Alright folks Meghan Markle is back in the spotlight but this time it is not about royal drama. Her new Netflix series "With Love Meghan" has landed and it is aiming for a different vibe. Think lifestyle guru think domestic goddess. But is it hitting the mark or missing the boat? Let's dive into what the show is all about and what everyone is saying.
"With Love Meghan": Homemade Bath Salts Beekeeping and Buttercream Hacks - Inside the Duchess's New Show
So what exactly is "With Love Meghan"? Well it's an eight-episode series where Meghan hosts different celebrity pals and shares her secrets for being the ultimate homemaker. It is all filmed in sunny Montecito California and it is very much giving aspirational Pinterest vibes. If you remember Meghan used to have a lifestyle blog called The Tig way before she married Prince Harry. This show feels like a return to that world.
In the first episode we see Meghan preparing for her makeup artist friend Daniel Martin to visit. She is all about thoughtful hosting. Think curated bedside trays and bathroom goodies. She even makes her own bath salts with Epsom salts arnica oil lavender and pink salt. Pro tip she puts rosebuds and lavender in a teabag to avoid drain clogs! For a late-night snack she whips up truffle popcorn and arranges a pretty flower bouquet.
But wait there is more! Meghan is also a beekeeper! We see her in action harvesting honey looking all in awe of the process. She even makes beeswax candles melting down leftover wax and adding scented oils. For cooking tips Meghan is big on "tiny details" making a difference. She jazzes up a crudités platter with fresh flowers shows how to plate spaghetti like a pro and uses a Ziploc bag hack for frosting cakes. Oh and the raspberry jam? Homemade with berries from her garden of course!
Critics Are Roasting "With Love Meghan": "Gormless Filler" "Narcissistic" and "Queasy"
While Meghan is serving up lifestyle inspiration critics particularly in the British press are not exactly loving it. Reviews are pretty harsh . The Independent gave it one star calling it "queasy and exhausting." Ouch. The Guardian called it "gormless lifestyle filler" and another "disappointment" after the Sussexes' other Netflix projects. The Times slammed its "desperate upbeatness" and said it presents an "extreme wealth" lifestyle as relatable which it is not. The Telegraph went straight for the jugular calling it an "exercise in narcissism."
Basically critics are saying the show strains to be aspirational and relatable but misses the mark. They are not buying the Martha Stewart duchess rebrand. Some feel it is pointless and joyless lacking the drama people might expect from the Sussexes.
Is This the End of the Sussexes' Netflix Era? "With Love Meghan" Faces Ratings Uphill Battle
The Guardian even suggests "With Love Meghan" could be the last thing the Sussexes make for Netflix. Their big deal with the streamer was supposed to make them Obama-level content creators but so far it has been mostly misses. They point to the polo docuseries "Heart of Invictus" and Meghan's Spotify podcast "Archetypes" as not exactly setting the world on fire.
The only real hit they have had is the "Harry & Meghan" docuseries because it delivered what people wanted: royal drama and family revelations. Critics argue that people are not interested in Meghan's lifestyle tips they want the "furious righteous Meghan" from the tell-all documentary. Will "With Love Meghan" turn things around? It seems unlikely unless there is a sudden massive craving for shows about filling party bags with seeds and manuka honey as The Guardian hilariously put it.
"Sussex" Has "Deeper Meaning Now": Meghan Reflects on Family Name and Motherhood Journey
Amidst the show's release Meghan is also sharing more personal reflections . In an interview with People magazine she talked about the "Sussex" name and how it has gained significance since becoming a mother. She says "It’s our shared name as a family and I guess I hadn’t recognized how meaningful that would be to me until we had children."
For Meghan the Sussex name is a symbol of their family love story. She and Harry chose it when they got married and now it is the last name for Archie and Lilibet too. In "With Love Meghan" she even gently corrects Mindy Kaling for calling her "Meghan Markle" saying "You know I’m Sussex now." It is a small moment but it highlights how much the family name means to her.
She also opened up about motherhood saying life has changed so much in the past five years since Archie was a baby. She acknowledges the "huge evolution as a woman" during this time. With her kids getting older Meghan feels like she is finding herself again in a joyful way able to focus on passions that were always there but maybe on the back burner while raising little ones.
5 Things We Learned From "With Love Meghan" Episode 1:
- Homemade Bath Salts are Key to Hosting: Epsom salts arnica oil lavender pink salt and a teabag of botanicals are Meghan's go-to recipe.
- Beekeeping is a Calming and Appreciative Hobby: Meghan enjoys watching bees and now appreciates honey more than ever.
- DIY Beeswax Candles are Crafty Fun: Melt beeswax add scented oils and use lollipop sticks to keep wicks in place while setting.
- "Tiny Details" Elevate Cooking: Artistic crudités plating swirled spaghetti and leveled cake layers are Meghan's cooking secrets.
- Homemade Berry Jam is Sentimental: Raspberry jam from her garden and apple butter inspired by her grandmother are Meghan's favorite preserves.
Will "With Love Meghan" Win Hearts or Just Fade Away? The Verdict Is Still Out
So is "With Love Meghan" a Netflix hit or a miss? critics are leaning towards miss calling it pointless and narcissistic. But some viewers might find the lifestyle content interesting and relatable. It is definitely a different direction for Meghan Markle focusing on home and hearth rather than royal drama. Whether audiences will embrace this new chapter or if they are craving more of the "furious Meghan" remains to be seen. One thing is for sure the show is definitely sparking conversation even if it is not all positive.