Rivals Disney+ Review: Cast, Characters & 80s British Drama

Get Ready for Drama! A Deep Dive into the Rivals Cast and Their Roles!

Rivals on Disney+: Meet the Cast and Their Seriously Intriguing Characters

Disney+'s new show, Rivals, based on Jilly Cooper's 1988 novel, is a wild ride through the cutthroat world of 1980s British television. The show is full of shocking reveals, hilarious moments, and compelling characters; some even unexpectedly memorable! It centers on two power players: Rupert Campbell-Black and Lord Tony Baddingham whose intense feud reaches a climax. And it's got a HUGE cast, perfect for showcasing a large amount of drama! It's one of Disney+'s first forays into more adult-themed content and showcases an amazing amount of diversity both in cast and storytelling.

Reviews are mixed, but the main leads (Alex Hassell, David Tennant, Aidan Turner, and Nafessa Williams) get tons of praise! The more minor characters however, face some criticism and a few shortcomings which might disappoint viewers expecting something far more detailed or fleshed out! Even those smaller, supporting roles are still played by super talented actors that you might just recognize from a ton of projects!

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The Rivals Main Characters: A Look at Each Key Player

David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham

Actor: David Tennant—famously the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who (2005-2010)—needs no introduction. His filmography is insane: from Harry Potter and How to Train Your Dragon to Good Omens and Ahsoka! He brings something really unique to the table here; as reviewers have labelled it as one of Tennant’s best work so far – he truly dominates in this title.

Character: Lord Tony Baddingham is this ruthlessly ambitious television director, all charm and ruthless ambition. He completely dominates, adding serious intrigue.

Aidan Turner as Declan O'Hara

David Tennant holding out a piece of paper in Rivals Image

Actor: Aidan Turner, a star for his BBC's Being Human, then reaching greater fame through The Hobbit trilogy (as Kíli), followed by the wildly popular Poldark. This seriously handsome actor also features in Malick's next Biblical epic, The Way of the Wind! A serious talent.

Character: Declan O'Hara—a BBC journalist who plays things aggressively—joins Tony’s crew, all with a plan of revenge; that kind of unexpected plot element creates an interesting perspective in his particular role. A highly valuable contribution.

Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black

Actor: Alex Hassell is a super busy English actor who works prolifically across TV and film since the early 2000s; and has worked alongside other seriously impressive cast mates – appearing alongside notable and famous stars, showcasing that versatility as an actor. He really showcases a surprisingly vast array of talents through several impressive contributions; as the incredibly powerful Translucent in The Boys, to Vicious in Cowboy Bebop, and Metatron in His Dark Materials; even showing up in major films directed by those notable talents such as George Clooney, the Coen Brothers!

Character: Rupert Campbell-Black—a retired Olympic show jumper, plus sports minister who is really struggling within his own marriage; this adds another unexpectedly human and relatable aspect into this role. He’s also an infamously terrible womanizer, providing an interesting dynamic and some seriously intriguing motivations. A seriously notable character!

Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook

The main cast of Rivals gathered on a lawn Image

Actor: Nafessa Williams is extremely notable for playing Nicole Gordon in Streets (2011). This talented actor had tons of parts in numerous films, but her most well-known and valuable roles is probably that superhero role, Anissa Pierce/Thunder, from The CW’s Black Lightning series; including playing her as that other recognizable role within Twin Peaks!

Character: Cameron Cook –an American prisoner working for Tony in the show— really does have some depth.

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Supporting Cast and Their Impact

The smaller roles, although somewhat lacking and unfocused and underwritten in some cases, are still pretty notable! These actors show great talent.

Victoria Smurfit as Maud O'Hara (known for Once Upon a Time).
Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton (famous for The Inbetweeners).
Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton (seen in Paddington and Wonka).
Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker (from The IT Crowd and more).
Oliver Chris as James Vereker (appearing in My Lady Jane).
Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones (from Mr Bigstuff, The Football Factory, and more).
Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones (seen in Last Night in Soho and Sex Education).
Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham (from My Mad Fat Diary, Doctor Who, Enola Holmes, and much more).
Luke Pasqualino as Basil Baddingham (from Skins, Snowpiercer, and more).

Bella Maclean also shines in this show, even with her small role. It should be remembered that many of these actors also started their career very recently; which does justify and even help contextualize some of the perceived issues with those lesser-known and developed characters!

Also Read: Doctor Who: The Big Regeneration Plot Hole David Tennant's Return Still Hasn't Explained

Conclusion: A Talented Cast and a Wild Ride!

Rivals brings together an impressive array of talent in this interesting and fun production that shows another surprisingly nuanced depiction of a certain moment in British television history. The larger names shine brightly and some smaller ones hold up surprisingly well. However, a certain level of investment must be done and expected when approaching a new series like this, as even minor details such as developing supporting characters and making sure the entire storyline progresses in satisfying and consistent manners could still impact a show’s potential for continued growth and potential, ultimately influencing a show’s potential success in the long-term future. This makes viewers anticipate additional content later; it should highlight the impressive nature that a project with potential has shown here.