MEGHAN Markle’s new Netflix show has suffered a scathing review from a Hollywood “industry bible” which compared it to a “forced march”.
With Love, Meghan landed on the streaming service earlier this week – before being confirmed today for a second series.
That’s despite the lifestyle show, which also featured Prince Harry, being largely panned by critics and audiences.
For many in the celeb world, the word of US trade magazine Variety is gospel but it didn’t take kindly to the Duchess of Sussex’s offering.
It described the “attitude” of the eight-episode show as “well-tailored and beige”, which was said to match Meghan’s outfit choices.
The royal – who stepped down as a working member of the Firm alongside her husband in 2020 – was labelled “less-than-adept at speaking on her feet”.
The review goes on to say: “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.”
And: “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.”
The harsh criticism from Variety will sting the duchess and her team, but the huge interest in the show has convinced Netflix bosses to give it another outing.
Meghan posted on Instagram saying she’s “thrilled” with the decision.
Wearing a Netflix cap she was seen grinning in a short clip on her stories, with the caption: “Lettuce romaine calm… or not(!) because I’m thrilled to share that Season 2 of ‘With Love, Meghan’ is coming!”
A TV insider told The Sun: “This may raise a few eyebrows but one thing which Netflix love is controversy – and this show certainly created alot of debate.
“Many were so scathing about the eight-part series that they thought there was no way it would get another season.
“But it seems the streamer is delighted with the chatter its created on both sides of the Atlantic this week.”
It’s not clear whether work has already started on the second series, but Netflix want it to drop later this year.
It comes after royal pros had suggested that a lot of people dislike the mum-of-two and as a result, are ‘hate watching’ her new lifestyle series.
With Love, Meghan is the second Netflix collaboration for the Sussexes, who signed a lucrative multi-million pound deal with the streaming giant back in 2020.
Meanwhile, the duchess, 43, recently renamed her lifestyle brand As Ever, switching from the name American Riviera Orchard after facing trademark issues.
Speaking to The Sun’s Royal Editor, Matt Wilkinson, on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, News.com.au Royal Correspondent Bronte Coy and The Sun’s royal photographer Arthur Edwards weighed in on the series, which was released on Tuesday and has been described as ‘absolutely awful’.
Bronte said: “There’s a lot riding on this series, I think a lot of people will have watched it, whether they hate Meghan or they love her – the hate watching part of it as well – there’s clearly interest, even though a lot of people have no admiration for her.
“But at the same time, that won’t carry through for a season two. The hate watching element would be season one.”
She added: “Harry and Meghan need to keep these deals going, they have a very expensive lifestyle, particularly with security and everything.
“I think it is in danger of being axed or significantly reduced.”
Not only this, but Arthur explained: “Eventually [Harry and Meghan] are going to run out of ideas and people are not going to be interested. People will lose interest.
“She seems to be attracting publicity. She gave it her best shot but it just wasn’t good enough.”
‘The whole thing was false’
Throughout the series, Meghan shared a variety of recipes, including a cooked breakfast, skillet spaghetti and a honey and lemon cake.
She also demonstrated her method for making tea by steeping bags in cold water under the sun for two to three hours, using “nice silk bags, lots of leaf tea, and just let it steep with the warmth of the sun.”
And whilst Matt recognised, “With Love, Meghan has been roasted, absolutely savaged by TV critics, Arthur chimed in: “I just think it was completely over-the-top.”
Clearly not impressed, the iconic photographer added: “Everything about it was false.
“The whole thing was false – it wasn’t even her house, it was somebody else’s house.”
Meanwhile, Arthur slammed the 33-minute episodes and remarked: “If a play on Broadway got those reviews, it would close.
“It would close in a week, there’d be no second shows. Please God there’s not another show.”
What do we know about Meghan Markle's new cooking show, With Love, Meghan?
MEGHAN Markle's new Netflix documentary trailer shows her cooking with Hollywood pals.
The Duchess of Sussex gave fans an insight into her show, With Love, Meghan, which airs soon.
There will be eight 33 minute episodes featuring a host of Meg’s various Hollywood friends trying her simple, yet “elevated”, food.
A montage of various clips in the nearly two-minute video showed Meghan walking through vegetable patches and fields.
She was also filmed browsing florists, hand-selecting beautiful flowers for table arrangements, showing off her creative side.
The Duchess even tried her hand at beekeeping, fully suited up, as she collected honey.
In the exciting new trailer, Meghan shared: “I’ve always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it.
“Surprising people with moments that let them know I was really thinking of them.
“I’m going to share some little tips and tricks. I see what colour I gravitate to, and everything goes from there. And how you incorporate these practices every day.
“This is about connecting with friends… I love that we’re doing this together for the first time. Making new friends… and just learning.
“We’re not in the pursuit of perfection. We’re in the pursuit of joy. I have to get it totally wrong, to get it totally right.”
The trailer showcased many “candid” moments, from Meghan accidentally squeezing some lemon juice in her eye, to knocking freshly baked goodies off a plate.
Prince Harry featured at the end of the video, embracing his wife in a warm hug.
