Rivals (2024) – Season 1 Episode 3 Recap & Review

The New Year Eve’s Party

Rivals Season 1 Episode 3 starts with the O’hara sisters preparing for Christmas. Taggie receives a beautiful, expensive bracelet and assumes it is from her ex. She starts looking forward to her brother’s birthday party since her ex is coming. She is under the assumption that he wants to get back together. In reality, the bracelet is from Rupert as an apology for his inexcusable behaviour at the Jones’ party. Meanwhile, Patrick O’Hara arrives earlier than expected. Everyone is glad to see him. 

On the other side of town, Rupert calls his ex, Helen, to beg for a chance to talk to his kids, but she refuses. He gives up and opts to focus on his date. Finally, the day for the party arrives and Lizzie encourages Taggie to spare some time to reconnect with her ex. The girls are also worried that their dad has been working too hard and Maud might throw herself at Rupert. Speaking of Declan, he is knee-deep in his investigation into Rupert. He is not pleased that Maud invited everyone. He thought they were having a small party. Everyone is going to the party except Cameron, since Tony doesn’t want her there. 

As the party time approaches, Taggie gets help from other friends in the kitchen. Taggie is still angry at Rupert and doesn’t understand why she wants to sit next to Rupert at the party. However, Maud says Taggie should consider herself lucky for being groped by Rupert. What? As if that is not enough heartbreak for Taggie, her ex shows up with his new girlfriend. Her siblings try to comfort her, but our girl is heartbroken.

Word about Declan’s party gets out and even the paparazzi show up. James scolds Lizzie for having a ladder on her tights. Freddie tries to talk work with Tony, but the latter insists it is time to party. Sarh gets jealous after seeing Maud shamelessly flirt with Rupert, who once again arrives late. Also at the party is Patrick’s godfather and the same man that Maud had an affair with.

Once again, Lizzie and Freddie find themselves gravitating towards each other. Rupert is unable to take his eyes off Taggie, even though she is busy taking care of everyone. He learns from Caitlin that Taggie thinks that the bracelet is from her ex. Tony keeps Declan in check to keep him from attacking Rupert at the party. It doesn’t help that Maud keeps flirting with the man right in front of his face. 

As the party rages on, Declan gives a passionate speech about how proud he is of Patrick. Right before Patrick can give his speech and usher in the new year, Cameron arrives dressed to the nines and distracts him. He forgets about his speech and moves closer to kiss Cameroon as the countdown ends. Tony is pissed that Cameron ignored his order and is kissing another man. His wife picks up on the tension and realises the truth. However, she says nothing.

Outside, Charles and Gerald break up after Charles tries to give Gerald the keys to his house. Gerald explains that he is hoping to have a political career and, as such, he needs a wife. Charles acts okay, but he is crushed. He gets drunk and has a panic attack in one of the rooms. 

Inside, Rupert clears the misunderstanding with Taggie, but she refuses to accept the bracelet. As they dance, Rupert admits her perspective of him scares him. She argues that he can change for the better, but he doesn’t think so. Taggie cuts their dance short and leaves. Sarah tries to dance with Rupert, but he turns her down. He tells her that there is nothing more between them and he had hoped she understood that from the beginning. However, Sarh doesn’t feel too crushed since Tony invites her to do a screen test. Tony is trying to use Sarah to make Cameron jealous. She, on the other hand, is using Patrick.

Caitlin meets Tony’s son and offers to take him upstairs for a weed-smoking session. Later, Mud asks to speak privately to Rupert. She is crushed when he turns her down and reveals his interest in Taggie. She heads back to Declan, crying, and he comforts her. As the party runs its course, Tony finds his son smoking weed and making out with one of the waiters. He also walks in on Bas having a foursome.

In the meantime, Taggie calls an ambulance when Charles starts complaining of chest pains. He is heartbroken over his mom’s dementia and Gerald’s rejection and wonders if anyone will ever truly love him. Charles begs her not to tell Tony since he can get fired or demoted. Taggie tries to stop the paparazzi from taking Charles’s photo. Later, Rupert finds her having a moment in the kitchen as all the responsibilities overwhelm her. He calms her down and promises to take care of the rest of the things. She finally forgives him and he puts her to bed.  On his way out, he offers to act drunk to get the pictures the paparazzi took of Charles.

The next morning finds Cameron and Patrick talking while watching the sunrise. Patrick is completely taken by Cameron, but she thinks he is still a child, albeit an ambitious one. After breakfast, she returns home and finds Tony waiting for her. He is seething with jealousy and anger. She assures him that she didn’t sleep with Patrick and she makes her vow never to see him again. Back at the O’Hara house, Maud tells Declan that she is bored without work. He asks how she would have loved to be touched by Rupert and they make love. The episode ends with Tony demanding sex from Cameron in turn for a promotion to controller of programmes. Elsewhere, Patrick heads back to college, but he seems enchanted by Cameron.


The Episode Review

Hmm! Rupert has many surprising layers to him. On one front, he is a menace who can’t keep his hands off people’s wives. He takes what he wants and then discards the women in his life like nothing. This is exactly what he did to Sarah. She should have known better than to expect more than a short fling from Rupert. 

Still, Rupert cares enough about Taggie to turn Maud down. He also helped Charles because she was worried about him. It seems like she is his kryptonite, but what is to say he won’t break her like he has done to those before her? 

On the other hand, we have Tony. Somehow, he thinks he is better than Rupert. How ironic? He is having an affair with Cameron and using his power to get her to obey him. He likes being challenged by her because he can then use the power he has over her career to tame her. It is sickening, to say the least. If Patrick is clever, he will stay away from Cameron. It won’t help Declan if his son gets into a duel with Tony over Cameron. It won’t help Patrick either, especially since he wants to be a director. 

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