As Ever Part 6: Definitely NOT a trad wife

[Strudie]

Previous thread here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_royal_family/5286597-as-ever-part-v-two-stunt-lemons-with-love-meghan

Carry on! Reviews from the US are trickling in, so far, not so good - https://variety.com/2025/tv/reviews/with-love-meghan-markle-netflix-duchess-of-sussex-1236327469/

Thanks for new thread it’s been highly entertaining all day! I managed about 5 mins before it became too cringeworthy!

Variety is spot on

Well Variety were never going to be kind ….but thats bad!

I saw a clip where she was talking about raspberry preserves. So she's gone from 'jam is my jam' to very carefully using the word 'preserves' because trading standards won't let whatever she is peddling to be called jam.

Are the prices still $25 or was that just on some kind of beta site?

Thank you for starting a new thread. Free speech is great, isn't it.

Stop talking about Meghan. Also, you can't tell me what to say, that's censorship

And another thing, this is a discussion forum but YOU can't discuss things, so there

I won’t watch it but saw a review on CNN earlier, with clips from the trailer.

MM is a ridiculous narcissist and will never come across as relatable, certainly not entertaining or appealing.

I like watching Nadiya Hussein and Lorraine Pascal, but dislike Nigella, I wish she’d tie her hair back!

Get thee into the scold's bridle, thee opinionated, harridan witch!

@Strudie Thank you for the Variety link. Ouch!

“With Love, Meghan” 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.

They may as well have just called her a raving narc.

It's such an interesting insight into the choice people make - because if she had as stayed as a royal she would have received unquestioning adulation from millions of people AND many of the rich and powerful with having to put no effort into pretending to be interesting.

And I have no doubt that a part of that knew that when she got married.

Signing in , thanks @Strudie

Ouch to the Variety review. Regardless of what I or anyone else thinks of her, it’s not all her fault, there’s a lot of experienced people who allowed this to develop. She hasn’t self produced it, NF have made an own goal.

Was the news letter sent to all those who have subscribed to As Ever ?

That is a fair point. Has she been stitched up, or did they all think it was going well?

I'm not sure that Netflix appear that interested

Maybe Netflix meant it to be comedy documentary, but nobody told Markle?

I wonder if they were going for the 'so bad it's good' approach?

But it doesn't sound camp enough for that.

Its SUSSEX!!

I wonder when she announced Netflix as her ‘business partner’ that it was actually news to them.

You've been Markled if you believe that will take off!

From all these reviews I’m getting she’s more Meghan Narsussex…

Variety, so many good quotes!:

‘That’s because “With Love, Meghan” exists as a sort of celebration of all things Duchess of Sussex — and, as with past of her media outings, no amount of praise seems enough’

‘The show plays out like a forced march, one in which Meghan’s guests must, as the price of getting to share an afternoon in a made-for-TV kitchen with her, praise her first’

’That’s precisely the problem. So much of “With Love, Meghan” is devoted to trying to gin up capital-M Meaning that Meghan seems to forget that the only reason anyone would do any of this — whether that’s bake a cookie dappled with edible flowers or watch a lifestyle show — would be because it’s fun.’

‘Then, in his one appearance on the series, Prince Harry, Meghan’s husband calls out a toast. “To you!” he shouts. To Meghan, indeed. “With Love, Meghan” 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.’

It’s so scathing!!! The British papers are usually very funny and snarky….but the US journos pull no punches!

Who said that you should stop talking about Meghan? No one was asking for the impossible? In reality, the more she’s talked about (no matter what’s said) the better her outcomes. I mean, would she really be contracted consistently to work for eye-watering sums if she wasn’t relevant to so many people? Her relevance cannot be disputed. It’s a very strange person who would dedicate a significant amount of their time to ‘discussing’ someone of no significance. Netfilx knows these same people (with much time to spare and determination) are the programme’s core audience.
But let’s pretend that this isn’t a good thing. Repeat: This is not good for Meghan…This is not good for Meghan… Meghan is winning… [slap face 👊]… This is not good for Meghan [relief].

Which are the reviews M will care about ? I'm not up on the US Press. So I presume Variety . & Am I right in remembering that the Hollywood Reporter is read by everyone in Hollywood. New York Times? New York Post? I have gathered People is pretty much a vehicle for celebrities to put out whatever PR they are peddling.

Can't wait to here what they say on the rest is entertainment - they were pretty even handed with the preview (added this bit in edit)

Thanks for the new thread, that Variety article is scathing!