Review: Is Meghan Markle's Series Out of Touch or the Comforting Escape We All Require at This Moment?

      Prior to her turbulent time as an active member of the royal family, Meghan Markle was mainly recognized for her role on Suits and her lifestyle blog, The TIG. After her engagement to Prince Harry, she closed her blog and bid farewell to her acting career. However, now that a few years have passed since their departure from the U.K., the Duchess of Sussex is once again pursuing her creative interests. While her single-season Spotify podcast, Archetypes, served as a preliminary exploration, Netflix’s With Love, Meghan marks a full return to her passion for lifestyle content.

      Since the show's announcement earlier this year and continuing after its release, Meghan has faced relentless scrutiny (as usual). Is a hopeful home-making show timely? Does it feel disconnected from reality? Or is she just following in the footsteps of personalities like Ina Garten, Martha Stewart, and Gwyneth Paltrow without facing similar criticism? I watched With Love, Meghan to provide you with an honest review.

      The premise of With Love, Meghan revolves around her demonstrating how she transforms life’s simplest moments and interactions into something truly magical for her friends, family, and herself. Each episode features at least one guest, often her closest friends, which I found to be refreshingly genuine. The entire series radiates warmth, comfort, and charm—and I not only found it entertaining but also learned a great deal! By the end of the series, I was enthusiastically telling my husband that she should definitely continue the series for at least another season, and here’s why.

      **My Review of With Love, Meghan**

      She’s an incredibly warm and gracious host.

      Not even ten minutes into the first episode, it became clear that Meghan is authentically kind and genuinely considerate toward others. I frequently thought, “This woman truly embodies a real-life Disney princess.” She radiates warmth and sincerity, even with people she meets for the first time. She effortlessly engages with them as if they were old friends, instinctively making them feel at home. I often found myself genuinely smiling and laughing as I watched her interact with guests and crew members or share stories about her life and loved ones.

      She didn't turn the show into a celebrity showcase.

      One aspect I appreciated about Meghan’s approach to With Love, Meghan is that she didn’t feature a celebrity in every episode. When she did invite a famous guest, it was typically because they were already friends or someone she admired and wanted to connect with personally. Since most of her guests were friends or local experts, viewers get a lovely insight into her personal life and how she treats everyone, from celebrity acquaintances to everyday neighbors.

      For example, in one episode, she visits a local flower shop to select blooms for an arrangement. When a shop worker unexpectedly walks in, she enthusiastically greets him, saying, “Hi Jose!” It was evident that she makes an effort to learn the names of everyday people, establishing herself as their neighbor and friend. This authenticity is refreshing; it genuinely moved me. We need more of her uplifting spirit in our current social and political climate.

      I learned things I’ve long wanted to master.

      There are many skills I have always wanted to learn but have never pursued due to laziness or intimidation. Thanks to With Love, Meghan, I actually picked up some of those skills, such as flower arranging, making kimchi from scratch, and salt-baking fish, among others! After finishing the series, I felt more inspired than ever to explore new activities. We’re currently in a sort of technology detox era, where many of us are trying to return to “old-school” hobbies, myself included. I’ve been contemplating learning new skills like sewing or picking up a foreign language, and exploring new hobbies like playing the drums. Meghan has further ignited that motivation in me, making her show a genuinely enriching experience.

      “After watching With Love, Meghan, I feel tremendously inspired to be more thoughtful and intentional with my friends and family and to make life’s smallest moments special for myself and others.”

      I feel inspired to emulate her energy and perspective in my life.

      After watching With Love, Meghan, I feel deeply motivated to be more considerate and intentional with my friends and family, making even the smallest moments significant for myself and those around me. While the show offers cozy vibes and is enjoyable in its own right, the stories Meghan shares elevate the experience. She effectively demonstrates and outlines how to do things in a gentle, approachable manner. She reassures viewers that they can replicate her ideas by finding supplies at a grocery store or flea market—putting effort into encouraging people to create on a budget while demystifying tasks that seem complex. Again, she comes across as incredibly genuine. It’s easy to forget her roots in Los Angeles and her ordinary upbringing, but she remains remarkably humble despite her circumstances.

      The royal family severely misjudged the situation.

      While watching the show, I often erupted in frustration, expressing to my husband how incomprehensible it is that so many people harbor