After a glorious six episodes of scandal and sordid affairs, Rivals season 2 is taking a mid-season break.
But, to tide us over until the new release dates are confirmed, episode 6 has given us an episode for the ages, complete with outbursts, revelations and twists – with a truly tragic turn at the end.
As a storm hits Rutshire, truths come to light about Tony (David Tennant) and Maud’s (Victoria Smurfit) affair, with Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson) making a big decision about her romance with Freddie. But if you’re still left reeling from that devastating final scene, you’re not alone.
Here’s everything you need to know about how the mid-season finale of Rivals season 2 went down.
*Spoiler warning for Rivals season 2 episode 6*
Rivals season 2 episode 6 ending explained
What happened to Monica?
In the tragic final scenes, it’s revealed that Monica died after a tree fell and hit the car that she and Caitlin (Catriona Chandler) were travelling in, on the way to the O’Haras’.
While Caitlin made it out alive and with only minor injuries, Monica didn’t survive.
Declan O’Hara (Aidan Turner) and Rupert Campbell Black (Alex Hassell) find her, with Rupert delivering the news to Tony, who collapses to the floor in disbelief.
Of course, Monica’s death is all the more tragic as it comes after her shining moment earlier in the episode, during which she decides to be rid of her horrid husband Tony once and for all.
After discovering his latest affair with Maud O’Hara, thanks to her son Archie, Monica decides enough is enough. Stepping out into the storm, she pays a visit to Lizzie, with the two women discussing their treatment from their adulterous husbands and deciding they want better lives for themselves.
Steadfast in her decision, Monica returns home, where she tells Tony she wants a divorce. She then heads out in her car to take Caitlin home – before the pair are struck by tragedy.
How was Tony and Maud’s affair revealed?
Tony and Maud’s scandalous affair is revealed after he took some salacious nude photos of her with a camera that he then gave to his son, Archie.
Budding photographer Archie then used the rest of the film before developing the photos in his dark room.
But while the actual photos may have been disposed of, Caitlin is horrified to see the nude photos of her mother on a contact sheet in Archie’s dark room.
Monica then catches the pair together, and sees the contact sheet herself – before throwing it into the fire.
What happened to Lizzie and Freddie?
After her discussion with Monica, in which Monica confessed that she too had once had a forbidden love, Lizzie decides that she was done with “living timidly”.
Starting work on her new novel in the midst of the storm, she writes about a woman who would no longer live for others, while everyone around her is caught up in secrecy and scandal.
Stepping out into the storm to feel the wind on her face, she declares she will now “live like the blazes”.
True to her word, she immediately heads out to find Freddie (Danny Dyer), telling him she no longer wants to live without him. The pair share a passionate kiss as they decide to stop trying to repress their feelings for each other.
What about Taggie and Rupert?
Amid the storm, Taggie sees that Rupert’s horse has escaped.
She ventures out to return him, and, after choosing not to wear a coat in a torrential storm, takes a few minutes to warm up at Rupert’s house – with Cameron looking deeply unimpressed about the whole situation.
Rupert drives Taggie home, and the pair share a few tense moments, with Rupert deciding to stay the night rather than head back out in the storm.
While the pair are clearly still trying to hide their feelings, they’re not exactly being subtle – and it seems Cameron is done with Rupert still holding a torch for another woman.
Rivals is available to stream on Disney+. Season 2 premiered on Friday 15 May 2026. Sign-up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month.
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