Overview
- Episode six closed the first half of season two with a dramatic, widely discussed cliffhanger that has dominated fan reaction and industry coverage.
- Disney+ and Hulu released a trailer within days and confirmed that the remaining six episodes will return in November 2026, introducing several new cast members.
- Viewers reacted strongly online, trading theories and outrage about the finale while some cast and writers have publicly defended the creative choice as a deliberate departure from the source novel.
- The midseason break has renewed criticism of the preplanned split‑season rollout, with some fans warning the long hiatus could sap the show’s momentum and others welcoming the expanded 12‑episode arc.
- Rivals is a high‑profile ITV Studios/Happy Prince adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire books that has earned strong early reviews this season and will resume with storylines teased in the new trailer, including a major funeral, the Hunt Ball and an intensified corporate rivalry.