The show tries too hard to create a vibe but forgets to deliver meaningful or engaging content.
Awkward Friendships and Unnatural Chemistry
Meghan surrounds herself with three people: her makeup artist Daniel Martin, chef Christina Tosi, and chef David Chang. While Tosi and Chang share a genuine, long-standing friendship, Meghan’s dynamic with Daniel feels more like a boss-employee relationship than a real friendship. The show tries to present two pairs of friends, but only one pair feels authentic.
The forced chemistry makes the show feel less relatable and more like a staged performance.
Over-the-Top Extravagance
Meghan’s attempt to appear relatable falls flat because of her over-the-top style. She’s dressed in flowing outfits, shoulder pads, and expensive jewelry—including a $6,000 pinky ring—while cooking in the kitchen. She even dips her hands near paints and dyes, which feels more like a photo shoot than a real cooking experience. The extravagance clashes with the show’s supposed down-to-earth vibe.
Meghan’s luxurious appearance makes it hard for viewers to connect with her as a "regular" person.
Wasteful and Pointless Staging
One of the strangest moments is the "impromptu" flower market scene. Meghan sets up thousands of dollars’ worth of flowers, buckets, and vases, but the group just stands around arranging bouquets with no real purpose or teaching moment. Even chefs like David Chang, who are masters in their field, seem out of place and reduced to being background characters.
The flower market scene feels like a wasteful display designed to keep Meghan in the spotlight, rather than showcasing her guests’ talents.
Food That Doesn’t Deliver
The episode finally gets to the food, but it’s underwhelming. Meghan presents a sweet onion tart that looks inconsistently prepared, making viewers question if she actually cooked it. Christina Tosi offers homemade graham crackers and marshmallows for s’mores—a cute idea, but not practical for most people. Meanwhile, David Chang prepares a delicious Korean beef dish, but the recipe is never shared.
The show can’t decide who its audience is—home cooks, professional chefs, or people who just like pretty table settings.
Recycled Ideas and No Clear Direction
Throughout the episode, Meghan repeats familiar tropes: sprinkling flowers on food, vague talks about "authenticity," and long monologues about life’s anchors. These recycled ideas make the show feel stale, especially since Meghan has faced criticism for cutting ties with family and friends.
The lack of fresh content makes it seem like the show has no clear direction or purpose.
Who Is This Show For?
The biggest question after watching this episode is: Who is With Love, Megan for? It’s not instructional enough for cooking fans, not aspirational enough for lifestyle followers, and too artificial to feel genuine. The wasteful staging, awkward relationships, and impractical recipes make it hard to see how the show can sustain an audience.
Meghan Markle’s attempt to brand herself as a lifestyle tastemaker continues to miss the mark. If this first episode is any indication, Season 2 risks being dismissed as more of the same—empty spectacle without substance.
