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The royal family

Discussing the things we liked about Harry and Meghan's Netflix documentary series

1000 replies

MrsMaxDeWinter · 08/12/2022 14:22

There are so many threads on things posters hated about Harry and Meghan, the Netflix series, and fair play to those posters, so I thought I would have a go at stating a thread discussing some of the things that posters liked about the series.

I'll start.

I liked that this was supposed to be this bomb detonation, but has actually been a measured, warm, and loving look at H and M's relationship, and the pressures that the press put on them, and also on other royals. I genuinely did not notice anything incendiary. Maybe that is still to come.

I enjoyed the thoughtful insights shared on the invisible contract, especially, as Harry says, having to perform for a press that you know has said hurtful things about people you love.

I loved the warm memories of Sandringham, and meeting the Queen. And Meghan's memories of growing up. I think it was a wise, though sad, that they did not include Thomas. I really loved hearing Doria: my favourite bit is when a journalist offered her money, for an interview about Meghan and she said, "That's my child!"

I also learned for the first time about Meghan's relationship with her sister Samantha's daughter Ashleigh. I had no idea that she had been raised by her grandparents who adopted her, or that she had such a warm and caring relationship with Meghan. Along with Doria's, that was my favourite interview.

I enjoyed hearing from her childhood friends, as it is often said here that she had no friends who came to the wedding etc, just celebrities. They seem a tight nit grip who have been here fr years, and I am glad she has them.

I was gobsmacked that she needed security in Toronto after the relationship was announced.

I also thought the discussion on racism, in its wider context of colonialism and imperialism, was very well done, but then again it was led by David Olusoga and Afua Hirsch, who are always great, and I love their writing.

Most of all I love that Harry confronted head on the Nazi uniform debacle, and what he learned from it. And I loved, loved, loved, the segment on his life in Lesotho where they gave him the Sesotho name, "Mahale". A wonderful name.

“It was one of the biggest mistakes of my life,” Harry said. “I felt so ashamed afterwards. All I wanted to do was make it right. I sat down and spoke to the chief rabbi in London, which had a profound effect on me. I went to Berlin and spoke to a Holocaust survivor. I could have just ignored it and made the same mistakes over again in my life. But I learned from that.”

I predicted on another thread that Harry would address this and other episodes head on in his book. I was scoffed roundly for this. I expect him to say more in is book, and I am happy to be proved right.

If only for this, I am very glad they did this.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
Aspiringmatriarch · 09/12/2022 16:47

(Continuing to ignore the negative posters)

I'm just watching the first episode again 😳 and I have to say it really is very sweet and romantic, I've come over a bit soppy. I think this is hitting the rom-com spot for me, in part! I don't know who is conducting the interview - is that Liz Garber? But they seem properly relaxed and natural with her and the relationship they have definitely shines through in a very unforced way, more than I've seen previously.

Loved the bits in Lesotho, and Prince Seeiso (sp?). And although it's going over old ground, seeing the footage from the funeral again, and of William and Harry greeting people, it really hits you again how incredibly difficult that must have been and how young Harry in particular was. Obviously William was very young too.

Aspiringmatriarch · 09/12/2022 16:48

Also, does anyone else think Ignacio Figueros is very sexy? 😳 That accent!

Roussette · 09/12/2022 16:52

talkingpaperclip · 09/12/2022 14:56

I did not sympathise with Thomas Markle before, now I think he's horrific.

Recap: Thomas denied to Meghan that he participated in a staged photo shoot, which it was later revealed he did (for $100k). TMZ broke that he was not attending her wedding because of heart issues. Meghan learned this through TMZ. Meghan called and texted him more than 20 times, saying that they were more concerned about his health than the photo shoot, but he did not respond. When she finally received a message (which was wild: 'I'm sorry my health is an inconvenience for you') she did not believe the message came from him because he wrote her name incorrectly and didn't use his normal writing style. H + M also offered to fly to Mexico, pick him up, or get him away from paparazzi stalking his house and he refused. They showed her texts to him, alongside newspaper headlines and vox pops of people saying how disgusting she was for not taking care of her father.

They flashed the covers of tabloids showing a number of Meghan's friends and acquaintances who were offered large sums to sell stories about her but refused (including D-list celeb Simon Rex who was offered money to lie and say he had sex with her). That her father and sister took money to sell her out makes them beneath contempt in my view.

Yes, but the detractors ignore all of this and won't accept that her father really didn't behave well.
And haven't commented on the fact she does have a circle of friends prepared to publicly stick up for her.
I suppose that's inconvenient to know when you dislike her so much.

Roussette · 09/12/2022 16:55

Rhondaa · 09/12/2022 16:00

Oh come off it, it is on the news constantly. I don't need fo sit through 3 hrs of it to have an opinion.

I did comment on the good points previously like the styling etc but the micro aggressions and PA comments are pretty noticeable.

I hope H's dc don't grow up to be incrediblly disappointed in him for his constant oversharing about their lives.

Your opinion would mean far far more if you did watch it. You honestly might be pleasantly surprised. Not enough to like them, granted. But it was fascinating and really Not. That. Bad.

Roussette · 09/12/2022 16:57

I hope H's dc don't grow up to be incrediblly disappointed in him for his constant oversharing about their lives

What constant oversharing?

We barely saw them. Archie as a baby in his mother's arms at a distance. The back of Archie running up a road. Archie's voice talking whilst watching his Dad feed hummingbirds, just the back of his head. Don't remember seeing Lillibet at all unless I missed it.

MrsMaxDeWinter · 09/12/2022 17:17

(Continuing to ignore the negative posters)

Thanks @Aspiringmatriarch, I will begin my posts with this beauty.

Do you know, I thought Ashleigh was the daughter who spoke out before, about how awful Samantha was.

Turns out that was a different daughter, Noelle. There is also a son, all three kids were adopted by grandparents when quite young, none of them in good books with her, and yet somehow she "raised Meghan". The jokes write themselves.

I was amused to learn that today's Daily Mail had 22 consecutive pages, yes 22, just about this series. I mean come on. As James O'Brien said today, lads, you are kind of proving their point!

OP posts:
Poundofflesh · 09/12/2022 17:38

Yes that makes no sense @MrsMaxDeWinter that makes no sense! Why would she raise her half-sister she barely knew and not her own children.

onlylarkin · 09/12/2022 18:07

Many detractors are not aware that TM threatened to kill a journalist. There is now a restraining order.

notanotheroneagain · 09/12/2022 18:54

Onedayatatime22 · 09/12/2022 06:52

I loved the contributions of David Olusuga and Afua Hirsch.

I LOVE those two historians.

Thanks for the thread OP. I watched it twice and will watch it again.
The director knocked this out of the park - award worthy. It was feel good, romantic, with a balanced mix of reality too.

notanotheroneagain · 09/12/2022 18:57

Roussette · 09/12/2022 16:57

I hope H's dc don't grow up to be incrediblly disappointed in him for his constant oversharing about their lives

What constant oversharing?

We barely saw them. Archie as a baby in his mother's arms at a distance. The back of Archie running up a road. Archie's voice talking whilst watching his Dad feed hummingbirds, just the back of his head. Don't remember seeing Lillibet at all unless I missed it.

Yes, I did notice that we were not seeing much of the children faces.

Though when they were younger, we would not much recognise them. It's such a pity because their fans and normal people do love seeing a baby - but imagine the hideous photoshop from their deranged haters.

BedTaker · 09/12/2022 18:57

notanotheroneagain · 09/12/2022 18:54

I LOVE those two historians.

Thanks for the thread OP. I watched it twice and will watch it again.
The director knocked this out of the park - award worthy. It was feel good, romantic, with a balanced mix of reality too.

Are you talking about the Meghan and Harry documentary?

BedTaker · 09/12/2022 18:59

Lol at the Daily Mail having 22 pages about this! Can you imagine the offices yesterday?!

notanotheroneagain · 09/12/2022 19:13

Lampzade · 09/12/2022 15:44

Her father is despicable. I really don’t know how people can defend the indefensible

I remember reading articles at the time of the wedding where it was claimed that she was ashamed of her father and didn’t want him at the wedding , which was obviously not the case.
I think the truth is that he was ashamed of himself and his lifestyle. He feigned a heart attack because he didn’t want to attend the wedding. It really is sad.
He betrayed his own daughter and as a result will probably never be allowed to see his grandchildren.
He behaviour was reprehensible

The weird thing is that if TM had just told H&M he was too ashamed of himself, that is why he ghosted them, they probably would have understood, but he just kept digging his heels deeper and deeper. I suspect Samantha was whispering all sorts in his ear - he was getting good money for a pensioner who lives alone on US pension in Mexico. I think if he just told them he needs more money (ie. Sam wants money really), they would have given him a 'stipend' .

notanotheroneagain · 09/12/2022 19:24

BedTaker · 09/12/2022 18:57

Are you talking about the Meghan and Harry documentary?

Afua and David are the ones who talked about the history of the commonwealth.

I always said it was unfortunate that MM arrived at the hight of the Tory government and Brexit. Then we had covid and all sorts of problems. People are unhappy, and they have to get a scapegoat to unleash on.

I do believe that if she had come at a time with not much division (immigrants this and that etc.), people would not be so swayed and there would not have been so much need to distract with portraying her in a certain light.

notanotheroneagain · 09/12/2022 19:25

Aspiringmatriarch · 09/12/2022 16:48

Also, does anyone else think Ignacio Figueros is very sexy? 😳 That accent!

🔥

BedTaker · 09/12/2022 19:53

notanotheroneagain · 09/12/2022 19:24

Afua and David are the ones who talked about the history of the commonwealth.

I always said it was unfortunate that MM arrived at the hight of the Tory government and Brexit. Then we had covid and all sorts of problems. People are unhappy, and they have to get a scapegoat to unleash on.

I do believe that if she had come at a time with not much division (immigrants this and that etc.), people would not be so swayed and there would not have been so much need to distract with portraying her in a certain light.

I meant the bit about it being 'award worthy' and 'romantic'.

notanotheroneagain · 09/12/2022 20:01

The director did a great job. She and the editor fully stuck to the best format to present a story.

Everything was done:
-Call in credible expects
-Emotive music
-Personal stories
-True reports
-etc. I won't go through it all, but someone in film would recognise she ticked all the boxes.

Roussette · 09/12/2022 20:05

I always said it was unfortunate that MM arrived at the hight of the Tory government and Brexit. Then we had covid and all sorts of problems. People are unhappy, and they have to get a scapegoat to unleash on.
I do believe that if she had come at a time with not much division (immigrants this and that etc.), people would not be so swayed and there would not have been so much need to distract with portraying her in a certain light

That is interesting. I think you're right. In recent years (the SM time) I've never seen so much hate unleased on one person and I think it's dissatisfaction with people's lives that cause them to lash out like this

notanotheroneagain · 09/12/2022 20:15

I would also like to add that not only did she tick the boxes, she also went far and beyond. Not just provoking emotions (with romance, kindness, a restrained tone down etc.), but she had home footage to go on and somehow managed to communicate H&M's love for the dc without showing too much of their faces. That is technical prowess.

In the 3 episodes, though H&M told their story, the bm and other haters have only been able to claw only a couple of flimsy 'criticisms' - her taking a piss on herself for overdoing the curtsy? Nothing much was said about the RF, when there was a lot left to discuss about them. The point got through plain and clear that it's the media that is the problem.

Brava to that lady.

notanotheroneagain · 09/12/2022 20:18

Roussette · 09/12/2022 20:05

I always said it was unfortunate that MM arrived at the hight of the Tory government and Brexit. Then we had covid and all sorts of problems. People are unhappy, and they have to get a scapegoat to unleash on.
I do believe that if she had come at a time with not much division (immigrants this and that etc.), people would not be so swayed and there would not have been so much need to distract with portraying her in a certain light

That is interesting. I think you're right. In recent years (the SM time) I've never seen so much hate unleased on one person and I think it's dissatisfaction with people's lives that cause them to lash out like this

Not just here, but remember that just before covid the US gave MAGA racists agency via Trump. Even now things are not quite cleared with the latest elections.

So both H&M come from such communities. They are big countries with much influence and voice.

Personally, I can hardly wait to go back to more tolerable and open minded times. So sick of all this hate 😅

minou123 · 09/12/2022 21:19

@WhatWouldHopperDo
The thing that was noteworthy to me was the bit where they were allegedly told 'we've all been through this - why is Meghan so special that she needs protecting' Surely a better response would be - we've all been through this, maybe it's time we did something about it.

I've been trying to find the words for this exact point and you've said it brilliantly.

It's always raised on MM threads that she shouldn't complain because Kate, Camilla, Diana, Fergie, even Beatrhce and Eugenie all went through it.
All I can think: why? Why do we do this to women in the RF?
What kind of barbaric, sexist, circle of hell is this? We would never allow this to happen to any other women, why them?

The only conclusion I've come to is we (the tabloid press, paps and public), we see them as privileged and because we "pay" for them, we think we can treat them however we damn well please.

I don't think we see them as women, to be honest I don't think we see them as human.

MarshaMelrose · 09/12/2022 21:20

I always said it was unfortunate that MM arrived at the hight of the Tory government and Brexit. Then we had covid and all sorts of problems.

She'd gone before covid arrived, though.

Roussette · 09/12/2022 21:43

MarshaMelrose · 09/12/2022 21:20

I always said it was unfortunate that MM arrived at the hight of the Tory government and Brexit. Then we had covid and all sorts of problems.

She'd gone before covid arrived, though.

She might've gone but it didnt stop the social media ramping up

Roussette · 09/12/2022 21:44

minou123 · 09/12/2022 21:19

@WhatWouldHopperDo
The thing that was noteworthy to me was the bit where they were allegedly told 'we've all been through this - why is Meghan so special that she needs protecting' Surely a better response would be - we've all been through this, maybe it's time we did something about it.

I've been trying to find the words for this exact point and you've said it brilliantly.

It's always raised on MM threads that she shouldn't complain because Kate, Camilla, Diana, Fergie, even Beatrhce and Eugenie all went through it.
All I can think: why? Why do we do this to women in the RF?
What kind of barbaric, sexist, circle of hell is this? We would never allow this to happen to any other women, why them?

The only conclusion I've come to is we (the tabloid press, paps and public), we see them as privileged and because we "pay" for them, we think we can treat them however we damn well please.

I don't think we see them as women, to be honest I don't think we see them as human.

So agree. Great post

notanotheroneagain · 09/12/2022 22:05

a royal expect

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