We’re talking about Harry and Meghan’s new polo show.
Remind me, Sue, Harry and Meghan teamed up with Netflix for this big Hollywood move, right?
They made a major announcement, claiming their focus would be on creating content that informs and inspires, especially as new parents. Their goal was to create family-friendly programming that brings hope. All noble intentions, right?
Well, fast forward to now. The trailer for their new Netflix polo show has been up for five days... and it’s only mustered about 120,000 views on Netflix’s channel. That’s a bad sign—no one seems interested. And let's be honest, this is a sport for the ultra-wealthy.
Absolutely, Andy. It’s an elitist sport, and this trailer just looks… tacky. We’re not the only ones who think so—critics, and even Harry and Meghan's own friends, are slamming it.
Oh, absolutely. Some former polo-playing friends of Harry, who knew him back in the day, spoke with The Daily Beast, and they were appalled and almost hysterical after seeing the trailer. One Hollywood executive even warned that Harry and Meghan are running out of chances to prove they can make compelling TV that isn’t all about themselves.
Right? It doesn’t help that the cheesy trailer doesn’t even feature them, except for Harry in the background, riding a horse—he’s hardly recognizable in the footage.
I guess that’s a good thing for them,
Totally. But, of course, they’ve got to take credit, so they’re listed as executive producers in the opening credits. It’s like a horror movie—when you see "Megan" on its own, you almost expect something scary to happen.
Ha! I see what you did there.
Seriously though, the show’s characters are largely unknown to the public. It’s filled with people who are only known because they play polo with Harry and Meghan, like "Nacho." Sue, did you even know who Nacho was before all of this?
No idea, Andy. He’s only famous because of them.
Exactly. There’s one moment in the trailer where a player says he’s playing against his father, and he wants to win. It's meant to add drama, but it comes off as cheesy and tacky. One former friend who played polo with Harry as a teen said it’s so cringe-worthy that it’s almost laughable.
It’s really just a missed opportunity. Polo can actually be quite an inclusive sport these days, with riders from various backgrounds, but none of that seems to come across in the show.
No, instead, we get the typical elitist portrayal—wealthy people in their multimillion-dollar homes, flashy cars, and champagne. It’s like the “Real Housewives” version of polo. But with horses!
Yikes. And it’s not just the wealth that’s off-putting. There's even footage where they show exhausted horses being swapped out, with one player jumping off a tired horse and onto another. It’s uncomfortable to watch.
Exactly. Animal cruelty for the sake of "glory." It’s a turn-off for a lot of people.
And it’s not just that. There’s criticism of the hypocrisy here too. How can they preach about poverty, diversity, and climate change when they’re surrounded by so much excess? It’s hard for people to take them seriously when they’re so out of touch.
You’re right. One prominent Daily Mail columnist, Liz Jones, who used to be sympathetic toward Meghan, even said, “What’s next? A shopping channel slot?” She pointed out the inconsistency between their message and their lifestyle, especially when one player admits to flying across the world twice a week, leaving his pregnant wife behind.
Exactly. It all just feels so tone-deaf.
And even though this is only the beginning of their content deal with Netflix, there’s a lot of skepticism about whether anyone still cares about them—especially if they’re not throwing shade at the royal family. They’re really running out of chances to prove they can deliver something of substance.
And let’s not forget, they have Meghan’s cooking show coming next year, which might face similar criticism.
Oh yeah. And there's a growing belief that if they can’t get their content right, their only option may be to turn to social media influencing. It's a depressing thought—people might still pay for a sponsored post from Harry, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth anything.
It’s hard to believe that will be successful for them.
Same here. The trailer for the polo show has been ridiculed by critics and media outlets alike. And even after the release of their docuseries, which was basically just a royal family rant, the backlash is still growing.
Honestly, I think they should just move on. Meghan’s been out of the royal family longer than she was in it, but she still can’t let go.
