Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's much-anticipated Netflix docuseries has fallen short of expectations, receiving dismal ratings and reviews on both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb following the release of its highly awaited second part.
The six-part series delves into the couple's journey of stepping away from their royal duties in the UK to start afresh in the United States.
While the initial episodes shed light on the couple's interactions with the British media, the latter part sees Harry expressing his discontent towards his brother, Prince William, who is next in line to the throne, and delving into the breakdown of his relationship with the royal establishment.
Critics and viewers alike have not been kind to the series, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a meager 43% rating and an audience score of just 14%.
Similarly, IMDb rates the series at a mere 3.6 out of 10 as of December 16th.
The lukewarm reception sparked a wave of criticism on social media platforms, with one user bluntly stating, “Because no one wants to see this crap,” while another remarked, “They wanted privacy, but now they seek attention.
Move on.”
The backlash against the docuseries has had broader repercussions, as Netflix witnessed a 7% drop in its stocks post the launch of Harry and Meghan's documentary.
The announcement of the couple's multi-year deal with Netflix was met with discontent, leading to a significant number of subscribers canceling their memberships.
This mass exodus caused Netflix's stock value to plummet by nearly 10% in a single day, resulting in a substantial financial setback for the streaming giant.
Described as cringeworthy, exhausting, and a test of endurance by critics, the docuseries has been deemed a disappointment for both Harry and Meghan, as well as the director, Liz Garbus.
The overwhelmingly negative reviews, accounting for a mere 14% of the total feedback on the platform, have raised suspicions of review manipulation.
Notably, The Atlantic Magazine's scathing critique labeled the final episodes as a cringeworthy conclusion to Harry and Meghan's Netflix stint, questioning the need for three more hours of what it termed as “expensively lit retribution.”
Forbes, in its critique, highlighted the stark contrast between the success of Netflix's “The Crown” and the underwhelming performance of “Harry and Meghan.”
While the docuseries briefly claimed the top spot on Netflix, it swiftly descended in popularity, drawing criticism from both fans and reviewers.
The publication emphasized that the series failed to offer fresh insights, merely rehashing old conflicts between the couple and the royal family, as well as their tumultuous relationship with the British tabloids and paparazzi.
In light of the lackluster response to the docuseries, speculations about a potential second season have emerged, with Forbes hinting at the possibility of the fallout from Harry and Meghan's on-screen saga fueling further content.
The series, which promised a deep dive into the couple's journey, seems to have missed the mark, leaving audiences unimpressed and critics unenthused about its narrative execution.
As the dust settles on the ill-fated venture, it remains to be seen whether Harry and Meghan can bounce back from this setback in their foray into the world of entertainment.
