Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Rivals Season 2, Episodes 1-3.It’s been a long wait, but Rivals<em> </em>Season 2 is finally here. After a year and a half, fans of the Hulu series can now binge-watch the first three episodes of the season, and boy, are those episodes a doozy. Coming off a successful Season 1, the series plunges us back into the ’80s into a world full of drama, champagne, and big hair. Season 1 ended with a surprising shared kiss between the playboy Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and the shy and soft-spoken Taggie O’Hara (Bella Maclean), but that doesn’t mean it’s smooth sailing for these two star-crossed lovers.
We spoke with Maclean and Hassell about the wild ride of the three-episode premiere to break down just what is holding these two lovebirds back and how they might get back on the path of true love. We discussed their heartbreaking conversation both at the end of Episode 1 and 2, we speak about what to expect from both of the characters separately after the chaos and the twist at the end of Episode 3, and the two actors discuss their favorite scene so far in the season. Read the full conversation below!
Bella Maclean and Alex Hassell Break Down Those Gutwrenching Rupert and Taggie Scenes
“They can’t help themselves.”
COLLIDER: I’m loving these first three episodes, but in Episode 2, it’s a big Rupert and Taggie episode, and we learned that Rupert has a fear that he’s going to break Taggie. I’m curious from both of your angles, especially parallel with the first episode, where you see them having this breakup, where she’s like, “You’re not capable of love,” what do you think their mindset is going into the season with that knowledge in their minds?
ALEX HASSELL: I think he’s trying to keep himself emotionally away from her. I think he’s trying to move on and trying to really accept that he needs to leave her alone in that way, but he can’t do it. He just needs to be with her and needs to be near her and will take any opportunity to do that, even though it’s against his better judgment.
Bella, what do you think Taggie’s thoughts are at that moment?
BELLA MACLEAN: I think she wants to be with him. She just unrelentingly wants to be with him, no matter what he does. And I think, even though she’s furious with him and cross and hard, they’re like magnets to each other. They can’t help themselves.
Maclean and Hassell Look Forward Beyond Episode 3 of ‘Rivals’
“He is looking for ways to keep living and keep Ruperting.”
I’m curious about that because, Bella, when we spoke last fall, you said that Taggie would be yearning a lot this season, which we do get a lot of, but is she going to have any fun? Because we’ve got the Carlisle twins, we’ve got Bas, who seems to be showing some interest is there a possibility for her to have any other romantic options other than just Rupert?
MACLEAN: I think it’s all on the table. It’s all there. I think so. She lets her hair down a lot this season, and she’s a lot more free-spirited and genuinely wants to have fun. She’s sort of always looking after other people, and I think this season you really get to see her put herself first and let her hair down.
Alex, Episode 3 is pretty much the most brutal episode for Rupert. Watching it, I was surprised it took it to that level. Tell me where Rupert’s mindset is going into the rest of the season. Does he have a bounce-back or is he just kind of stuck in this sort of rut for a while?
HASSELL: Well, it’s the biggest shit-kicking he’s ever had, I guess. He’s really on his knees. Every part of his world is being kind of torn down, and for fairly understandable reasons from different people’s points of view, I suppose. He’s done a lot of really bad things, and he definitely is sort of out in the wilderness a bit trying to work out what to do and rebuild his life. But Rupert is a very tenacious person, and he is never down for very long. So he is looking for ways to keep living and keep Ruperting. [Laughs]
Maclean and Hassell Explore Their Favorite Scene To Film and What It’ll Take for Rupert and Taggie To Get Together
“She just wants it. She’s waiting for Rupert.”
It’s not hard for me as a viewer to imagine see Rupert and Taggie and see how well-suited they are for each other but what will it take to convince these two characters to ignore all the hate and doubt lean into fully being with each other?
HASSELL: I don’t know. I think Rupert feels like he would need to feel that he can not break her heart can not ruin her or just he can’t give in to his desires anymore his love for her just has to take the risk on himself I suppose. What about for Taggie?
MACLEAN: I think Taggie wants it. Or not.
HASSELL: Yeah. She just wants it. She’s waiting for Rupert. Is that what you mean? If Rupert will love her then she’s ready.
MACLEAN: I think she thought it was going to happen. I mean she kissed you at the end of the series. She turned around I wanted it then you chose Cameron. I sat there going “He chose Cameron!” I was furious about it. The hell?
Your Favorite Age-Gap Romance Returns in New Look at ‘Rivals’ Season 2 [Exclusive]
Let more filthy-rich debauchery commence.
It seems like you guys have a lot of fun filming together being on set together Do you guys have a favorite memory in particular for this season of you two filming together that really sticks with you?
HASSELL: Well we both really loved doing that scene in the car didn’t we? There’s a scene when we talk about Helen Malise kids stuff. They’re unable to be together then unable to be vulnerable open with each other that much in second season, or first part anyway getting them on that level was really nice wasn’t it?
MACLEAN: Yeah.
Maclean and Hassell Have One Word To Describe Their Characters’ Story by the End of Season 2
If you could use one word to describe your character’s story by the end of the season what word would you use?
HASSELL: Oh I don’t want to give anything away though hey? Hopeful I would say.
MACLEAN: Aww.
HASSELL: Have you got one or are you just piggybacking off mine?
MACLEAN: [Laughs]I was going to say hopeful.
HASSELL: Were you going to say hopeful as well?
MACLEAN: Yeah because I’ve been saying that a lot today.
HASSELL: Well that’s nice.
