtoast55 it's the Romance

Just finished binging this. Wow, is all I can say!
I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. Loved the 80s nostalgia.
The cast were all perfect. Agree with others that Katherine Parkinson was great, and Danny Dyer surprisingly not an east end gangster type that I thought was all he could do.
The music also!

Off now to start a read of Jill's Cooper books. I read some as a teenager but really can't remember which ones. I used to sneakily read my mums books, and I learnt a lot from Jill's Cooper and Jackie Collins as a 13/14 year old!

I haven't read the whole thread as only up to episode 6. So sorry if already mentioned, there is a lovely programme called In My Own Words on BBC iPlayer with Jilly Cooper. Lovely insight into her young life and how she came up with her ideas.

Edited to add I did need to put subtitles on!

Yes I don't think he's suitable either..was Rupert not younger ? Or is it because I am now old 😁 just don't thinks he handsome enough .... Would Leo Woodall have been too young ?

Rupert was about 40 I think? Leo Woodall is only in his mid-20s I think! James Norton would have been great….

James Norton would be great- but I think Alex H put in a very compelling and believable performance, he inhab

Sorry my phone is on a hair trigger!

He inhabited the character. He was also VERY attractive snd charming at the South Bank evening with Jilly. I've just started the series again and have found that I'm picturing him when I'm reading Riders.

@cathyandclaire i was there too!! He was so much more attractive IRL without the fake tan and hair dye!

Agree with this, I was also there and thought he was so much more attractive in real life.

I was there too and I agree!

He definitely grew on me after I was initially not happy with the choice. I do think he’s a good actor and embodied the charisma and personality well.

I just watched Riders on You Tube- it is absolutely shockingly bad and has made me appreciate the Rivals adaptation even more. It missed all of the Jilly quips and, despite some excellent actors, it is so fake and unbelievable. You can really see the cogs turning in many of the conversations- and not in an arch/knowing way.
Rupert is an out and out villain, which I suppose he is in Riders, but it’s difficult to see any redeeming features -apart from his blonde good looks the character seems oddly sexless.

I can remember watching Riders at University so it was a fair few years ago. I can remember feeling so disappointed in it because yes, all of the humour and one liners were left out. Rivals was a far better interpretation