Reportedly, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Netflix series has been nominated for a Hollywood Critics Award. This nomination comes as a boost for them after a turbulent period in their post-working royal life.
Despite their split with media partner Spotify and being publicly labeled as "grifters" by a podcasting executive, their Netflix docu-series, "Harry and Megan," has been recognized by Hollywood critics.
The Daily Mail shared this information, stating that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released their $100 million dollar docu-series with Netflix in December, which became Netflix's second highest-ranked documentary ever, following the Tinder swindler.
Directed by Liz Garbus, "Megan and Harry" was the first project to emerge from their multi-year deal with the streaming giant, signed in 2020, shortly after they announced their decision to step down as working members of the royal family.
Now, the series has been nominated for a Hollywood Critics Award in the Best Streaming Non-Fiction category. The organization announced the news on Twitter, revealing that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are competing against other nominees such as "Prehistoric Planet 2," "Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss," "Renovations," "The 1619 Project," and "The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy."
The nominees were chosen through an anonymous voting process by the HCA's TV Awards committee, which comprises 27 members. The committee is formed from a group of 180 different members of the association, and it's unknown which 27 members made the decision regarding the Sussexes' nomination.
The HCA TV Awards committee and Television Branch members will now vote on the winners, starting on July 18, 2023. The date for the awards ceremony is currently unknown.
However, the question arises: How can a documentary series that failed to deliver on its pre-launch promises, failed to provide revelations or truth, and was shown to be a work of almost pure fiction, be nominated for any awards? Many people feel it may be more fitting for the "Turkey of the Year" or "Flop of the Century" category. Furthermore, there is a general understanding that one cannot nominate themselves for awards.
Audiences have shared their honest feelings, expressing that while they may have watched the series out of curiosity, it was poorly executed as a cohesive and well-told story. Some found it completely incoherent, skipping around without a credible narrative structure. Many believe it falls far short of being award-worthy in any context.
Critics argue that, despite its popularity and viewership, which cannot be denied, the series lacks the traditional elements of a well-crafted story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Instead, it feels more like a listing of personal grievances rather than a comprehensive program. The fact that it has been nominated for anything other than a Rotten Tomato rating surprises many.
Some have raised concerns about the association behind the awards, suggesting that it may consist of problematic individuals who decided to create their own association to avoid dealing with those who prioritize integrity, such as the Emmys. Meghan Markle may be seething beneath the surface, especially considering that even her own father has an Emmy, while she finds herself in a different situation.
It seems that even WME (William Morris Endeavor) has struggled to secure substantial opportunities for Meghan Markle, leaving her disappointed. As a young mother, she has little time to tolerate delays from WME and may feel frustrated with the recognition they have garnered thus far. The association's seemingly lackluster efforts and outcomes suggest that Meghan and Harry are not reaching the pinnacle of success they had hoped for.
In summary, this nomination from WME is the best they could offer the couple since April, signaling a decline in their elite value. Their post-coronation era has seen their reality falling beyond the point they left in December 2022. They find themselves approaching the bottom tier, and signing up with a talent agency may signify their diminishing status in the elite realm.
The uniqueness of Harry and Meghan's publication being awarded this prize remains a topic of discussion. Despite their $100 million deal, some question the merit behind the nomination.
Stay tuned for more updates on this intriguing story. This couple has taken swipes at the royal family and Britain through their shows, which some are describing as transatlantic TV bombs hurled at the firm. In these shows, the privacy-conscious couple has provided a collection of pictures and videos, including the moment Harry proposed in 2017 and footage of him in the VIP lounge at Heathrow as he immigrated in March 2020.
The first three episodes of their series contained several barbs that are believed to have upset his father, King Charles III. Among them, Harry claimed that he was essentially brought up by a second family in Africa, where he spent three months stints in his late teens and 20s to come to terms with his mother's death. He also addressed the issue of unconscious bias in the royal family, highlighting an incident involving Princess Michael of Kent wearing an offensive Blackamoor-style brooch in front of his wife at Buckingham Palace.
Furthermore, there were suggestions that the UK is more obsessed with race than the US, with Meghan stating that she didn't feel like a black woman until she came to Britain. In what seemed like a swipe at his male relatives, which could be viewed as an attack on his father and other senior royals, Harry insisted that his decision to marry Meghan set him apart from his family because it was driven by his heart rather than conforming to expectations. He mentioned that his family's view of his wife was clouded by her being an American actress, and they initially believed the relationship wouldn't last.
In other news, it has been reported that the couple is in talks to front a new Netflix documentary, where they will be meeting communities in South Africa. The focus of the series is expected to be humanitarian, with Meghan raising awareness about safe birthing practices. According to sources, the cameras will follow the Sussexes as they visit different locations and share medical education. This project will be a joint effort between Netflix and the couple's Archewell Foundation.
This South African project will be their third collaboration with Netflix, following their highly discussed six-part docu-series in December 2022 and their "Live to Lead" series that aired on New Year's Eve in the same year. It will document their return to South Africa after their previous royal tour, during which they visited various townships in Cape Town, danced with locals, and engaged with community members, all while accompanied by their son, Archie.
