Rivals series 2: When extended season of Disney+ drama will return after tragic death of main character in episode 6
They've killed off one of our favourite characters, and we can't cope
Rivals series 2 has come to a devastating ending for now, with episode 6 delivering the mother of all tragedies.
The series will be back with another six episodes but, for now, we’re left to come to terms with a shocking blow – the death of one of our favourite characters.
A storm hit Rutshire in episode 6, and we’re not just talking about the weather. It was an explosive episode, mostly focused on the Baddingham family. And the events that occurred leave the future of Rivals a much darker place…
Here’s the ending of Rivals series 2 unpacked, and what we know about its return.
***Warning: spoilers from the ending of Rivals series 2 episode 6 ahead***
Does Monica die in Rivals series 2 ending?
Rivals killed off Monica Baddingham in devastating scenes at the end of episode 6. And her husband Tony has blood on his hands. Although he didn’t kill her, he was the reason she drove into a storm.
Having discovered her husband was having an affair with Maud O’Hara, something inside Monica broke. But it finally gave her the strength to leave him. And we all gave a collective whoop of joy as she told him some home truths.
But our elation soon turned to tears. Monica got in her car to drive Caitlin home, with the intention of telling Declan about his wife Maud’s affair. Tragically, she didn’t make it to the O’Hara’s house. A tree fell on the car while she was driving, killing her instantly. Luckily, Caitlin was able to escape the car relatively unharmed.
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Of course, we all know that Monica was Tony’s rock. So it’s anyone’s guess how he will behave from now on.
What happened in Rivals series 2 episode 6?
The episode started with sweet scenes of young love as Caitlin lost her virginity to Archie. However, moments later, Caitlin was forced to hide in his photographic dark room when Archie’s mum Monica returned home…
While hiding in there, Caitlin was horrified to see naked photos of her own mum Maud O’Hara amongst the photos. Viewers know that Tony had been having an affair with Maud, and used the camera to take nudies of his conquest. And when quietly stoic Monica saw the photos, too, it was awkward and heartbreaking all round.
When the painful truth came out, Tony spat: “I’ve cheated on your mother dozens of times. It’s what people do. Grow up.” Ouch. And for the record Tony, it’s NOT what people do.
Running from the house in a bid to get away from her cheating scumbag of a husband, Monica found herself at Lizzie’s doorstep. In emotionally raw scenes with the equally lovely Lizzie, Monica subsequently revealed she’d been in love with someone before Tony. Reading between the lines, it wasn’t difficult to make the leap that it was with a woman. This was a time when gay love was still frowned upon. Something Gerald and Charles know only too well.
Rivals series 2 ending: Monica ended her marriage to Tony
In triumphant scenes, Monica returned home after her heart to heart with Lizzie. She knew, after years of putting up with Tony’s infidelities, that she could do it no more. Most importantly, she had to set a good example to her two daughters Camilla and Beatrice Baddingham.
She told Tony: “I shouldn’t have married you. I am going to divorce you. This time I’m not keeping quiet. This time, when people ask me, I will tell them you were systematically adulterous throughout our marriage. Than I put up with it as long as I could. But that I simply had enough. I am going to engage the best solicitor to extract you from my life, from my children’s lives. And from this house, which belongs to me. I’m all out of chances.”
The final straw for poor Monica was Tony sleeping with Maud, a woman she considered a friend. She also know that Tony was using Maud as a weapon against Tony. She called his “control” and “manipulation” quite “disgusting”.
Tony was at rock bottom. Monica ended their marriage, his son “hated him”, and his infidelity would be exposed. He subsequently admitted it was “all his fault”. So that’s something. Of course it took him being found out to be contrite.
Of course, Monica eventually left the house driving into a storm. Tragically, she died before ever getting the chance to confront Maud, or have a life free of Tony.
Maud’s dirty secret was safe. For now.
Lizzie saw sense and reignited her affair with Freddie
After the emotional heart-to-heart with Monica, Lizzie realised she didn’t want to waste anymore time “staying with a man who isn’t nice to her at all”. Before her death, Moniva had unknowingly given Lizzie quite the gift – advice to follow her heart and set a good example.
Lizzie decided she “must live a less timid life”, adding: “From now on, I will live like blazes.” Driving to Freddie’s house, she told him: “I can’t do without you. I mean I don’t want to.”
In deeply romantic scenes, Freddie simply responded: “Then don’t.”
They kissed and delivered the only happiness in a very sombre episode.
Does Monica die in the books?
No, Monica Baddingham does not die in the Rivals novel by Jilly Cooper.
She continues to quietly endure her husband Tony’s emotional neglect and constant infidelity. The character appears in later entries of the Rutshire Chronicles series.
In the books, Monica is a much less sympathetic character, and finds more comfort in her dogs than her husband.
When will Rivals series 2 return?
When the first season of the hit Jilly Cooper adaptation debuted in October 2024, all episodes were available to stream at once. However, this time around, Disney are releasing season 2 in two separate six-episode batches.
The first set of episodes landed on Friday, May 15, 2026 with a three-episode premiere. The second batch will follow later in the year – although Disney+ has not yet revealed when. You need a subscription to be able to watch on the streaming service.
Watch this space for more info, as soon as we have it!
Read more: Is Rivals based on a true story, and real person Rupert Campbell-Black is heavily inspired by
