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Harry and Megan: changed my mind after episode 5

366 replies

Lotzana · 15/12/2022 20:11

I was never a massive H&M hater but I wasn't keen on how they kept going on about their experiences and being constant victims. Why not just let it go?

However after episode 5 where they explain the events around their decision to leave, I find myself feeling really bad for them and surprised at how different it was to the narrative we were fed in the press.

If it's all true what they say then it's appalling how they were treated and Im not surprised they want to set record straight.

I know many will say it's not all true and they're lying/ exaggerating but I'm not inclined to believe these royal secretaries/ William / Charles are all saints while H&M are the big villains either.

We only see a very polished version of the royals in public and everything is well controlled and orchestrated. Who's to know what it's really like behind the facade?

Yabu - can't stand H&M regardless of what they claim in the documentary

Yanbu - documentary made me rethink my view of them too and question narrative in press

OP posts:
EmmaAgain22 · 15/12/2022 21:49

there was a very odd photo that I wondered about the source ...Diana almost crying, Charles smiling for cameras on opposite side.

I was horrified how Diana and Fergie were treated when I was a teen.

EarringsandLipstick · 15/12/2022 21:49

I was trying to figure out what felt so off to me about the series. Then I realised - there was absolutely no sense of balance. They just talked, Harry made at least some sense & understood the dynamics; Meghan just spoke a drivel of words that made no sense.

In most documentaries, even those with an agenda, there's a purported balance ie the interviewer will put some questions from an opposing perspective to them, certainly there would be scripted prepared answers, still giving a certain slant but there would at least be a token nod.

Here they were allowed speculate and imagine, and make completely unevidenced claims (her dad's signature was forged, the Queen wasn't allowed see them, the other comms offices are briefing against them). There is no attempt to verify any of this.

We just have them talking mostly in hyperbole.

I think one of my most 🤮 moments was Meghan's line 'H & I can always find each other in the chaos' What?!

I had very limited views on the whole situation till now. A little bit of interest but I'm Irish, they are not my royals in any case. But watching this, while undoubtedly elements of the media are vile, the RF as an institution is archaic, I can't see that anything happened to H&M that was worse than anyone else - FGS, look at how the trashy media wrote about Fergie, her daughters, Kate..,as well as any other public figure they can get their hands on (how about Phil & Holly & queue jumping?). It's awful but not specialised.

Meghan was clearly acting her socks off. And her coterie of 'friends' were a disgrace with their tearful trembling voices. In the midst of it, you did have some authoritative voices but they knew FA about the situation & were instead addressing issues of race & dominance (rightfully so) but not specific to H&M situation at all

The editorial standards were appalling to non-existence. There's not a chance that any terrestrial channel would make such rubbish. (And considering some of C4's output, that's saying something)

The only moment I was moved was seeing photos of William & Harry over the years; it's desperately sad that their relationship is so broken.

Heatherland77 · 15/12/2022 21:49

First world problems....watch me roll my eyes.
When there are elderly people scared to turn their heating on, children with serious medical issues sleeping in the same room as their parents because they can only afford to heat one room and the highest number ever of people needing food bank help, I can't help but think these modern day Marie Antoinettes need to read the room better.

HamBone · 15/12/2022 21:49

Heartstopper · 15/12/2022 21:35

I've changed my mind very slightly too. I am not on their side and I wish they would just quietly get on with their lives and stop moaning, but I can see now that, from her point of view certainly, she wasn't happy in the Royal family and it is better that they left. I also think they are more in love than I previously supposed. I felt quite envious of their lovely life together. But isn't that all the more reason to look forwards and stop all this navel gazing?

The bit I haven't changed my mind about: Harry is one seriously misguided individual.

I agree, @Heartstopper I also agree with a PP that it sounds as if H made a real mess of explaining the realities of life in the RF to her before they married.

Anyway, they're away from it now and can, fingers crossed, move on with their lives after his memoir comes out. Royalty aside, the family estrangements are just sad. Parents and siblings can be very different to one another and want different lives, but they can still be amicable. I hope they can be reconciled at some point.

Mirabai · 15/12/2022 21:51

The palace are up to their old tricks. They haven’t learnt from Diana. This whole situation could have been contained with better judgement from the palace.

If “the firm” were a business - alienating two of its key members so that they leave the country and set up a rival business undercutting the brand would be spectacularly bad management, no? And so it is.

walkinthewoodstoday · 15/12/2022 21:51

Stating the obvious- Harry isn't that bright. His vocabulary is lacking. However, Meghan is very is talented and intelligent

whoamI00 · 15/12/2022 21:51

I find it weird and staged that their private moments were filmed like showing text message and etc.. Don't you really find it not weird?

EarringsandLipstick · 15/12/2022 21:51

Not even then in the UK at least. It was only after MM did the VF cover and he put out the first statement. There were no pictures of her in UK media prior to that.

Yes. I remember when they started dating, most people I knew where, 'who?' I was excited as I loved Suits. At that time it was shown at a really silly time on Irish TV, after midnight on a Friday night. I had desperate insomnia & was frequently awake till the early hours & I knew it well. But most people had never seen it.

Sagharbor · 15/12/2022 21:52

YellowTreeHouse · 15/12/2022 20:19

YABU. We know the whole series is one big lie because people have proven it time and time and time again.

Not true.

Only those who were there can actually tell us their version of their truth, not journalists or royal experts

EarringsandLipstick · 15/12/2022 21:52

wellholygod · 15/12/2022 21:39

I think Kate was pure jealous of her, didn’t like her own position as the glam one being shared and wasn’t very friendly or supportive. A light has been shone on her and Williams characters and temperaments not to mention Charles and they are coming out
of this sorry mess looking f as f

And your evidence for that is? 🙄

Wanderingoff · 15/12/2022 21:52

It’s an extraordinary example of someone repeating their childhood trauma (ie Harry)

he’s chosen a woman to replicate his trauma experience with his mothers life and treatment

they are all massively dysfunctional and have all been awful to each other

i can tell you what doesn’t resolve personal
and familial trauma - a ducking Netflix documentary

stevalnamechanger · 15/12/2022 21:53

Totally agree ! It's brilliant and I'm glad they've finally been allowed a voice

stevalnamechanger · 15/12/2022 21:53

YellowTreeHouse · 15/12/2022 20:19

YABU. We know the whole series is one big lie because people have proven it time and time and time again.

Who

EmmaAgain22 · 15/12/2022 21:53

ginghamstarfish · 15/12/2022 21:34

A big Hollywood name? I'm sure most of us had never heard of MM before she was with Harry.

Wasn't she on $50k per episode of Suits? And she already had some ambassador roles.

when they announced their engagement, I thought wow, she must really love him to give up that life.

Rewis · 15/12/2022 21:53

I haven't made it that far yet. I kinda got bored with the show. But I totally understand why they left. I just don't understand what was their plan. Just to live in USA and get all the benefits of being a royal with minimal responsibilities and pick and choose while others in the UK pick up the slack? I'm really curious what was their negotiation tactics.

Rowthe · 15/12/2022 21:54

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

EarringsandLipstick · 15/12/2022 21:54

they're away from it now

Bollox are they tho.

That's the absolute stomach-churning part. They are not away from it - as they need the fame, attention & cash their connection with the RF provides them.

There's not too much attention available for an ex Royal & former actress

EmmaAgain22 · 15/12/2022 21:54

Mirabai · 15/12/2022 21:51

The palace are up to their old tricks. They haven’t learnt from Diana. This whole situation could have been contained with better judgement from the palace.

If “the firm” were a business - alienating two of its key members so that they leave the country and set up a rival business undercutting the brand would be spectacularly bad management, no? And so it is.

Agree. It puzzles me the Royal Family don't have better PR. I say that at someone who likes them.

Sagharbor · 15/12/2022 21:54

EarringsandLipstick · 15/12/2022 21:49

I was trying to figure out what felt so off to me about the series. Then I realised - there was absolutely no sense of balance. They just talked, Harry made at least some sense & understood the dynamics; Meghan just spoke a drivel of words that made no sense.

In most documentaries, even those with an agenda, there's a purported balance ie the interviewer will put some questions from an opposing perspective to them, certainly there would be scripted prepared answers, still giving a certain slant but there would at least be a token nod.

Here they were allowed speculate and imagine, and make completely unevidenced claims (her dad's signature was forged, the Queen wasn't allowed see them, the other comms offices are briefing against them). There is no attempt to verify any of this.

We just have them talking mostly in hyperbole.

I think one of my most 🤮 moments was Meghan's line 'H & I can always find each other in the chaos' What?!

I had very limited views on the whole situation till now. A little bit of interest but I'm Irish, they are not my royals in any case. But watching this, while undoubtedly elements of the media are vile, the RF as an institution is archaic, I can't see that anything happened to H&M that was worse than anyone else - FGS, look at how the trashy media wrote about Fergie, her daughters, Kate..,as well as any other public figure they can get their hands on (how about Phil & Holly & queue jumping?). It's awful but not specialised.

Meghan was clearly acting her socks off. And her coterie of 'friends' were a disgrace with their tearful trembling voices. In the midst of it, you did have some authoritative voices but they knew FA about the situation & were instead addressing issues of race & dominance (rightfully so) but not specific to H&M situation at all

The editorial standards were appalling to non-existence. There's not a chance that any terrestrial channel would make such rubbish. (And considering some of C4's output, that's saying something)

The only moment I was moved was seeing photos of William & Harry over the years; it's desperately sad that their relationship is so broken.

It is a documentary, and they clearly stated from the beginning that they wanted to set a distorted record straight.

You cant have missed that?

Sparklybanana · 15/12/2022 21:55

I think if they were nice people then their staff would stick around longer. They've had a steady rotation of staff and yet William and Kate have worked with the same people for years.
This is all affecting Harry a lot - when he was being treated horrifically by the rf he had a spark in his eyes and looked happy. Now he's got his privacy away from the public he doesn't seem to have any spark anymore...

Mirabai · 15/12/2022 21:56

Wanderingoff · 15/12/2022 21:52

It’s an extraordinary example of someone repeating their childhood trauma (ie Harry)

he’s chosen a woman to replicate his trauma experience with his mothers life and treatment

they are all massively dysfunctional and have all been awful to each other

i can tell you what doesn’t resolve personal
and familial trauma - a ducking Netflix documentary

But revenge may be sweet and it provides the income they lost when they left the RF.

The firm might have thought this through - MM is of an age when acting roles dry up for women, Harry’s main working life was in the army. What do they have to sell for income that would be more lucrative than their story?

Bestcatmum · 15/12/2022 21:56

I really did want to watch it and get the full picture but after todays episode I just couldn't it really was dull stuff.

whistledowntheway · 15/12/2022 21:57

Ashard20 · 15/12/2022 20:34

I think that the most compelling thing in this series is the blatant bias of the newspapers. Without doubt they have steered the whole thing. I don't know who said or did what with any certainty, with regards to M and H and the RF, but I do know that, as a nation, we should be ashamed of the shameless lies and sensationalism fed to us by the gutter press. Just appalling.

This!

biscuiteer · 15/12/2022 21:57

The British tabloid press is truly a monster. Phone tapping, murdered children's phones hacked, blackmail, lies, lives ruined...people hounded and hounded. It really is vile.

Sagharbor · 15/12/2022 21:58

PipinwasAuntieMabelsdog · 15/12/2022 21:12

Me too and he is being exploited by the media and his wife

Show quote history

What a bizarre conclusion based on something you've watched from afar, on the sidelines?

I think he is just indignant, at having been treated as he was by his family. By his own father. A family that thought it was best to uphold the institution instead of upholding their own.

Seems like a reasonable way to act.