--- title: "Rivals: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/rivals/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/rivals" critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Rivals (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 74 from 9 reviews: 7 positive, 1 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics find Rivals an entertaining embrace of 1980s soap excess, with praise clustering around its ensemble, period production and willingness to take sex and pleasure seriously enough to make them funny. David Tennant draws particular notice, while the female characters and the wider cast give the glamour something to work with. The favourable reviews broadly agree that the camp tone is confident rather than apologetic, and that the mix of lust, money and power sustains the fun. Reservations concern focus and consistency: some find the competing plots distracting or the opening slow. The spread is wide, though approval predominates. The AV Club finds the series caught between soap, television-industry drama and sexual escapades; The i Paper is more firmly opposed, arguing that the overcrowded plotting and uneven tone prevent it from committing fully to its trashier pleasures. Even these sceptical reviews acknowledge the performances. ## Empire — David Opie Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2024. The critic calls the series a supremely confident and endlessly enjoyable 1980s time capsule of soapy excess and hedonistic fun. They single out the self-aware tone, lavish production, and strong ensemble cast performances, especially from David Tennant and Aidan Turner. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/rivals/) ## Radio Times — Morgan Cormack Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 October 2024. The critic praises the series as a gloriously fun, glamorous and soapy reminder of how entertaining TV can be, embracing its raucous roots while touching on themes like power and misogyny. They single out the strong ensemble of complex female characters and David Tennant's villainous performance. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/rivals-disney-plus-review/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2024. The critic recommends the show as a fun, horny '80s romp full of sex and pleasure, praising its earnest embrace of campy entertainment and 1980s aesthetics. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/rivals-hulu-review.html) ## The AV Club — Caroline Siede Rating C+. 15 October 2024. The series struggles to settle on a consistent tone, blending soap opera elements with TV production drama and steamy escapades but not fully committing to any. It is redeemed somewhat by strong performances and handsome production values from the British cast and crew. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/rivals-tv-review) ## The i Paper — Julia Raeside Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2024. The critic views it as a campy bonk-fest that's pure panto with fun performances, but criticizes the tonal inconsistency due to Disney's influence, overcrowded plot, and lack of focus, suggesting it should have been more trashy. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/jilly-cooper-rivals-review-disney-3326381) ## The Guardian 18 October 2024. The critic praises the Disney+ adaptation for preserving the sex, excess and rambunctious joy of Jilly Cooper’s 1980s bonkbuster without sanitising it. They single out that even the naked tennis scene works perfectly. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/oct/18/rivals-review-even-the-naked-tennis-scene-is-a-triumph) ## The Times — Carol Midgley 8 October 2024. The critic calls the series a daft but highly entertaining watch that does everything to excess in the spirit of the 1980s book. They highlight the kitsch, vivacious tone and the immediate plunge into bonking and naked tennis. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/rivals-review-big-hair-red-stilettos-naked-tennis-3tmtrll37) ## Paste — Lacy Baugher Milas Rating 8.9/10. 8 October 2024. The critic praises Rivals as a fun, scandalous throwback to primetime soaps, full of excess, sex, and entertainment, succeeding as an unabashedly enjoyable guilty pleasure. They single out the strong ensemble cast and the show's confident embrace of its soapy identity for praise. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/hulu/rivals-review) ## Collider — Jeff Ewing Rating 8/10. 8 October 2024. The review calls it a vibrant, stylish showcase of 1980s lust and ambition driven by charismatic performances, especially from David Tennant and Alex Hassell, making for a fun, thrilling watch despite a slow start. It highlights the excess and ensemble as strengths. [Read the review](https://collider.com/rivals-tv-show-review/) ## Den of Geek — Louisa Mellor Rating 4/5. 17 October 2024. The critic praises the show's witty take on Jilly Cooper's bonkbuster, highlighting its unapologetic adult content and fun. They single out the ensemble cast and the balance of sex, power, and nostalgia for praise. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/rivals-review-all-aboard-the-toff-sex-safari/) ## Digital Spy — Rebecca Cook Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 8 October 2024. The series delivers campy, tongue-in-cheek soapy fun as a bawdy shagathon adapted from the bonkbuster novel, with strong ensemble performances. It singles out the sex, money, and chicanery as the highlights when the show stays focused on them rather than straying into other plot elements. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a62529999/rivals-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/rivals.md