With Love, Meghan

[Atlasvue]

Just setting up a thread for the release of the new cooking show, 15th January 2025

Reviews so far of the trailer, some very funny:

https://amp.theguardian.com/wellness/2025/jan/03/meghan-markle-netflix-show- Lefty paper not impressed. Trad wife.

https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/foodanddrink/cook-meghan-markle-with-love-netflix-b1202861.html - Great read. Very very funny

https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1995903/meghan-markle-netflix-series-cooking- Domestic bliss doesn’t sit with years of grievances.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2025/01/03/with-love-meghan-netflix-trailer-cringe-moments/ - Great read. Very very funny

https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/with-love-meghan-markle-netflix-barefoot-contessa-martha-stewart-b1202748.html - Meghan fan who has their doubts about a dated tv format.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14248119/amp/Now-Meghan-trad-wife-feminist-Duchess-rebranded-housewife-influencer-new-Netflix-cookery-vision-domestic-bliss.html - Feminist to Trad wife.

Will update with anymore reviews

Well, you know the Mail.

Any excuse and all that...

Actually I think Kate’s absence through illness last year demonstrates quite clearly that the Royal Family have no control over the press, but somehow I think our views on that will differ.

And as gets pointed out every time, it was one individual who tweeted the chimpanzee comparison, was met with condemnation, and sacked. No-one thought that was acceptable.

Doesn’t really matter though does it.

Its not the DM saying it, it’s the DM reporting on a viral tweet, started by a local resident of the area, calling them out

"There's always been a market for 'lifestyles of the rich and famous' genre."

Yes, there is. But with a nuanced and important difference. The 'great unwashed' and 'deplorables' DO enjoy watching rich people being rich...as long as those programmes include some kind of drama or unpleasantness with which the rich people must contend.

The programmes you mention are popular because they portray rich people as messy, dramatic, and ultimately lead the viewer to the comfortable conclusion that money isn't everything. These type of shows are only successful as long as they promote some level of comforting schadenfreude in the viewer. On a psychological level, we could posit that they allow the viewer to make peace with the ridiculous wealth inequalities in the US by suggesting to them that being rich isn't all that great if you also have to deal with family drama, bitchery, bad plastic surgery and fakery. Thus the viewer can take comfort from concluding that their own life, humble though it is, is in some measure more satisfying than the lives of those they are watching on TV.

ALL successful 'lifestyles of the rich & famous' scripted reality shows offer this vital element of schadenfreude.

With Love, Meghan will not do this because Meghan can't let it. Ever since Megxit she has sought to tread a very flimsy and confused line of presenting herself and Harry as spiritually enlightened philanthropists who have been through the fire of suffering and have reached a new plane of serenity and wisdom. But on some level she knows this doesn't quite hit the sweet spot, so she's consistently tried to mix in some element of comedy (fake curtseying, being squirted in the eye with lemon juice) so she can show that she and Harry are still relatable, y'all! BUT she could never let her self-presentation go to the level of Real Housewives and show cat fights, bitching and betrayal. Because if she did this, the viewer might reasonably conclude that Megxit was a bad idea, and that H&M's lives in Cali are empty and unfulfilling. And they could NEVER give anyone grounds for thinking this, because if they do, then what the hell was it all for?

TLDR: With Love, Meghan will be missing the crucial ingredient (schadenfreude) that makes other scripted reality shows about rich people, successful. Therefore, With Love, Meghan will not be successful.

I imagine one episode of With Love, Meghan will be recut with footage of H&M visiting the wild fire survivors. To help with the 'tone deaf' accusations.

On one level, March is a better time because it's Spring, which seems to fit better with the aesthetic of the show. Also, there's a chance (admittedly miniscule) that ARO will be out of trademark hell by then and so she can use the show to shift product.

On the downside, however, Trump will be firmly in office by March and possibly making good on his threat to revoke Harry's visa.

March makes considerably more sense

Snd the statement confirming the new date was in much plainer English - really nice to see that

If it is re-cut to include feeding first responders etc, I think that would be a challenging move as it would mean the series could be seen as seeking to profit off the fires and that the postponement was to capitalise on the tragedy (and shift early negative commentary around the trailer)

My understanding that they did two visits. The first one anonymously to hand out food. The second with their own camera crew and a press briefing. So I think it's a reasonable assumption that there'll be a re-cut to feature some footage and content about the fires.

In terms of re-cutting to feature their second visit: I think, from Meghan's perspective, it's a choice between being accused of being tone deaf and being accused of being cynical. In that scenario I'd probably plump for the latter too. The six week delay will also allow for the political fallout to die down and possibly for new policies to be announced regarding water conservation and fire safety in LA, all of which will help the show's editors in deciding how to frame the re-cut. Possibly pop in some dialogue too about climate change, etc. I think this sort of approach would make a lot of sense from Meghan and the show's perspective.

That is a good statement and I think delaying the series is fine. It might even make more sense coming into the summer months.

They do seem to have bad luck with their timing of projects. Harry's seem to generally be less of an issue - Spare, Polo, Invictus. The next Invictus is February so I'm guessing that's why they have gone for March.

Ah the Americans have arrived to show us the error of our ways. Thoughts and prayers ladies 🤣

Was there any actual footage of her serving food to first responders as I have only seen the standing around talking to the mayor and staff and hugging her staff.

I think starting the opening episode with a brief acknowledgement of the fires, their impact and that the pioneer spirit is still strong and 'we will together rebuild' (mention of Archwell may occur here) will be ok but the link back into the show will sound like 'but in the meantime let's eat cake in a lovely house that still stands'. Very Marie Antoinette.

I now think her Friday volunteering with media present was part of the move to get the show postponed. Meghan to Netflix: this is my home state. I am busy helping relief efforts. We don't know how long the fires will burn but I can't promote a show like this at a time like this. It won't get the reception it deserves - you must know that?

Netflix to Netflix internal chat: she is going to use the timing as a reason for it bombing and say we were complicit in that by refusing to move it. We need her to see that it bombed cos it wasn't what people want to see so let's move the drop date.

Netflix to Meghan: does 4th March work for you?

Reported that post. Am now here to see how responsive Mumsnet is on a Monday morning.

🙃

As I understand it, the first visit was where they handed out food; no cameras, they just briefed it to the press. They made a second visit with cameras, hence the footage you see.

It's possible that they brought cameras to the first visit but were not permitted to use them, hence the second visit.

I thought about reporting it but honestly when people ask what damage the Sussexes did with their non founded racist accusations it’s the comments like that which shows the damage.

So true. Am sure not everyone posting here is white but that poster won't be interested in hearing that.

About 15 mins from report to deletion. Thanks MN HQ.

Yes, I am caught between wanting to get rid of the vitriol, and wanting it to be seen as evidence.

“That post was hilarious! Telling us that wishing downfall on someone is the saddest thing ever, immediately followed by…. wishing downfall on people with different opinions to them! 🤣🤣

Yep, that's about the level of critical thinking to be expected 😂

The offensive stuff from last night has been deleted as well. I agree with MNHQ here - it was too offensive to stand. I'll leave it at that.

Yes, it gave me a 😁 on a cold and grey Monday morning.

Is that the quote you got that an unnamed 'source' told The Spectator that the late Queen had said? Hmmm. Right.