8 Steamy Drama Series That ‘Rivals’ Fans Need To Watch Next

Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for Rivals Season 2, Episode 1.Rivals Season 2 premiered on Hulu and Disney+, and it opened with a bang. As always, Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) are at each other’s throats (spoiler: Baddingham is very much still alive), and the Cotswolds elite are unstoppable when it comes to scheming, being perpetually horny, and attempting to fill their lives with enough expensive liquor, affairs, secrets, and work. Rivals is a perfect soapy camp drama, shot in stunning scenery and starring a lively and talented cast.

If you enjoy the high-stakes rivalries, ’80s excess, and untamed steaminess of Dame Jilly Cooper‘s Rivals, it can be difficult to find a show that perfectly balances many of those dynamics. But there are series, from financial camp and political scandals to 1970s feminist magazines and location-based revenge plots, that are full of ambition, betrayal, and shady characters who can’t keep their pants on. These are the shows to watch if you love Rivals.

‘Joan’ (2024)

Image via The CW

For those mesmerized by the ’80s setting and tone of Rivals, Joan is an ideal follow‑up—but it’s not a show many people have heard of. Joan is packed with bold fashion, a compelling anti-heroine, and a story filled with affairs and double-crosses, all based on the real life of a woman, who had an incredible shift in her “career,” so to speak, going from a single mother to one of Britain’s most notorious jewel thieves. We love women in men’s fields. Joan’s relationship with her dangerous lover, her loyalty to her daughter, and her flirtations with scores keep the tension high, while the bonkers true story of Joan’s life echoes the phrase “life imitates art” because it is so poetic and chaotic that it feels like it could only have been made up.

Based on a true story, Joan follows Joan Hannington (Sophie Turner), a struggling mother in 1980s London trapped in a violent marriage. When her husband goes on the run, she seizes the chance to take control of her life by turning to crime, quickly becoming one of Britain’s most infamous jewel thieves, known as “The Godmother.” The series is a glamorous, fast‑paced saga of heists, romance, and high‑stakes deception, and Sophie Turner delivers a charismatic and powerful performance, which many critics called the best of her career.

‘Minx’ (2022–2023)

Minx is primarily a comedy, but its DNA is pure Rivals: it takes place in a glamorous, cutthroat industry (publishing) during a decadent period (the 1970s). The central couple, a buttoned-up feminist and a shady, charming hustler, share the same love-hate dynamic as Rupert and the majority of his competitors. The show is unapologetically naked, but never sleazy; it is intelligent about sex and even more so about power. If you enjoyed Rivals‘ combination of sharp social commentary and steamy fun, Minx will be your new obsession. HBO Max abruptly cancelled the series after two seasons, but it remains one of the most memorable, unfairly cut shows that evokes a specific time period and sentiment.

Minx is set in Los Angeles in 1972 and follows Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), an earnest, Ivy League-educated feminist who wishes to launch an edgy magazine for women. The problem is that no publisher is interested in that. Enter Doug (Jake Johnson), a cash-strapped porn magnate, who sees an opportunity in Joyce’s idea, and “Minx,” the first erotic magazine for women, is created. Minx features an odd-couple partnership that explores clashing values, unexpected attraction, and heartfelt collaborations. As they battle censorship, sexism, and their own beautiful chemistry, the show sends a raunchy, clever love letter to the sexual revolution. If you enjoy Rivals‘ raunchy side, Minx provides that plus some.

‘Scandal’ (2012–2018)

Image via ABC

Scandal is the epitome of twisty, soapy, sexy drama. It boasts a tumultuous relationship between Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn) that threatens to destabilize the government and has rapid-fire dialogue and constant cliffhangers that make it incredibly bingeable. However, the main takeaway is the chemistry between Washington and Goldwyn, which still seems to exist, as their off-screen appearances often feel too good to be true. Scandal is a must-see for Rivals fans who enjoyed the dangerous flirtation between the characters and the undeniable chemistry between Rupert and Taggie (Bella Maclean). This Shonda Rhimes classic defined the 2010s.

Scandal revolves around Olivia Pope, a professional “fixer” in Washington, D.C., who handles the most explosive crises for the political elite. Her firm is staffed by a team of brilliant, damaged misfits, but her most important client is also her biggest secret: the President of the United States, with whom she is having an affair. As she deals with high-stakes spin control, election rigging, and murder cover-ups, her personal and professional lives collide dramatically. Washington’s performance earned her two Emmy nominations, and the show popularized the practice of live-tweeting during an episode, making Scandal a game-changing series in more ways than one.

‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ (2025–Present)

Image via Apple TV

Your Friends & Neighbors is a recent Apple TV thriller created by Jonathan Tropper, but it’s not like his usual action-packed stints; this one is more of a suburban drama with hints of crime thriller and black comedy. Jon Hamm stars and brings all of his Mad Men charisma to the role of a man whose life is in disarray, forcing him to take a step back and rethink his own existence within a microcosm of the conveniently wealthy lifestyle. Your Friends & Neighbors, like Rivals, is full of suburban secrets, sexual tension, and moral ambiguity, but it’s about realizing that living “the life” has more consequences than you think.

Your Friends & Neighbors follows Andrew “Coop” Cooper (Hamm), a recently divorced hedge fund manager who loses his job and thus his ability to maintain his upscale lifestyle in Westmont Village, a gated community. Desperate to hide his ruin, he resorts to burglary, targeting the homes of his wealthy neighbors. However, when he breaks into the wrong house and discovers a dead body, he becomes both a thief and the prime suspect, forced to solve the crime while keeping his double life hidden. Amanda Peet, Hoon Lee, and Olivia Munn join Hamm, and James Marsden appears as Coop’s mysterious frenemy in Season 2. It’s entertaining and set in a gated community like Rivals, depicting how the wealthy spend their days in the modern world.

‘Industry’ (2020–Present)

Image via HBO

Industry enjoys being a messy, backstabbing camp drama that makes finance appear to be the most exciting and certainly the horniest industry to be a part of, thereby maintaining HBO’s prestige one-hour drama’s elite status. The show uses sex as the primary arena for its characters’ ruthlessly transactional power plays, and many of their tastes and preferences reflect their career decisions and characteristics. It is not for the faint of heart, but it could be a transformative experience for anyone who has never witnessed such dynamics between its leads. In the best way possible, Industry retains a supremely nasty edge that captures Rivals’ untamed, brutal energy.

Set in the pressure-cooker world of London’s elite investment banking, Industry follows a group of young, ruthless graduates who claw and sleep their way through the cutthroat ranks of the prestigious firm Pierpoint & Co. The core trio—brilliant but volatile Harper Stern (Myha’la), the dangerously charismatic Rob (Harry Lawtey), and the wealthy but desperately insecure Yasmin Kara-Hanani (Marisa Abela)—soon discover that their careers, friendships, and darkest desires have become inescapably linked. The show’s co-creators, both former bankers, have made authenticity the show’s selling point, making Industry a show for those who enjoy dangerous flirtation and moral ambiguity.

‘Revenge’ (2011–2015)

Image via ABC

Revenge is pure, unapologetic soap opera TV, but it’s also a gripping thriller series. Everyone is sleeping with everyone in it; there are revenge plots, sexy poolside scenes, lavish parties, and steamy hookups, but it also captures the class war tension and backstabbing drama depicted in Rivals. All of this, however, is amplified in Revenge, creating an unforgettable viewing experience. As an added bonus, the Hamptons setting is similar to the Cotswolds in terms of glamorous escapism. The series aired for four seasons and is considered one of the most memorable of the 2010s.

Revenge follows Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp), who arrives in the Hamptons with the goal of destroying those who framed her father for a terrorist conspiracy. She rents a beachfront cottage near the powerful Grayson family, launching her elaborate scheme; she infiltrates high-society parties, seduces the son of her enemy, and gradually destroys each target from within. The series was loosely inspired by the novel The Count of Monte Cristo, and many analysts see Emily as a modern female version of the novel’s protagonist, Edmond Dantès; her desire for vengeance makes her sympathetic, making Revenge a quintessential “eat the rich” revenge story.

‘Mad Men’ (2007–2015)

Image via AMC

If you love Rivals‘ stylish period setting and exploration of a hedonistic, competitive industry, Mad Men is a must-see. It explores the same themes: professional ambition, personal betrayal, and the conflict between old and new money. The affairs are legendary, the man at the center is volatile but incredibly attractive, and the dynamics have blurred the lines between them to the point where you never know who is truly a friend and who is a hidden foe. It’s a slow-burning, beautifully crafted show that rewards attentive viewing. It’s another show on the list that features Jon Hamm, but Don Draper is unquestionably his most memorable role.

Mad Men is set in the glamorous and sexist world of a 1960s New York advertising agency and follows Don Draper (Hamm), the brilliant but deeply flawed creative director. The show follows his personal and professional lives, as well as those of his coworkers, as they navigate cutthroat business deals, shifting social norms, and their own existential crises against the backdrop of heavy drinking, smoking, and secret affairs. The show won four Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series and is regarded as one of the best TV dramas ever made.

‘The Morning Show’ (2019–Present)

Image via Apple TV

The Morning Show, like Rivals, is a cutthroat drama set in broadcast media, capturing the same power struggles and professional jealousy that we see in the British drama. The boardroom battles over talent and ratings mirror Tony Baddingham’s struggle for power, while the romantic entanglements between co-anchors and executives add the perfect soapy touch. The series stars Billy Crudup, who won two Emmys for his portrayal of a brilliantly insane network executive, as well as Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell.

The Morning Show takes place in the high-pressure world of morning network television; a popular anchor, Mitch Kessler (Carell), is fired after several sexual misconduct allegations, causing the entire network to collapse. The show delves into the complicated personal lives of the anchors, producers, and executives who fight to stay on top—and threaten to destroy them. The series was based on Brian Stelter‘s book Top of the Morning and each season is inspired by real-life events such as the MeToo movement, COVID-19, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.