The wait is officially over for Rivals fans. Disney+ and Hulu have confirmed that the second half of Season 2 will arrive on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, with a three-episode premiere dropping all at once. The announcement came on September 9, 2026, alongside a brand-new trailer and a set of first-look images that show the residents of Rutshire dealing with the aftermath of one of the show’s most shocking moments yet. The mid-season finale left viewers reeling after the death of Lady Monica Baddingham, played by Claire Rushbrook, and the new episodes pick up right where that tragedy left off.
When Exactly Does Rivals Season 2 Part 2 Arrive
Rivals Season 2 Part 2 premieres on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ for viewers in the UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other international markets. The first three episodes of the remaining six will land together on that day. The following three episodes will roll out weekly after that.
For viewers in the US, the show streams on Hulu, and also on Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers. International audiences can watch it directly on Disney+. Episodes generally drop at 8am local time in most regions. The first six episodes of Season 2, which aired in May and June 2026, are already available to stream, so anyone who needs to catch up can do so before November.
What Happened in the Mid-Season Finale
The sixth episode of Season 2 ended with a devastating twist that departed from Jilly Cooper’s original novel. Monica Baddingham was killed during the Great Storm of 1987 when a tree fell on the car she was driving. Rupert Campbell-Black, played by Alex Hassell, was the one who delivered the news to Tony Baddingham, played by David Tennant.
The death has left Tony completely unmoored. Tennant spoke about the impact of Monica’s loss in an interview with Digital Spy.
“The world of Rutshire has ruptured. He is unhinged now, he is unfettered, he is unanchored. She was his absolute centre. She was his home, she was what grounded him as she was what kept him sane.”
The finale also revealed that Tony had been having an affair with Maud O’Hara, played by Victoria Smurfit, a secret that Monica discovered before her death. Tony’s son Archie and Maud’s daughter Caitlin already know about the affair, which raises the question of whether Declan O’Hara and Taggie will find out in Part 2.
The Battle for the Cotswolds Heats Up
The official synopsis from Disney+ teases that the rivalry between Tony Baddingham’s Corinium and Declan O’Hara’s Venturer reaches a breaking point in the new episodes. Rupert Campbell-Black is forced to face his own personal struggles after stepping back from his political career amid scandal.
The new episodes will move through a packed social calendar, including Bonfire Night, the Hampshire Hunt Ball, and a tense Christmas. Affairs will come to light, alliances will break, and the fight for control of the franchise will only get more intense. Taggie O’Hara, played by Bella Maclean, finds herself caught in the middle of the chaos and must decide whether to follow her heart.
Who Is Returning and Who Is New in the Cast
The main cast is back in full. David Tennant returns as Lord Tony Baddingham, Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black, Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara, and Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook. Bella Maclean returns as Taggie O’Hara, Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker, Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones, and Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara.
Three new faces are joining the show for Part 2. Rachael Stirling plays Araminta Pemberton, who is Lady Monica Baddingham’s younger sister. Rupert Evans appears as David Hawkley, a headmaster. Santiago Cabrera plays Alejandro Mendoza, an Argentinian polo legend. These new characters are expected to shake up the already complicated relationships in Rutshire.
What the New Trailer Shows
The trailer released on September 9, 2026, opens with Monica’s funeral and sets a somber tone before quickly shifting into the show’s signature mix of drama and scandal. Tony is heard saying, “I’ve got nothing left to do but fight,” while Freddie Jones warns that “someone close to us can’t be trusted”.
The trailer also shows a tense moment between Rupert and Bas, played by Luca Pasqualino, with Rupert throwing a punch. Cameron is seen asking, “If you keep on this, you will run out of hearts to break?” There are also glimpses of the Hampshire Hunt Ball, a glass-breaking moment that fans of the book will recognize, and more scenes between Lizzie and Freddie that suggest their complicated romance is far from over.
Fans Have Been Waiting Since June
The five-month gap between Part 1 and Part 2 has been a sore point for many viewers. Social media reactions have ranged from frustration to acceptance. One fan on X wrote, “wow rivals season 2 is sooooo goooddd, cant believe we have 2 wait till november for pt 2 what kind of release model is this?” Another said, “no rivals until november feels like they personally attacked me”.
Rotten Tomatoes has given Season 2 a 100% approval rating so far, with viewers praising the performances of Claire Rushbrook and David Tennant in particular. Writer Laura Wade explained that the mid-season break was partly designed to let the story “have a moment to sink in with viewers” and also because the second half of the season is set at a different time of year.
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Where to Watch and What You Need to Know
All six episodes of Season 1 and the first six episodes of Season 2 are streaming now on Disney+ and Hulu. The remaining six episodes will begin arriving on November 11, 2026. New viewers should start with Season 1 to understand the tangled relationships and the core rivalry between Corinium and Venturer.
For viewers in India, Rivals is available on Disney+ through the JioHotstar platform. In the UK, Canada, and Australia, the show streams on Disney+ under the Star banner. The series is based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles books, which have been adapted for television by Dominic Treadwell-Collins. A third season has already been confirmed with 12 episodes, but the events of Season 2 Part 2 will determine which characters return.
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