35/30
I read Rivals a few years ago and enjoyed every page!
Story
Coincidentally, Aidan Turner has previously filmed at Chavenage House (The Priory in Rivals). The same filming location was also used to portray Trenwith House in the 2015 BBC TV adaptation of Poldark.. It's quite difficult to compare the book and its characters to its television adaptation, since we all bring our own perception of what certain characters should look and act like. Also, while we can read a book at our leisure, television has to move along at a pace that fits the format and doesn't drag, so some characters or side story lines may have to be cut for times sake.
Makes us love Declan as much as we hate Lord B!
That being said, yes, there are differences from the book, but none so great that it ruins the overall fun and entertainment value. The characters, especially Aidan Turner as Declan O'Hara, the upstanding journalist and David Tennant, the nasty Lord B are great! The 80s music is fantastic, though the one part I found annoying was the opening high pitched opera music, just not a good fit. As for all the sex scenes, yes, we could do without some, since we all have an imagination, but that wouldn’t be the book Cooper wrote.
It was wonderful to spot Jilly Cooper herself in the restaurant lunch scene
She looked as though she was thoroughly enjoying the show, as did I. The last episode ended quite differently from the book, so I'm hoping there will be at least another season where we get to see what happens with Taggie and RCB . . . . . . . .
And of course, we know nasty Lord B has to be around to wreak more havoc
. . . .
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