Meghan Markle’s cooking show failed to make the top 10 on Netflix, and PR experts told Newsweek that the slump will likely rule out a third season.
However, despite the negative sentiment, the show’s first season did make the global, U.S. and U.K. top 10, with 2.6 million views.
The second season, however, failed to make the list in all three regions with no decision yet made on whether to renew for Season 3.
Why It Matters
With Love, Meghan debuted in March to scathing reviews in both Britain and America, alongside a wave of mocking parodies by influencers on TikTok.
Jake Rosenberg/Netflix
What To Know
Eric Schiffer, chairman of Reputation Management Consultants, told Newsweek: “When a royal brand can’t crack the board, it’s likely an obituary for season 3.
“Even with Chrissy Teigen and Tan France glitter-bombing the set, the series hit the pavement.
“Given that it’s missed by a mile, where even hate watchers stayed home, Season 3 is unlikely.”
Teigen was a guest in one episode and brought her husband, musician John Legend, briefly on set, while Queer Eye fashion expert France got Meghan talking about her relationship with Prince Harry during filming.
However, there were far fewer reviews from U.S. outlets of the second season, leaving the particularly hostile U.K. press to lead the charge.
There were also fewer viral social media takedowns than after Season 1, which had its big moments reenacted online.
“That influencer erosion and the lack of coverage for Season 2 was catastrophic and highlighted a litmus test for real demand which has fallen off a cliff into an abyss,” Schiffer said.
Nick Ede, a U.K. based brand and culture expert, agreed: “I doubt it will be renewed because Netflix is all about algorithms, it’s all about viewers, it’s all about touch points that create zeitgeisty moments. The first season did that.
“The second season was panned. The guests weren’t particularly great, so that didn’t elevate it. There wasn’t particularly a PR push, apart from Meghan doing one interview. It felt like a side dish rather than a main dish.”
With Love will return for a holiday special in December, but otherwise fans are still waiting to find out if it gets recommissioned for a third season.
Schiffer said Meghan had been too risk averse in the first two seasons, but could try to pitch a slightly different concept for a third season that pushed the boundaries far more.
“Can she turn it around? Of course,” Schiffer said. “She’s one big creative idea away from making it interesting.
“They could go back and pitch Season 3 as something that would shock everyone and create a lot of buzz, but a ruthless read from a PR war room would be that the show’s cozy authenticity didn’t get traction, it failed bad. The lifestyle lane is unforgiving.
“Unless you either have some repeatable utility or can shock hardcore then viewers are going to ghost you like an ex.
“You’re competing with influencers and YouTube and minds that are willing to take those risks.
“I was with some of the big creatives that have helped MrBeast yesterday and these are avante gard thinkers. She needs to tie in with those folks, they’ll figure out the game.”
MrBeast, real name Jimmy Donaldson, is regarded as the world’s top YouTuber and has 430 million subscribers.
What Happens Next
Harry and Meghan are also producing a new documentary with Netflix, Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, and an adaptation of Carley Fortune’s romance novel Meet Me at the Lake.
Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.newsweek.com ’
