Meghan's Netflix debut: Ambitious launch met with scorn

Meghan Markle (or Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, as she prefers to be addressed) and Prince Harry have yet to demonstrate a flair for entrepreneurship. Their 12-episode podcast, produced in collaboration with Spotify, proved to be a fiasco. Netflix executives extended a helping hand by offering them a contract worth a staggering £82 million. Although their documentary series enjoyed significant audience interest, their subsequent three ventures, marketed with their image, failed to deliver the anticipated profits.

Their last potential lifeline to regain favour with the decision-makers at the streaming giants is the new show "With Love, Meghan", in which the titular character depicts herself as an exemplary homemaker. Alongside guests, they cook, host parties, and most importantly, gossip about various topics. Viewers eager for "juicy details" have already heard her bitter complaints about the closed chapter of her life at the royal court.

Starting in the morning, viewers globally can watch the eight-episode culinary series with the American actress. Cultural journalists from prominent newspapers and online portals have reviewed the entire series and have generally not been kind to Netflix's latest offering.

Stuart Heritage, a reviewer from "The Guardian", described the series as "completely pointless", suspecting it might be the end for Harry and Meghan. He emphasised that viewers expect more engaging content, not "helplessly filling gift bags for children with seeds." Alexander Larman from "The Spectator" noted Meghan's "noticeable desperation" to maintain popularity. He admitted he hoped never to see the broadcast after its premiere was postponed due to a wave of wildfires raging in California at the start of the year. Meanwhile, journalist Caroline Frost expressed genuine doubts about whether the show would "redefine the lifestyle genre" as promised in previews. Nonetheless, she did not intend to write about it solely in negative tones.

The show isn’t exactly the most informative one globally, but it can be helpful for those looking to learn simple tasks like adding Epsom salt to a bath or cooking pasta with boiling water. Brooklyn Beckham doesn’t need to be concerned about stepping aside from his role as a chef just yet, she humorously remarked in Radio Times.

Anita Singh, editor of the culture and entertainment section at "The Telegraph," was notably more critical.

The format involves Meghan welcoming guests into a staged home—the show is actually filmed on a £6.5 million farm near her £11.5 million residence—where they praise her and admire her achievements. She noted that this pattern continues for eight episodes and gave the show a rating of just 2 out of 5 stars.

Equally negative comments inundated the X portal today, where other influential journalists unreservedly criticised the show featuring Meghan Markle.

She comes across as entirely inauthentic—neither the home, the recipes, nor the ideas are genuinely hers. Pamela released a trailer for her show in 2023, and Meghan’s 2025 premiere appears nearly identical. Lacking energy and expression, it fails even as a "guilty pleasure." Described as a lifeless addition to the lifestyle TV genre, critics have sarcastically recommended it as a remedy for insomniacs in need of sleep. With Love, Meghan is now streaming on Netflix, with many reviews claiming it guarantees deep sleep within minutes.