In in the present day’s streaming world, mere rankings don’t all the time appear to be the secret, and With Love, Meghan is the right case research. Launched in March 2025, this polished way of life collection starring Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, drew gasps, however not for the fitting causes. Critics slammed it, audiences largely tuned out, and but, a second season of the collection has now come alongside. Regardless of a particularly dire 38% critic ranking on Rotten Tomatoes and a good bleaker viewers rating, Netflix moved ahead with Season 2, prompting waves of criticism and bafflement throughout social media platforms.
The present’s return shines a highlight on an interesting pressure in fashionable tv, elevating the query of whether or not vital reception actually issues as a lot because it as soon as did. The renewal of With Love, Meghan signifies that streaming platforms could use very totally different standards for fulfillment. What emerges is a case research in how streaming giants make selections that usually defy public consensus. Netflix’s transfer means that dangerous press and controversy could gasoline continued curiosity somewhat than killing a collection, particularly in a panorama the place consideration, be it good or dangerous, acts because the true forex.
Why Did Critics Hate ‘With Love, Meghan’ Season 1?
When With Love, Meghan debuted on March 4, 2025, critics wasted no time summing the collection up as bland. Early opinions labeled the present a “Montecito ego journey,” accusing it of being astonishingly superficial and having a staggering lack of authenticity. Within the U.Okay., harsh verdicts immediately poured in. Along with the horrible Rotten Tomatoes rating, The Telegraph derided it as nothing greater than “selfish way of life filler,” and The Guardian commented on the collection, saying:
“It isn’t the actions themselves which are offensive, nor certainly the credo to glean pleasure from life’s small moments… It is the dearth of humour, irony, self-awareness and apprehension of the fact of this deeply unequal and apocalyptic world that makes With Love, Meghan so unlovable in the long run.”
Viewers had been additionally not shy about slamming the collection. Social media platforms and leisure boards brimmed with derisive feedback and memes. Many expressed frustration and disbelief, even tagging the current renewal information with blunt reactions. Although some admittedly discovered a way of charming escapism in Meghan’s ASMR-tinged actions, most commentary leaned in the direction of mockery and fatigue.
The backlash that the collection acquired was largely because of underlying points with Meghan’s polarizing public persona. Her departure from royal life has left her beneath intense scrutiny, making neutrality extraordinarily exhausting to reclaim. As critics argued, the present felt staged and distant, as if Meghan’s opulent life was on full show, however actual connection and authenticity had been conspicuously absent. This skepticism cemented With Love, Meghan as a horrible misfire somewhat than a megahit.
Why Did Netflix Greenlight ‘With Love, Meghan’ Season 2?
Given the overwhelming notion that the collection was not profitable, the query on the forefront of viewers minds has been why Netflix greenlit a second season of the collection amidst the disappointing destiny of the primary. The primary, and maybe one of the crucial influential causes, is the visibility that the present garnered. Regardless of vital disdain, With Love, Meghan briefly shot into the streaming platform’s Prime 10 charts throughout a number of nations, racking up over 12 million viewing hours in its debut week. Early-platform metrics equivalent to these can carry weight, displaying that even controversial content material can seize consideration that Netflix can, in flip, monetize.
A second purpose propelling the present’s renewal may very well be enterprise technique. Meghan and Prince Harry’s unique five-year, $100 million cope with Netflix has industrial strings hooked up that necessitate a stream of content material linked to their model, ‘As Ever’, and their Archewell Productions banner. Merchandise gross sales associated to Meghan’s way of life additionally reportedly carried out nicely, giving Netflix additional monetary incentive to proceed regardless of public backlash.
Lastly, buzz continues to be buzz, with even damaging suggestions yielding free PR. The polarized reception of the collection saved With Love, Meghan in headlines, dialogue threads, and the cultural dialog. Within the attention-driven financial system of streaming, notoriety can simply translate into repeat viewers, a few of whom could tune in for responsible pleasure, or new, curious binge-watchers. Given this, it’s probably that Netflix took a bet that maintaining the present alive could yield long-term returns even when Season 1 fell flat.
Crucial Reception Would not Rule Renewal Choices
As With Love, Meghan demonstrates, it seems that vital reception holds much less sway in renewal selections. Streaming platforms like Netflix prioritize viewership knowledge, together with completion charges, hours watched, and early engagement, above conventional critic scores. A present can survive a ‘rotten’ Rotten Tomatoes rating if it hooks sufficient viewers shortly. The With Love, Meghan case exemplifies this shift, establishing that even amid unfavorable critiques, real-life knowledge could have pushed Netflix’s choice.
Furthermore, contracts with high-profile expertise come packaged with built-in commitments. If seasons are filmed back-to-back or manufacturing has already began on Season 2, canceling halfway could be costlier than merely delivering it. Actually, experiences point out that Season 2 was already filmed when the renewal was introduced, which probably made the choice each economical and logistical.
In the end, With Love, Meghan underscores the broader business actuality that though vital acclaim is helpful, it’s not important. Streaming giants are constructed on algorithms and, so long as measurable engagement or profitability exists, reveals can push ahead, no matter how “rotten” reviewers think about them. With Love, Meghan Season 2 might be able to redeem itself if the brand new season leans into authenticity and presents a piece with much less polish, elevated vulnerability, and actual, real heat. As well as, the success of Season 2 will hinge on whether or not audiences, disillusioned or intrigued, give the present one other likelihood. Solely time will inform. Season 2 of With Love, Meghan will launch on Netflix on August 26, 2025.