Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show, “With Love, Meghan,” is being slammed by critics after its premiere on the streamer Tuesday.
Many reviewers pinpoint the show’s struggle to be “relatable” and connect with viewers as their biggest gripe with the lifestyle series.
The eight episodes — marking the latest media venture by Markle and Prince Harry — showcase the Duchess of Sussex offering tips on cooking, gardening and hosting, while hanging out with celebrity friends at a California home.
Some of those celebrity guests include actress Mindy Kaling, socialite Delfina Blaquier, legendary chef Alice Waters and Markle’s former “Suits” co-star Abigail Spencer.
In a brutal analysis of the show, Variety compared watching it to a “forced march” and said the series was “a Montecito ego trip not worth taking.” The outlet added the show “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 former royal also received criticism from The Hollywood Reporter, who said the series was “too perfectly shot for its own good, as Meghan doesn’t so much as get a spattering of egg batter on her Zara pants.”
Many reviewers in the British press were also critical of “With Love, Meghan.” The Guardian dubbed the series “gormless lifestyle filler,” while The Independent called it “queasy and exhausting” as it “strains for aspiration and relatability in a way that never gels.”
The Telegraph even went as far as to say the show is an “exercise in narcissism,” slamming the fact that it wasn’t filmed in Markle’s actual house. “Meghan invites people to her pretend house,” critic Anita Singh wrote. “They tell her how amazing she is. This happens for eight episodes.”
Markle addressed the reason she opted out of shooting the series in her real home in Montecito, instead using a rental home for the indoor scenes and filming the outdoor scenes in her garden.
“I wanted to protect that safe haven,” Markle told People. “We’re a close-knit family, and I love those moments — putting Lili down for a nap, having lunch together, having sacred time together at the end of the day.”
“Our kitchen is where Mama just cooks for the family, and with a crew of 80-plus people, that’s a lot of people to have in your house!” she continued.
Despite the negative reviews, the show debuted in the Netflix Top 10. As of Thursday afternoon, the lifestyle series ranked No. 5 among TV shows in the U.S.
The Duchess of Sussex shared an Instagram Story thanking viewers for their support.
“For more recipes, fun, and reasons to ‘Mmmm’, check out the show — which in just 24 hours is already in the Top 10!” she wrote. “Thank you to all of you around the world who are tuning in!”
All eight episodes of “With Love, Meghan” are streaming now on Netflix.
