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With Love, Meghan

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With Love, Meghan
Promotional poster with original premiere date
GenreLifestyle
Directed byMichael Steed
StarringMeghan, Duchess of Sussex
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
ProducerQadriyyah Shamsid-Deen
Production locationMontecito, California
Editors
  • David Isser
  • Michael Chaskes
  • Kevin Hibbard
  • Martin Biehn
  • Gasper Chiaramonte
  • Jeff Marcello
  • Alex Wall
Running time33 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseMarch 4, 2025 (2025-03-04) –
present

With Love, Meghan is an American lifestyle television series hosted and executive produced by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.[1] It premiered on Netflix on March 4, 2025.[2]

Synopsis

The concept of With Love, Meghan is officially described thus:[1]

"This inspiring series, produced by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, reimagines the genre of lifestyle programming, blending practical how-to’s and candid conversation with friends, new and old. Meghan shares personal tips and tricks, embracing playfulness over perfection and highlights how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected. She and her guests roll up their sleeves in the kitchen, the garden and beyond, and invite you to do the same."

Cast

Starring

Notable guests

Episodes

No.EpisodeDirected byOriginal release date
1"Hello, Honey!"Michael SteedMarch 4, 2025 (2025-3-4)
When Meghan's friend Daniel Martin comes to visit, she prepares a thoughtful guest basket, then harvests honey for DIY beeswax candles and a sweet treat.
2"Welcome to the Party"Michael SteedMarch 4, 2025 (2025-3-4)
Fellow toddler mom Mindy Kaling drops by Montecito to help Meghan plan a kid-friendly tea party in the garden. But first, frittatas and parfaits.
3"Two Kids from LA"Michael SteedMarch 4, 2025 (2025-3-4)
Chef Roy Choi bonds with Meghan about growing up in Los Angeles, while teaching her a foolproof way to cook with spicy Korean flavors.
4"Love Is in the Details"Michael SteedMarch 4, 2025 (2025-3-4)
Meghan and her polo pal Delfina Figueras enjoy a hike in the great outdoors, followed by an afternoon picnic featuring fresh, homemade focaccia.
5"Surprise and Delight"Michael SteedMarch 4, 2025 (2025-3-4)
Meghan hosts her longtime friends Abigail Spencer and Kelly Zajfen for a breezy ladies' lunch, then shares an easy tip for everyday flower arrangements.
6"The Juice Is Worth the Squeeze"Michael SteedMarch 4, 2025 (2025-3-4)
When Meghan's girlfriends come over for game night, a local chef pops into the kitchen to help her prepare a gourmet taco bar.
7"Elevating the Everyday"Michael SteedMarch 4, 2025 (2025-3-4)
Meghan assembles a harvest basket for her friend and neighbor Vicky Tsai, then they make Vicky's potsticker recipe and enjoy home beauty treatments.
8"Feels Like Home"Michael SteedMarch 4, 2025 (2025-3-4)
To celebrate her new business, Meghan and chef Alice Waters whip up fresh California cuisine for a brunch party with family and friends.

Production

In September 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a private commercial deal with Netflix to "develop scripted and unscripted series, film, documentaries, and children programming for the streaming service."[7][8] The five-year partnership is worth an estimated $100 million.[9][10] In April 2024, Deadline Hollywood reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in the process of developing two non-fiction projects with Netflix via their Archewell Productions banner.[11] One would be a cooking and gardening show featuring Meghan, and will see her "celebrate the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship."[12]

With Love, Meghan was announced on January 2, 2025.[13] Critics noted that its first trailer was released one day after the Duchess of Sussex returned to Instagram; she deleted her personal account three months before her wedding to Prince Harry.[14] Meghan executive produced the series alongside Chanel Pysnik, its showrunner Leah Hariton, and the Intellectual Property Corporation's Aaron Saidman and Eli Holzman.[11] Michael Steed directed all eight episodes,[1] which were filmed at a farmhouse near Meghan and Harry's residence in Montecito, California.[15] The series was initially set to premiere on January 15, 2025,[16] however the premiere was postponed to March 4, 2025, amid the series of wildfires affecting Southern California.[17]

On March 7, 2025, Netflix announced that filming for a second season had been completed, and is set to be released in the fall of 2025.[18]

Reception

Audience viewership

The series ranked among Netflix's Global Top 10 TV shows in terms of viewership in 47 countries within a day after its release.[19] The show reached 12.6 million hours viewed in its first week on Netflix.[20]

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a 40% approval rating from 30 critics with an average rating of 4.80 out of 10.[21] On Metacritic it has an average of 37 out of 100 based on 14 critic reviews and is categorized as "generally unfavorable".[22] Calling the show "ultimately uncompelling", MSNBC's cultural critic Brian Moylan asked: "Why these recipes? Why this show? Why now? Why her?".[23] Rolling Stone's Louis Staples dismissed the show as "just a girl, standing in front of fans asking them to love her".[24] Variety's chief correspondent Daniel D'Addario described it as "a Montecito ego trip not worth taking" and added that it "is made with a great deal of love — in the sense that the greatest love of all is the one that a person has for herself."[25] In a piece for Vanity Fair, Anna Peele concludes that "The duchess reveals her married last name, if little else, in With Love, Meghan, a show about a lifestyle that is enviable, if not attainable."[26] Judy Berman writing for Time magazine called the show boring and said "With Love, Meghan is a dusting of flower sprinkles that can't hide the blandness of the cookie—a polite but distant dispatch from a rented kitchen down the road in lieu of truly welcoming us into her life."[27] The Hollywood Reporter stated that the show failed to fulfil its promise of "candid conversation with friends, new and old" and echoed other reviewers that the show lacked a key ingredient of relatability.[28] Olivia Craighead, pop culture and celebrity writer at The Cut wrote an unfavourable review of the series and concluded that the show lacked charisma and was pointless.[29] In a review for Vogue magazine, Michelle Ruiz stated that the series was underwhelming specifically because it is a lifestyle show that does not invite viewers into Meghan's life and thus felt impersonal.[30]

Vulture culture critic Kathryn VanArendonk called the show "an utterly deranged bizarro world voyage into the center of nothing" noting that the show was meaningless and unrelatable.[31] Similarly, Nadira Goffe culture staff writer at Slate echoed the shows lack of relatability and added that it did not reach the level of aspirational attainability that these types of shows often need to succeed.[32] Writing for Screen Rant, Ben Gibbons rated the show 3 out of 10 and claimed that Meghan put on a façade while aiming for authenticity and genuine experiences. He added that the show was detached from reality and lacked useful guidance.[33] In their Stream it of Skip it segment, Decider writer Liz Kocan states that the show is a disappointment for viewers who value authenticity and recommended viewers to skip it.[34] For the same publication, Meghan O'Keefe stated that the show "is beautifully directed by Michael Steed, but lacks any clarity of purpose."[35] In her review for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Yasmin Jeffery argued there was "absolutely nothing ground breaking" about the show, adding that it "is the kind of show you put on your big screen while doing something else on your smaller screen."[36] Writing for The Irish Times, Ed Power described the series as "Martha Stewart by way of Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop, with a sprinkling of the "tradwife" Instagram – only the worst possible version of all three, with Markle a black hole of beige throughout."[37]

In a piece from Town & Country, Emily Burack wrote, "Meghan Markle shines in With Love, Meghan when she's the student."[38] Harper's Bazaar's review, written by Bianca Betancourt, lends a thematic breakdown of the show, saying "It's clear from watching With Love that the duchess has an eye for tiny details (think burlap bows, calligraphy-enhanced signage, and freshly-picked flowers for every occasion), but that doesn't mean the meals she's making aren't approachable."[39] In a piece for TheWrap, Kayleigh Donaldson gave the show a positive review and stated that the show makes for a good advert for Meghan's upcoming lifestyle website.[40] Natasha Pearlman, writing for Glamour gave the show a positive review and stated that the show should be enjoyed as a fluffy, cozy and warm show that is a fantasy of a life.[41] The Standard gave the show four stars and answered the question "will this series fly?" with '"for laughs perhaps." It continued, "But if you're the kind of person who wants to be shown how to make a daisy chain or gets a thrill from the home life of our Duchess as she wants us to see it, or who wants tips on making pasta the way no Italian ever did...why it'll be just your cup of tea. In a glass pot, natch."[42]

Writing for The Guardian, Stuart Heritage described the show as "pointless", adding that "With Love, Meghan is the sort of gormless lifestyle filler that, had it been made by the BBC, would be used to bulk out episodes of Saturday Kitchen."[43] The Guardian's review, written by Chitra Ramaswamy, gave the show one out of five stars, saying that "what With Love, Meghan vibrates with most is a vacuous, over styled joylessness."[44] The Economist called the show out of touch and questioned Netflix's decision to award Meghan a $100 million deal.[45] Katie Rosseinsky of The Independent also gave the show one out of five stars, stating that "The heady blend of aesthetic curation, inspiring truisms and those inescapable edible flowers might well leave you feeling a bit queasy."[46] In her review for The Times, Carol Midgley gave the series two out of five stars and summarized it as "a duchess presenting her extreme wealth and mind-bogglingly exclusive lifestyle as if it is available to anyone who cares enough to pop a twee personal label on a homemade beeswax candle or lay a sprig of fresh lavender on a towel."[47] Writing for The Telegraph, Anita Singh gave the series two out of five stars and described the show as "an exercise in narcissism", which consists of Meghan inviting "celebrity pals" who "tell her how amazing she is. This happens for eight episodes."[48] Rachel Cooke called the show "a brazen, turmeric-inflected, lavender-infused punt. One sniff, and you know you're not buying" in the New Statesman.[49]

References

  1. ^ a b c Shafer, Ellise (January 2, 2025). "With Love, Meghan Trailer: Meghan Markle's Netflix Lifestyle Series Showcases Cooking and Gardening Skills — and an Appearance From Prince Harry". Variety. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  2. ^ "Meghan Netflix show delayed over LA wildfires". BBC News. January 12, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e Morin, Natalie (January 2, 2025). "You're Invited: Feel at Home with Meghan in New Series". Tudum. Archived from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  4. ^ Dalton, Nia (March 4, 2025). "Meghan Markle forced to awkwardly correct pal as she gets name wrong after surname change". The Mirror. Archived from the original on March 4, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Sanchez, Chelsey (March 4, 2025). "Meet Duchess Meghan's Closest Friends, Who Appeared on Her Netflix Show". Harper's Bazaar. Archived from the original on March 4, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  6. ^ Burack, Emily (March 3, 2025). "Meghan Markle Shines in With Love, Meghan When She's the Student". Town & Country. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  7. ^ Sweney, Mark; Lee, Benjamin (September 2, 2020). "Harry and Meghan sign multi-year Netflix deal". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on September 12, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  8. ^ Saad, Nardine (September 2, 2020). "A royal production indeed: Harry, Meghan make massive Netflix deal". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 21, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  9. ^ Schwartzel, Erich; Krouse, Sarah (June 24, 2023). "Harry and Meghan Produce a Hollywood Flop: Themselves". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  10. ^ Smith, Emily (February 28, 2024). "Meghan and Harry's $100 Million Netflix Deal Is a Hollywood Miss | Exclusive". TheWrap. Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  11. ^ a b White, Peter (April 11, 2024). "Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, & Prince Harry Launching Two Non-Fiction Series At Netflix Featuring Cooking, Gardening & Professional Polo". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  12. ^ Murray, Tom (April 12, 2024). "Meghan and Harry launching 2 new series at Netflix featuring cooking, gardening, polo". The Independent. Archived from the original on January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  13. ^ Stahl, Jay (January 2, 2025). "Duchess Meghan to star in Netflix's With Love, Meghan: See trailer's Prince Harry cameo". USA Today. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  14. ^ MacNeill, Julianne (January 2, 2025). "Why Did Meghan Markle Delete Her Social Media? Details Amid Instagram Return". Woman's World. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  15. ^ Cancilla, Julia; Silva, Rachel (January 2, 2025). "Inside the Ritzy Farmhouse Where Meghan Markle Filmed Her Upcoming Netflix Series". Elle Decor. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  16. ^ Hill, Erin (January 2, 2025). "Meghan Markle's Netflix Series, With Love, Meghan, Set to Premiere in January: All the Details!". People. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  17. ^ Hill, Erin; Burchfield, Rachel (January 12, 2025). "Meghan Markle Delays Netflix Debut of With Love, Meghan amid Los Angeles Wildfires". People. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  18. ^ "With Love, Meghan Is Whipping Up Season 2". Netflix Tudum. Archived from the original on March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  19. ^ Moore, Kasey (March 5, 2025). "'With Love, Meghan' Debuts 10th Most Popular Series on Netflix As Critics and Audiences Rip It Apart". What's On Netflix. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  20. ^ White, Peter (March 11, 2025). "'With Love, Meghan' Struggles To Match 'Harry & Meghan' Numbers As It Scrapes Into Netflix's Ratings Chart". Deadline. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  21. ^ "With Love, Meghan". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  22. ^ "With Love, Meghan". Metacritic. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  23. ^ Moylan, B. (March 6, 2025). "'With Love, Meghan' comes out half baked: The Duchess of Sussex's new Netflix lifestyle series is gauzy, heavily curated and ultimately uncompelling". MSNBC. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  24. ^ Staples, Louis (March 8, 2025). "Meghan Markle Is Just a Girl, Standing in Front of Fans, Asking Them to Love Her". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  25. ^ D'Addario, Daniel (March 4, 2025). "'With Love, Meghan' Is a Montecito Ego Trip Not Worth Taking: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  26. ^ Peele, Anna (March 5, 2025). "Review: In 'With Love, Meghan,' Meghan Markle Is Tireless in Her Pursuit of Joy, but to What End?". Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  27. ^ Berman, Judy (March 4, 2025). "Is a Royal Primer on Entertaining That Couldn't Be More Boring". Time. Archived from the original on March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  28. ^ Victorian, Brande (March 5, 2025). "'With Love, Meghan' Lacks a Key Ingredient". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  29. ^ Craighead, Olivia (March 5, 2025). "You Only Need to Watch One Episode of With Love, Meghan". The Cut. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  30. ^ Ruiz, Michelle (March 7, 2025). "Up Close But Not Quite Personal With Meghan Markle". Vogue. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  31. ^ VanArendonk, Kathryn (March 5, 2025). "Meghan Markle Pioneers New Frontiers in Unrelatability". Vulture. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  32. ^ Goffe, Nadira (March 5, 2025). "Meghan Markle Would've Been the Perfect Royal. Instead, We're Stuck With With Love, Meghan". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  33. ^ Gibbons, Ben (March 5, 2025). "With Love, Meghan Review: I Wish Meghan Markle's New Netflix Show Was As Authentic & Imperfect As It Wanted To Be". ScreenRant. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  34. ^ "'With Love, Meghan' Markle Netflix Show Review: Stream It Or Skip It?". March 4, 2025. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  35. ^ "Meghan Markle is Less Martha Stewart, More Marie Antoinette In Her Out Of Touch Netflix Show 'With Love, Meghan' | Decider". March 4, 2025. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  36. ^ Jeffery, Yasmin (March 5, 2025). "With Love, Meghan review: Is the Duchess of Sussex's new Netflix lifestyle series really that bad?". ABC. Archived from the original on March 6, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  37. ^ Power, Ed (March 4, 2025). "With Love, Meghan: So beige and bland, it doesn't even qualify as a hate-watch". The Irish Times. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  38. ^ Burack, Emily (March 3, 2025). "'In With Love, Meghan, Meghan Markle Goes Full Lifestyle Guru". Town & Country Magazine. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  39. ^ Bettencourt, Bianca (March 3, 2025). "'Duchess Meghan's New Netflix Show Is a Rewarding Return to Self". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  40. ^ Donaldson, Kayleigh (March 4, 2025). "'With Love, Meghan' Review: Netflix Lifestyle Series Is More Sponcon Than Scandal". TheWrap. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  41. ^ Pearlman, Natasha (March 6, 2025). "Actually, "With Love, Meghan" Is a Perfect Show for 2025". Glamour. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  42. ^ McDonagh, Melanie (March 4, 2025). "With Love, Meghan review: will this series fly? For laughs perhaps". The Standard. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  43. ^ Heritage, Stuart (March 4, 2025). "Kiss the Netflix deal goodbye! With Love, Meghan is so pointless it might be the Sussexes' last TV show". The Guardian. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  44. ^ Chitra Ramaswamy (March 4, 2025). "With Love, Meghan review – toe-curlingly unlovable TV". The Guardian. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  45. ^ "Meghan Markle's new Netflix show is out of touch with the times". The Economist. March 4, 2025. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on March 4, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  46. ^ Rosseinsky, Katie (March 4, 2025). "With Love, Meghan is queasy and exhausting – visiting the Sussexes might not be a fun experience". The Independent. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  47. ^ Midgley, Carol (March 4, 2025). "With Love, Meghan review — smug, syrupy and endlessly spoofable". The Times. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  48. ^ Singh, Anita (March 4, 2025). "With Love, Meghan, review: this hostess with the mostest act must be exhausting". The Telegraph. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  49. ^ Cooke, Rachel (March 4, 2025). "The fakery of Meghan Markle's Netflix show". New Statesman. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
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