Meghan Markle’s Netflix show “With Love, Meghan” has generated significant discussion online, with viewers divided in their assessment. Let’s explore both the positive and negative reactions to this lifestyle series.

The Positive Perspectives

Many viewers found genuine value in the show:

1. Enjoyment and Enthusiasm: Some viewers reported a positive experience, with one commenting, “I enjoyed the new series. Binged all 8 episodes and hope it renews.” Another added, “I’ve watched a few episodes and liked it.”
2. Relatable for Certain Demographics: One commenter noted their “32-year-old daughter, SAHM of two girls 3 and 4 months, loves her new show. I guess that’s her target audience. She was unaware of all the gossip regarding Meghan.”
3. Practical Ideas: Despite criticism, some viewers appreciated the activities shown: “I thought it was a good idea” regarding her honey project, and “Toddlers love digging. That’s a great structured activity” about the garden tools gift bags.
4. Comparisons to Other Shows: Some viewers saw it as similar to other lifestyle content: “No difference to what Martha Stewart does.”
5. Defense of Personal Choices: Several commenters supported Meghan’s right to live her life: “This is Meghan’s life. She’s not the cause of increasing egg prices,” and “They are choosing the life they want to live and are happy…live and let live.”

The Critical Perspectives

However, the majority of comments expressed concerns or criticism:

1. Perceived Inauthenticity: Many viewers questioned the genuineness of the presentation: “She is so unbelievably contrived and fake,” and “It all feels so OTT. What we saw was the best bits edited, with a jaunty soundtrack to lift it.”
2. The “Sussex” Moment: The exchange with Mindy Kaling where Meghan corrects “It’s so funny that you keep saying Meghan Markle…You know, I’m Sussex now” generated significant backlash, with many finding it pretentious or disconnected.
3. Relatability Concerns: Numerous comments highlighted the contrast between Meghan’s lifestyle and average viewers’ reality: “This show is not for the average person. It’s so pretentious,” and references to expensive clothing and jewelry while cooking.
4. Production Quality: Some found the content uninspiring: “Is Netflix paying all that money for a lesson on ice cubes? Because that is the bit everyone will remember.”
5. Self-Centeredness Critique: Many viewers perceived an excessive focus on Meghan herself: “Me, me, me, me” and “Thank you for loving me so much” were frequently cited as evidence of narcissism.

A Broader Cultural Context

The intense reactions to what is ostensibly just a lifestyle show reveal deeper cultural conversations:

1. Celebrity Authenticity: The debate centers on whether Meghan’s content represents her true self or a calculated persona. As one commenter noted, “She has to learn ‘Emotions’ to fit in, she can’t experience genuine emotions, it literally is an act.”
2. Class and Privilege: The show arrives during economic hardship for many, making lines like “if you don’t have your own beehive” seem particularly tone-deaf to some viewers.
3. Identity and Reinvention: Questions about Meghan’s use of “Sussex” as a surname reflect broader debates about her royal identity and public persona.
4. Media Coverage: Several commenters questioned the extensive media focus on Meghan: “The Daily Mail is obsessed with Meghan. It’s weird.”

Conclusion

What emerges from this analysis is that Meghan Markle’s Netflix show serves as a cultural Rorschach test—viewers see in it what they’re predisposed to see. For supporters, it’s an enjoyable lifestyle program featuring a woman living authentically. For critics, it’s a contrived performance that reveals underlying personality issues.

The polarized reaction may say as much about our cultural moment as it does about the show itself. In an era of heightened celebrity scrutiny and identity politics, “With Love, Meghan” becomes not just entertainment but a text to be decoded for what it might reveal about privilege, authenticity, and the nature of modern fame.

Perhaps the most telling comment came from someone who noted: “I just watched kind of like a Martha Stewart type show”—suggesting that without the baggage of Meghan’s royal history and public persona, this might have been received as just another lifestyle program in an already crowded market.