“I love recipes that take, say, four hours. I never go for quick recipes. I really enjoy braising.”
“Wow, that’s so interesting.”
Is it, though? Really? Netflix seems to be betting that it is. The second season of With Love, Meghan is here, though it comes with the news that the Sussexes’ new deal with the streaming service isn’t another five-year, $100 million blockbuster. Instead, it’s a more modest first-look agreement, giving Netflix the first chance to pick up any shows the couple develop.
Queer Eye’s fashion expert Tan France puts fresh bread in the toaster before making French toast to help it soak up more liquid. “That’s such a great tip for people to know!” Meghan says. Is it, though? Is it really?
Questions like these—or slight variations on that theme—pop up repeatedly as we watch Meghan prepare things in a stranger’s kitchen in Montecito, arranging fruit, flowers, twine, and name tags.
The highlight is probably Chrissy Teigen—model, mom, author, and fellow braising enthusiast, who Meghan once worked with as a briefcase holder on Deal or No Deal. Teigen’s husband, music mogul John Legend, also makes a brief, almost insultingly short appearance. Teigen is entertaining as they reminisce about lining up to have false eyelashes applied by the Deal crew, then peeling them off and dropping them in a bag on their way out—perhaps to be reused. Teigen has her four children’s birthdates tattooed on her arm, but some are too blurry to read, so she has to yell to John to confirm the dates. She also complains about her knees while squatting to cut flowers in the garden. I find myself liking her a lot. I might even willingly watch a lifestyle show hosted by her.
For Tan, Meghan whips up lavender-grey lattes (“Doesn’t that just sound chic?”) and the hits keep coming. She serves more fruit platters (“Grapes create that sense of abundance I mentioned”). She’s passionate about motherhood, something that was clear even in her childhood when she spent her allowance on a real diaper bag for her dolls. She shares sweet stories about “H” (he said “I love you” first; she once ruined a roast chicken for him on an early date by mixing up Fahrenheit and Celsius), Archie, and Lilibet (they say “zebra,” not “zee-bra”), and she still doesn’t apologize for naming her daughter Lilibet. She uses an express flower-pressing kit—microwaving them instead of using 40 sheets of blotting paper and patience—which I find myself strongly objecting to. She uses the phrase “moving meditation” twice, which, if I’ve correctly translated from Californian to British, means any activity you do to escape rather than filing for divorce. Not that there’s any hint such thoughts cross her mind. Everything is just fine in Meghan’s world.
By the way, she’s still sprinkling flowers on everything. I’m not sure if it’s a choice or a compulsion, but if you stand still long enough in (not) Meghan’s kitchen, you’ll probably end up covered in violets and served alongside a mug of grey foam to some minor celebrity who’s starting to realize he wasn’t paid enough.
It’s so dull, so forced, so try-hard whimsical that, you know what? In the end, it does become almost fascinating. You start wondering things you’d never normally consider, like: What would it take for me to start making vegan macaroons? How much of Meghan secretly wants to run for the hills? How excited could I possibly get about tiny eggs from silkie chickens? And what if I were being paid close to $100 million to do it, before my original deal even expired?Of course. The real question is, what does Pippa Middleton make of all this? After the harsh criticism she received for her simple party planning book, do you think she enjoys seeing the backlash against Meghan’s projects? Or is she frustrated that she wasn’t able to turn her own efforts into a successful series? Maybe she’s just taking notes instead—thinking, “A sourdough starter? Five years after everyone else gave up on theirs? I’m on it!”—and admiring Meghan as a master of public influence.
Pour me a lavender-grey latte and let’s figure this out. With Love, Meghan is streaming on Netflix now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the review With Love Meghan season two review so painfully contrived its genuinely fascinating written in a natural conversational tone
General Beginner Questions
Q What is this review actually about
A Its a critique of the second season of Meghan Markles Netflix docuseries Harry Meghan focusing on how its overly staged and artificial moments become strangely compelling to watch
Q Who wrote this review
A The specific author isnt named here but its written in the style of a professional television or culture critic for a major publication
Q Is the reviewer saying the show is good or bad
A Its a mixed critique They are saying the show is often poorly executed and feels fake but that this very fakeness makes it interesting to analyze
Q Where was this review published
A While not specified reviews with this headline style are typical of major newspapers or entertainment websites like The Guardian The Independent or Rolling Stone
Deeper Analysis Interpretation
Q What does painfully contrived mean in this context
A It means the scenes and conversations in the show feel extremely forced scripted and unnatural as if they were set up purely for the camera rather than capturing real life The painfully part emphasizes how obvious and awkward this feels to the viewer
Q Why would something contrived be fascinating
A The reviewer finds it fascinating from a cultural perspective Its interesting to analyze why the couple and their producers chose to present themselves in such a staged way what image they are trying to craft and how the public perceives it It becomes a case study in modern celebrity and PR
Q Can you give an example of a contrived moment the reviewer might be talking about
A While the review itself doesnt list examples moments often criticized as contrived include overly candidlooking staged conversations perfectly framed emotional shots or scenes that seem designed to directly rebut public criticism in a very deliberate manner
Q What is the overall tone of the review
