The Rotten Tomatoes score has been revealed for the seriesRivals.Rivalsis a new Disney+ show based on the 1988 novel of the same name by Jilly Cooper about a rivalry between Rupert Cambell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) that is set in 1986 and centers on the Corinium television station in the fictional Rutshire county in England. The show, which was written by Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Laura Wade and directed by Elliot Hegarty, features a supporting cast that also includes Aidan Turner, Claire Rushbrook, Katherine Parkinson, Luke Pasqualino, Lisa McGrillis, Victoria Smurfit, and Bryony Hannah.
Rotten Tomatoeshas now aggregated an official score forRivals. Although it could fluctuate as more reviews are added, at the time of writing,the series holds a Fresh 86% score from critics on the Tomatometer.This score has been tabulated from seven different critics' reviews and is a full 26% above the 60% threshold past which a title can be considered Fresh. If it maintains this score by the time it has 20 reviews, five of which are from top critics, it will be officially Certified Fresh by the review aggregator platform.
What This Rotten Tomatoes Score Means For Rivals
Rivals Could Succeed On Disney+
Of those who havereviewedRivalsso far, the praise comes largely from how the show weaves in its key themes.Collider’s Jeff Ewing wrote that “the ride is charming enough, making Rivals a love letter to extravagance and its perils worth tuning in to.“London Evening Standard’sNick Curtis added that “Rivals is gloriously trashy and arch, the epitome of guilty-pleasure TV.“So, the consensus seems to be that whileRivalsis far from a perfect show, it is thoroughly entertaining.
[Early buzz] could help the show to succeed in season 1…
Rivals' early Rotten Tomatoes score success is a good sign for the show’s performance on Disney+. It still has over a week until it debuts its first episode, as theseries premieres on October 18.As a result,Rivalswill be able to get early buzz, which could help the show to succeed in season 1. Between this initially high Rotten Tomatoes score and the draw ofDoctor Whoalum Tennant,Rivalshas a lot of things going for it.
How Rivals Compares To Other Non-Franchise Disney+ Dramas
The Show Stands Strong Among Well-Received Series
Rivalsis in a unique position as a non-franchise series on Disney+. While it is technically not an “original” series as it is a literary adaptation,it does not come from a pre-existing movie or television IP. This is somewhat unusual for the platform, which prioritizes franchise series, particularly those in theStar Warssaga and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, alongside reboots such asTurner & HoochandDoogie Kameāloha, M.D., the latter of which was a remake of the classic Neil Patrick Harris seriesDoogie Howser, M.D., set in Hawai’i.
Disney+’s non-Marvel and non-Star Warsslate of dramas also includes the Rick Riordan adaptationPercy Jackson and the Olympiansas well as the sequel seriesNational Treasure: Edge of HistoryandWillow.
However,Disney+ has aired its fair share of original dramas or non-franchise adaptationssince its launch in 2019. This includes thechildren’s book adaptationThe Mysterious Benedict Society, the original 18th century fantasy adventure taleRenegade Nell, and the sports dramaThe Crossover. Below, see how the Rotten Tomatoes score forRivalscompares with those other recent Disney+ original dramas:
86%
87%
Rivals(2024)
Generally, these original dramas have been well-received, withRivalstying for second place with its 86% score. WhileThe Crossoverdid not receive enough reviews to earn an official score on the platform, all four of its extant reviews are positive, which effectively gives it a 100% score, though it is not statistically significant. While none of these series have achieved the same level of prominence as the streamer’s IP projects, the new series could turn things around.
Our Take On the Rivals Rotten Tomatoes Score
I can appreciate Tennant in many roles, but it is great to see this actor succeed in yet another TV show.Tennant’s career in televisionhas been extremely positive thus far, withnearly all of his works getting glowing ratings. In fact, of the more than two dozen television titles of his that have received scores on Rotten Tomatoes, only one - 2018’sCamping(28%) - has received a Rotten score. Below, see how the score forRivalscompares to his other recent television work:
90%
100%
Around the World in 80 Days(2022)
81%
88%
67%
64%
Of his most prominent recent television projects, all of which have earned Fresh scores from critics on Rotten Tomatoes,Rivalsis tied for fourth place with the prominent franchise spinoffStar Wars: Ahsokaand the biblical fantasy adaptationGood Omens. As it depicts an intense and at times bitter rivalry, I think the new showwill bea great chance for Tennant to shine in a more strictly dramatic role.The early reviews make it promising that Tennant has succeeded again withRivals.
Rivals
Cast
Set in the high-stakes world of 1980s British television, a bitter rivalry between two powerful men reaches its boiling point. Declan O’Hara, a TV presenter, vows revenge on Lord Tony Baddingham after feeling betrayed. Amidst romantic entanglements and corporate backstabbing, the drama unfolds with intense personal and professional clashes.
