Fictional age gaps have inspired strong reactions<\/a> from TV fans, which is why Alex Hassell <\/strong>and Bella Maclean<\/strong> were surprised by the response to Rupert and Taggie on Rivals<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve certainly never been part of something before that is having a ripple effect in the real world,\u201d Hassell, 45, exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em> about the reception to Rupert and Taggie\u2019s 16-year age difference. \u201cIt\u2019s fascinating.\u201d<\/p>\n Maclean, 29, meanwhile, recalled her initial concerns.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe were probably nervous at points about the age gap,\u201d she noted. \u201cIt\u2019s so funny that we\u2019re certain that people who we thought maybe would be curious or maybe were not such a big fan of the relationship ended up being people who loved it the most. It\u2019s incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n After seeing the online response, Hassell pointed out that Rupert and Taggie\u2019s romance is more than just an age gap, adding, \u201cIt is about potentially this young and fairly open-hearted girl with her heart on her sleeve. She is this innocent, naive young woman, and the strength of her love and purity could change the biggest rogue in the whole world. It is a very potent fantasy for young people.\u201d<\/p>\n Based on Jilly Cooper<\/strong>\u2018s novel of the same name, Rivals<\/em> is centered on a feud between two men fighting for control of a television station in 1980s Britain. While viewers were waiting to see whether Tony (David Tennant<\/strong>) or Rupert would come out on top, it was Rupert\u2019s surprising bond with Taggie that stole the show.<\/a><\/p>\n The fictional couple got off to a rocky start, but that paved the way for Rupert and Taggie to connect on a more<\/a> emotional level. Season 2, which airs Fridays, has hit the pair with plenty of roadblocks.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s good for it to feel a little painful, like you\u2019re just dying for them to be together,\u201d Maclean noted, to which Hassell added, \u201cThe audience\u2019s feelings mirror their feelings. You want to be together, but things conspire to get in the way of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Hassell previously spoke to Us<\/em> about the discourse surrounding the age difference.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSomething about the age gap that is fascinating \u2014 because obviously it\u2019s in the book and it\u2019s a really important part of the story \u2014 is that it\u2019s a complex trope in TV shows and in films,\u201d he shared in 2024. \u201cIt isn\u2019t a positive thing in culture that every 40-year-old man in every TV show has a young partner. But in this \u2014 and usually it has nothing to do with the story \u2014 it\u2019s justified because it is a really important part of Rupert\u2019s redemption.\u201d<\/p>\n At the time, the duo weren\u2019t sure how Rupert and Taggie\u2019s connection would keep playing out.<\/p>\n \u201cTaggie really wants to be with Rupert. By the end of season 8 \u2014 well, hopefully by then they would be together,\u201d Maclean quipped. \u201cBut by the end of episode 8, she made it very, very clear that she really wants to be with him, she loves him and she can\u2019t hide that anymore. Basically I think Taggie\u2019s arc will be about rooting for Rupert and trying to get that. But whether or not they get together is another thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Maclean pointed out that \u201cthere\u2019s so much that can happen<\/a> in season 2.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/themes\/us-weekly\/assets\/img\/newsletter-bg-narrow.jpg\")
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