Viewers like Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, but they like her even better when she’s with her husband, Prince Harry.
Meghan Markle’s latest Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, premiered on March 4. Though it was a strong start, the numbers were far from the massive success of her previous project with Netflix, Harry & Meghan. The show’s ratings didn’t match the audience turnout for the docuseries about the couple’s personal and professional life in 2022.
With Love, Meghan’s Modest Viewership
According to Samba TV, a tech company specializing in audience measurement, With Love, Meghan attracted 526,000 U.S. households in its first five days of release. While this is good, it is a drastic drop from the 2.1 million households that tuned in to the first part of Harry & Meghan. With Love, Meghan appears to be a subdued and solemn affair, which may be the reason for the declined viewing.
The Generation X demographic topped the viewership chart, suggesting that the older viewers were particularly drawn to Meghan’s approach to entertainment and lifestyle. Netflix has expressed confidence in the show’s potential and thus, has renewed the show for a second season as well.
The drawing factor
Meghan’s vast network of famous friends and her polished hosting skills were the selling point, with celebrities like Mindy Kaling, Vicky Tsai, Abigail Spencer, Daniel Martin, Tracy Robbins, and Alice Waters, to name a few. The series was positioned as a “how-to guide” for entertaining, with Meghan leading her guests through the art of hospitality. Harry briefly appears as well, showcasing the couple’s life.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the show holds a meager 33% rating, signaling a mixed-to-poor reception from critics. IMDb is no better, with a low 2.8/10. The criticism is far more severe than reviews for Harry & Meghan, but that show had the benefit of washing the dirty laundry of the monarchy and the royal couple, grabbing eyeballs in the process.
A Royal comparison
Netflix’s historical drama about the British royal family, The Crown is the poster child of success, with its immersive world, compelling performances, and a deep dive into the world of the Royal family earning the show numerous accolades and praises. While The Crown focuses on the drama and history of the British royal family, With Love, Meghan is centered on a more intimate, lifestyle-oriented approach, which, as evidenced by the ratings, didn’t have quite the same widespread appeal.
Meghan Markle’s With Love, Meghan certainly has its share of celebrity power, but the series has yet to create the same kind of cultural impact that Harry & Meghan or The Crown have achieved. With mixed-to-poor reviews and a sizable drop in viewership compared to her previous projects, it remains to be seen if the show can find its footing or get lost in the deluge of content offered by Netflix.
it’s clear that the appeal of Meghan’s lifestyle tips is more niche than the drama surrounding her departure from the royal family. While Netflix has ordered a second season, it remains to be seen whether the show can grow its audience or will become another in a long line of celebrity-driven lifestyle programs that struggle to maintain the same level of intrigue over time.
With Love, Meghan is currently streaming on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
