Rivals Returns to Disney Plus With New Episodes This Month

The popular British sitcom Rivals is returning to the Disney Plus platform on November 11. Three new episodes will air on that date, followed by weekly releases through December 2. The new season introduces a darker tone following the recent death of the character Lady Monica Baddingham. Despite this shift, the show retains its characteristic humor and physical comedy.

The upcoming episodes focus heavily on the romantic entanglements of the central characters. Freddie, played by Danny Dyer, continues an affair with Lizzie, portrayed by Katherine Parkinson. This relationship exists alongside Freddie's marriage to Valerie, played by Lisa McGrillis. The script explores the dynamic between these three individuals through a series of comedic scenes involving intimate moments and physical gags.

One specific scene involves Freddie replicating a physical move learned from Lizzie and performing it with Valerie. Dyer noted that this repetition highlights a flaw in Freddie's character. Parkinson described the inclusion of this specific detail as incredibly truthful to the nature of the characters. The script initially left the precise nature of the move vague, allowing the actors to develop the action together during filming.

McGrillis provided a detailed account of filming her reaction in that scene. She stated that she performed a full backbend and was surprised by the resulting facial expression. She compared her face to a worm or a thumb, noting that she appeared to be reacting with her chin. The production team extended the duration of her reaction for comedic effect, which required her to re-record the audio for the sound of her breathing.

Physical comedy also required the actors to perform nudity without the aid of body doubles. Dyer described a sequence where his character exits a house completely naked after being in a bath with Lizzie. He explained that he had applied a spray tan before the shoot. After sitting in the bath for three hours, the tan ran, leaving his upper body brown and the rest of his body white. Parkinson, who was in the bath with him, remarked that she did not realize the water had turned brown until she saw the footage.

The new episodes also offer a different perspective on the character of Valerie. McGrillis explained that the scenes reveal an underlying vulnerability in her character. While Valerie has previously been portrayed as harsh and critical, the new material shows why she behaves in that manner. McGrillis stated that the writers ensure each character possesses an insecurity or vulnerability, allowing viewers to understand their motivations even when they are difficult to like.

In contrast, Parkinson offered a less favorable view of her character's husband, James, played by Oliver Chris. She described James as a selfish husband. Parkinson noted that while viewers may feel sorry for Valerie, the dynamic with James feels more despicable. She added that the narrative setup creates a situation where viewers are inclined to want Lizzie to end the relationship with James.

The return of Rivals marks a continuation of the series on Disney Plus. The first batch of three episodes is available on November 11. Subsequent episodes will release on a weekly basis until the season concludes on December 2. The show continues to blend romantic comedy with the specific social dynamics of its Rutshire setting.