Wanted to ramble a bit about the āJehovahās Witness / Fucking Socksā sequence in episode one. What makes it so notable to me is that itās an exposition scene, a pure info dump. Thereās no action, no advancement of the plot. It exists only to introduce us to Lizzie, to the OāHaras, and to Rutshire. There isnāt a single line that isnāt doing structural, load-bearing exposition and character-building work, and yet itās all milk-down-a-silk-curtain smooth and a joy to watch.
We learn that Lizzie is a novelist. That Taggie is dyslexic and that Caitlin has no filter. That Rupert lives next door. That Lizzie and Rupert are friends. We learn that Lizzieās marriage is a disaster and that the OāHarasā marriage is probably worse (and Taggie knows it). We learn the dynamics of the whole family: that money is messy, that every family member is knee-deep in each otherās business, and that Taggie & Declan are the only oneās doing any work.
We get all of this and more in a scene thatās just funny and joyous from start to finish, a scene that makes you feel like youāve pulled up a chair in the Priory kitchen and been invited to join in. The sunās shining, the Agaās warm, and youāre drinking champers from a teacup at 9 AM on a weekday because lifeās short and why bloody not.
Also, I canāt do justice to the sound Katherine Parkinson makes in response to the question: āIs your husband fiercely protective?ā There are coherent and articulate paragraphs of meaning in that single sound.
Lastly, itās worth noting that Declanās toplessness is doing double duty in the scene. Partly, yes, itās just aesthetically pleasing, but itās alsoālike every bit of costuming and blocking in the sceneādefining character. Thereās unapologetic openness and earthiness to Declanās striding about without a shirt. Because no one in this family is hiding who they are, no one (except Lizzie who squeaks when she sees Declanās bare chest) is prudish, no one is batting eyelids at Lizzie writing smut, no one worries about their teenaged daughter wanting to be ravished, no one cares a jot about discussing (with a total stranger) Taggieās loss of virginity, no oneās secrets are sacrosanct. The OāHaras live messily, beautifully, musically, and out loud, and just like Lizzieāwho essentially ends the episode writing OāHara fanficāthatās a big part of the reason weāre instantly drawn to all of them.
And I think perhaps thatās why this establishing scene is so important; for this show to work, we need to want to watch the OāHaras. For as much as Rivals is an ensemble showāand for as much as characters like Tony, Rupert, Lizzie, and Cameron get as much screen time as the OāHarasāRivals is the OāHarasā story. Itās structured around them: their jobs, their loves, their house, their relationships. It works because they engage us.
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