If you loved
Rivals
Series · 2024
What hooked you in Rivals is the delicious way that professional ambition inevitably bleeds into messy, high-stakes personal relationships.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Blood Ties
Guillaume Canet · Film · 2013
Books on the same thread
The Housemaid Is Watching
Freida McFadden · Book · 2024
Explores: Hidden Identity, Surveillance, Twisted Power Dynamics.
If the backstabbing corporate maneuvering in Rivals kept you guessing, you will appreciate how this thriller centers on the deceptive, shifting power dynamics hiding behind a suburban facade.
The Queen's Fool
Philippa Gregory · Book · 2004
Shares a thread with Rivals: Betrayal.
Just as Rivals portrays the volatility of 1980s television, this historical tale captures the treacherous courtly environment where personal survival depends on navigating dangerous and shifting political alliances.
Nineteen Eighty-Four
George Orwell · Book · 2004
Explores: Totalitarianism, Surveillance, Loss of Individuality.
While Rivals focuses on the boardroom, both stories explore how individuals struggle to maintain their personal identity while trapped within systems that demand absolute and total conformity.
Heated Rivalry
Rachel Reid · Book · 2019
Explores: hidden relationship, rivals to lovers, sports career pressure.
Fans of the competitive tension in Rivals will recognize the familiar thrill of watching two high-profile professionals allow their intense career rivalry to ignite a volatile, hidden romance.
Films on the same thread
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino · Film · 2024
Shares 2 threads with Rivals: Ambition, Betrayal.
This film mirrors the core energy of Rivals by showcasing how professional ambition and competitive drive can warp intimate relationships into complex, high-stakes games of power and influence.
Amadeus
Film · 1984
Shares a thread with Rivals: Period Drama.
Much like the power struggles in Rivals, this drama examines how deep-seated envy and obsession can turn a professional relationship into a destructive and highly personal battle for dominance.
Conclave
Edward Berger · Film · 2024
Explores: Power Struggle, Religious Conspiracy, Succession.
If you enjoyed the cutthroat succession games in Rivals, you will be drawn to this story of intense power struggles and institutional corruption within a high-stakes, cloistered environment.
The Favourite
Yorgos Lanthimos · Film · 2018
Shares a thread with Rivals: Period Drama.
This film captures the same spirit of ruthless female competition found in Rivals, proving that the most dangerous battles for influence are often fought in the most private spaces.
Podcasts on the same thread
Business Wars
Audible · Podcast · 2026
Explores: market dominance, competitive strategy, innovation warfare.
If the corporate warfare in Rivals was your favorite element, this podcast provides the real-world context for how industrial rivalries shape the world through strategy, ego, and competition.
Pivot
New York Magazine · Podcast · 2026
Explores: corporate accountability, power dynamics, market trends.
Much like the unfiltered boardroom dynamics of Rivals, this podcast dissects the modern tech world by analyzing the aggressive power plays and bold maneuvers of its most influential leaders.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Rivals based on a specific time period?
Yes, Rivals is set in 1986 during a time when Britain is booming. The show explores the cutthroat television industry of that era, focusing on the intense ambitions and personal dealings of the characters as they navigate high-stakes boardrooms and private bedroom affairs.
What is the primary theme of Rivals?
The primary theme of Rivals is the ruthless ambition found within the 1980s British television world. The narrative centers on individuals who prioritize their own success above all else, forcing viewers to question if true love can actually blossom in such a competitive and self-serving environment.
Should I watch Blood Ties if I finished Rivals?
If you enjoyed the themes of ambition and personal conflict in Rivals, you may consider watching the 2013 movie Blood Ties. Both titles explore complex interpersonal dynamics and the consequences of individual choices, providing a similar tone for those interested in character-driven stories.
Does Rivals feature a romantic plotline?
Rivals features romantic elements, though they are complicated by the cutthroat nature of the characters. While the show focuses heavily on the professional and personal power struggles of the 1986 television industry, it explicitly asks whether true love can survive when everyone is out only for themselves.