Netflix, the streaming giant once known for gripping dramas, spine-chilling thrillers, and Emmy-winning masterpieces, has found itself in a self-inflicted disaster—a financial fiasco that cost them a staggering £85 million. The home of *Stranger Things* and *Bridgerton* thought they had struck gold by partnering with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Instead, they ended up with a never-ending soap opera of mediocrity and disappointment.
Hoping for groundbreaking content, Netflix handed over the equivalent of a small country’s GDP to the Sussexes. What did they get in return? *With Love, Meghan*—an eight-part snoozefest where Meghan Markle, in all her self-proclaimed wisdom, teaches the world how to set a table and host a dinner party. The result? A dismal 33% critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an even more brutal 20% audience score—because even the die-hard Sussex supporters couldn’t pretend to care. The show dropped out of Netflix’s Top 10 in less than a week.
Now, Netflix insiders are scrambling to contain the fallout. Reports indicate that the streaming service deeply regrets coughing up £85 million for what essentially amounts to a glorified Instagram cooking reel with a royal price tag. Imagine paying £4.6 million per episode just to be told how to fold a napkin. The frustration within Netflix is palpable. Not only did *With Love, Meghan* flop harder than a fish out of water, but the entire Sussex deal has turned into a financial black hole.
Let’s break down the numbers: £85 million for 18 total episodes across Meghan and Harry’s projects. That’s £4.6 million per episode—a financial catastrophe by Netflix’s own standards. For comparison, *The Crown*, a show about the royal family that people actually want to watch, cost around £56 million for an entire season.
Now, Netflix is at a crossroads: keep forcing Meghan-focused content onto an uninterested audience or cut its losses and run. Option two is looking better by the day.
Just when the backlash couldn’t get worse, Meghan decided to do what she does best—bend reality to fit her own narrative. In an attempt to salvage her credibility, she excitedly announced that *With Love, Meghan* had been renewed for a second season. Netflix, however, wasn’t having it. The cold, hard truth? The so-called “Season 2” had already been filmed back-to-back with Season 1. Netflix insiders quickly clarified—there is no renewed contract. Meghan, in classic *Princess Pinocchio* fashion, twisted a technicality into a triumphant comeback story. In other words, she pulled a fast one—again.
Netflix executives are now learning a valuable, albeit costly, lesson: when you sign a deal with professional victims, you’re bound to get burned. The streaming service is scrambling to distance itself from the Sussex spectacle as gracefully—and quietly—as possible.
If Netflix truly wants to save face, it should publicly cut ties and bid the Sussexes farewell with a polite but firm message—perhaps something along the lines of *“Best wishes on your un-Sussex-ful future endeavors.”*
Netflix bet big on the Sussex brand, only to discover that public interest in Meghan and Harry doesn’t extend beyond royal scandals. People don’t want to watch Meghan bake cookies and preach about mindfulness. They want the drama, the tea, the insider scandals. And if Netflix executives didn’t see this coming—well, that’s on them.
