Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, has stepped onto the small screen with her new Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan. The show, which premiered on March 4, 2025, was highly anticipated, prompting viewers to set alarms to watch as soon as it became available. The general buzz around its release sparked curiosity, bridging Meghan's life post-royalty with her endeavors to craft relatable content.
The premiere showed Meghan presenting food and crafting segments, wrapped around her aesthetic vision drawn from her Montecito mansion. The show, filmed at an $8 million farmhouse down the road from her $14 million home, features several close friends and celebrity guests such as Mindy Kaling and chef Roy Choi. Going for cozy and interactive, it gives off definite "background TV" vibes, reminiscent of the delightful yet insipid offerings of many lifestyle shows.
The initial reviews have been mixed, to say the least. Patricia Treble set her alarms for 2:00 and 2:30 AM Toronto time to watch the show when it premiered and later gave it a rating of 6.5 out of 10, describing it as "fine but forgettable." She praised Meghan's appearance and the show's visual quality but lamented the lack of depth, stating the recipes and meals presented were basic and uninspired.
Treble highlighted the standout moments, particularly Episode 3, which featured Chef Roy Choi. She wrote, "He's got great personality and chemistry with Meghan," making this segment more engaging than the others, where Meghan often struggled with displaying sufficient personality as the lead. Episode 7 also received some praise, focusing on entrepreneur Victoria Tsai as they prepared potstickers together. Such collaborations spark joy, yet the reviews indicated Meghan's segments as the weakest part of the show.
Criticism has arisen about Meghan herself, particularly with her interactions. A notable moment of tension occurs at the 16-minute mark of Episode 2 when she snaps at Mindy Kaling for using her maiden name, "Meghan Markle". This seemingly inconsequential moment raises eyebrows and begs the question why Meghan allowed such perceived coldness to appear on screen, considering her reputed attention to detail.
Despite the artistic visuals and clever productions, there was concern about clarity and viewer engagement. Meghan's show fails to establish its purpose effectively, sometimes assuming viewers are already familiar with her backstory. Treble points out the odd behavior of filling jars of jam, which begs the question: why spend so much time on seemingly trivial tasks rather than on showcasing meaningful skills and recipes?
While intrigued by the modern domesticity Meghan tries to convey, the overarching sentiment is one of disconnection. Critics suggest the show's format seems stilted, as it immerses itself comfortably within aspirational aesthetics yet lacks genuine relatability. The mix-and-match of simple tasks alongside culinary lessons sometimes drifts toward the absurd, leaving viewers questioning who the original target audience really is.
The show feels at times less like practical advice and more like rehearsed vignettes, wherein Meghan's identity as "Sussex now" interferes with authenticity. Whether it's preparing floral arrangements or devising snack platters, the dialogue feels curated and nonspecific, leaving little room for personal connection.
Eager audiences watching to discover more about the Duchess find their expectations fluctuated. Many hoped for revelations on royal family dynamics or candid moments of reflection, but the show largely skirts around more scandalous touches, favoring the mundane tales of hosting and entertaining.
This series of eight episodes accumulates moments intended to be whimsical but often result as tiresome or forced. Meghan's jovial tone is perpetuated as she describes the experience and the importance of each small detail, yet many questions linger. For viewers like Treble who signed up for Netflix to watch the series, reality becomes mixed with scripted antics - how much of this is genuinely who Meghan is?
Highly anticipated as the pilot for her new career as Markle the lifestyle guru, the show embarks on what might be her final show for Netflix if it emerges less than successful. Having entered the OTT platform with high expectations, many wonder if the show will fulfill the broader vision of creative programming from the Sussexes or become yet another assessment of their post royal-life ventures.
Critics can only hope to see improvement from Meghan as the season continues or, if not, who knows what the future may hold for her Netflix relationship and the proposed projects lined up. There may yet be plans for adaptations or even their halted animation series, but what becomes of this maiden venture remains uncertain. If nothing else, With Love, Meghan offers audiences soft lessons softened with edible flowers around the edges.
Overall, audiences must balance their expectations with the wide array of content Meghan hopes to present under her Archewell Productions umbrella. Further collaborations are bound to occur, though after her latest endeavor, the narrative direction of the Sussexes’ media pursuits may require reevaluation.