Meghan Markle’s latest docuseries, With Love, Meghan, has received an onslaught of withering reviews since airing on Netflix on March 4. Viewers have described the eight-episode show, in which the Duchess of Sussex invites friends to her California estate and shares tips for cooking, gardening and hosting, as “nonsense” and “out of touch”.
The series is the fifth project in Meghan Markle and Duke of Sussex’s Netflix deal.
How much have Meghan and Harry earned from their Netflix deals?
In 2020, Harry and Meghan signed a $100m (£78m) deal with Netflix, to produce shows over the following years.
The couple said in a statement that they will be “shining a light on people and causes around the world” and focusing “on creating content that informs but also gives hope”.
The first project was Harry & Meghan, which was followed by Heart of Invictus, Polo, Live to Lead, and With Love, Meghan.
How have the shows been rated?
Harry & Meghan
Harry and Meghan’s first docuseries was Harry & Meghan, which aired in 2022. The six-part series explores the couple’s relationship and the challenges that led them to step back from the Royal Family.
The show had a mixed reception, receiving a 5.1 ranking on IMDb. One user said they enjoyed the “unique view into Harry's background and why the couple has decided to make the decisions they have”, while another described it as: “Two privileged people with more than any normal mortal can imagine going on and on and on and on about how hard their life is”.
Critics were also divided in their assessment of the show. Leila Latif gave the show four stars in The Guardian, praising the series for being filled with “unlikely twists” despite the well-trodden subject matter. But Rachel Cunliffe, writing in New Statesman, described it as “an exhausting endurance test, six hours of your life you won’t get back”.
Harry & Meghan received a 45 per cent Tomatometer and a 19 per cent Popcornmeter ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.
Live to Lead
The couple’s next endeavour was Live to Lead, a seven-part series consisting of interviews with influential individuals like Greta Thunberg and then New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern. Despite the high-calibre interviewees, many viewers did not find the show inspiring. It received a 4.4 ranking on IMDb, with one viewer describing it as: “Bite-sized motivation for those with short attention spans”.
The series accrued a 15 per cent Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes. Ed Power, writing in The Telegraph, likened the show to “a corporate video produced by a HR department that has too much time and money”.
Heart of Invictus
In 2023, Netflix aired Heart of Invictus, a five-part series following six people competing in the 2022 Invictus Games (the global event founded by Prince Harry to help wounded service members heal through sports). The series received mixed reviews, ranking 5.4 on IMDb. One user described the show as “very deep and raw: Inspiring & educational”, while another said that they were “very disappointed that so much was focused on Harry and his problems”.
Heart of Invictus received a 78 per cent Popcornmeter. Michael Odell gave the series four stars in The Standard, praising its focus “on those who have suffered real pain and trauma in the service of others”.
Brian Lowry, writing for CNN, also praised the show, making the case that “one has to be pretty heartless not to get a bit choked up”.
Polo
The 2024 docuseries, Polo, which provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of professional polo players, received a devastating critical reception. It was ranked 3/10 on IMDb, with users describing the show as “truly awful”, “tedious”, “cruel and totally unrelatable”. It received a 25 per cent Popcornmeter ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.
James Jackson, writing in the Times, said “it’s hard not to shake the feeling that you’re watching the equivalent of a large, expensive coffee-table book”, while Stuart Heritage compared the series to “a spoof documentary designed to play on screens in the background of episodes of Succession”, in the Guardian.
With Love, Meghan
While it is still early days, it seems as if Meghan and Harry’s latest show is among the most slated of their projects. It has received a 2.4/10 ranking on IMDb and a 12 per cent Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes.
