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Jilly Cooper’s Rivals season two has finally returned to screens after a break following its mid-season finale

Disney’s Rivals is finally back on our screens but fans have one major complaint.

Season two of the 80s-set drama returned with three fresh episodes on Wednesday (November 11), throwing viewers into the aftermath of the heart-breaking mid-season finale. Fans will remember that Lady Monica Baddingham (Claire Rushbrook) was killed by a falling tree after running out into a storm having discovered that her husband Tony (David Tennant) was having an affair with Maud (Victoria Smurfit).

The second half of the season dives into the grief Monica left behind, as well as Tony and Declan O’Hara’s (Aidan Turner) tense battle for the Cotswolds crown. Meanwhile, the synopsis teases: “Rupert Campbell-Black is forced to confront his own personal demons”.

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It continues: “Against a backdrop of hedonistic parties, Bonfire Night chaos, the Hampshire Hunt Ball and a turbulent Christmas, affairs unravel, alliances fracture and rivalries intensify. Caught in the middle of the frenzied franchise war, Taggie O’Hara must find the courage to follow her heart, while those around her face the consequences of ambition, power and secrets that can no longer remain hidden. But as series two draws to a close, who will get their happy ending?”

While viewers have been counting the days until the period drama’s return, many have been left disappointed by its staggered release scheduled. Following this week’s trio of episodes, Rivals will drop a new episode every Wednesday until December 2nd.

Venting on Reddit, one fan said: “Okay but why…? Why do we have to wait even longer for the rest of the series to drop? All these months waiting for part two and we only get the first half of that for now as well? Not a big fan of this move.”

The show’s mid-season finale aired back in June, meaning fans were forced to wait five months for new episodes. In comparison, the first season was released all in one day.

Someone else echoed the frustration, posting: “It’s ruined the momentum for me.” Yet another viewer wrote: “Making us wait this long for part 2 and only dropping half of it is painfullllll.”

And others even assumed the season was over, with one fan admitting: “Omg guys I thought that was the end of the series.” But some supporters have praised the weekly release schedule because it “keeps them excited”.

“I like it. Keeps me excited. I miss episodes dropping week to week for shows it keeps me interested longer and actually makes me retain what happens. I get bored binging!!!,” said one watcher.

While a second added: “I like weekly release. It gives you time to think about the show, “be” in it. If you binge you forget about it two days after.”

Rivals season 2, part 2 is streaming now on Disney Plus