While there’s always a place for high-brow silver screen creations, we’d argue that, sometimes, there’s nothing better than getting lost in a guilty pleasure TV show. Whether you’re battling a bout of burnout, or simply feeling uneasy about the state of the world (we don’t blame you), there’s nothing better than sinking your teeth into something a little more lighthearted. Enter, Rivals, the ‘80s raunchy comedy perfectly primed for your next couch-rotting session.
As the name suggests, the eight-part series charts two power-hungry men as they battle it out for control of a TV network in the Cotswolds – with plenty of sex, drama, and scandals in between. Sadly, with binge-worthy shows like this, you can be left hungry for more after you've devoured every episode. Luckily, that's where we coming in. Below, we've compiled a list of five shows we think you'll love if you've already raced through Rivals. You're welcome.
Masters Of Sex (2013)
For a similarly raunchy watch, why not try Masters Of Sex? While you can probably glean much of the plot from the title, the Emmy-nominated series follows William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan), two researchers in human sexuality at Washington University in the '50s and '60s. Pretty quickly, things between the two characters become just as steamy as the topic they're researching.
Masters Of Sex is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
Sex/Life (2021)
Another strong contender for best guilty pleasure show is Sex/Life, which follows a suburban mum who's torn between her 'boring' married life, and the rampant love life she enjoyed before meeting her husband. Be warned: there's only two seasons of Sex/Life to get through, and it's highly binge-able.
Sex/Life is now streaming on Netflix.
Joan (2024)
We'll watch just about anything Sophie Turner is in, and Joan is no exception. Like Rivals, this series is set in the '80s, and follows the true story of prolific jewel thief Joan Hannington, including just how far she was willing to go to rescue her daughter from foster care. In addition to a gripping story, there's also iconic references to '80s culture imbued in each episode, not least the bold fashion trends.
Joan is now streaming on Stan.
Obsession (2023)
For something a little more thrilling, look to British series Obsession. The four-episode show follows William, a renowned British surgeon at the height of his career. But all that is thrown into disarray when he meets his son's girlfriend and, let's just say, they hit it off...
Obsession is now streaming on Netflix.
Mad Men (2007)
Set in the '60s, all the action of Mad Men takes place at the fictional Sterling Cooper advertising agency in New York City. It's here that Don Draper (Jon Hamm) works as an executive, dealing in not only cut-throat business, but also multiple affairs — which, of course, he keeps secret from his wife, Betty (January Jones).
Mad Men is now streaming on Netflix.
Feature image: Instagram.
