Meghan Markle’s Netflix lifestyle series “With Love, Meghan” has ended after two seasons and a holiday special, highlighting the tough realities of celebrity-led content in a competitive streaming market. Filmed around her Montecito, California, home, the show debuted as her first solo project under the 2020 Archewell Productions deal with Netflix. Season 1 launched in March 2025, mixing cooking demonstrations, hosting advice, and everyday lifestyle elements. A second season arrived in August, followed by a December holiday special. Yet viewer numbers and rankings told a different story, exposing the gap between high expectations and actual performance.
Critical Backlash Emerges
Early buzz faded quickly under sharp criticism. The series garnered about 5.3 million views in the first half of 2025, landing at 383rd globally among Netflix titles. By late 2025, it slipped to well over 1,200th place, overshadowed by thousands of rivals. A Daily Mail review awarded the holiday special zero stars, while its Rotten Tomatoes score reflected broad disapproval, sitting in the low twenties. Commentators cited a perceived lack of authenticity and originality, noting how the polished tone blended into a crowded field of similar lifestyle programming.
Viewer Engagement Wanes
Metrics painted a clear decline. The holiday special drew a few million views and a brief uptick but failed to halt the slide. Netflix’s data-driven approach—tracking completion rates, total hours viewed, and rankings—intensified scrutiny. Top 2025 titles surpassed 100 million views, setting a benchmark that “With Love, Meghan” never approached. Insiders confirmed the series would not return for a third season, though talks of occasional holiday specials surfaced without firm plans.
Montecito Production Halts
The decision effectively halted all activity tied specifically to the show in Montecito. For Archewell, it closed the chapter on this particular venture, though the Netflix partnership endures under an extended multi-year first-look deal for possible future efforts. Meghan Markle addressed the workload at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit in 2025, calling the production demanding. Prince Harry stayed silent publicly as focus shifted to her independent path.
Strategic Pivot to Lifestyle Brand
Markle now channels energy into her “As Ever” brand. Plans include a cookbook in early 2026 and launches of candles, homeware, and wine in spring. The approach favors short-form recipes and social clips from Montecito to drive product interest, sidestepping full series commitments. This move aligns with Netflix’s pivot toward high-engagement hits amid rivals like Disney+ and Hulu ramping up lifestyle formats.
Broader Streaming Challenges
The cancellation underscores wider industry shifts. Celebrity draw alone proves insufficient when audiences tire of formulaic, personality-focused content lacking distinct appeal. Globally, the series rarely cracked top 10 lists in key markets, limiting its reach. No legal issues emerged, with observers viewing it as standard metrics at work. Younger viewers favor raw, uncurated styles over refined domestic scenes, complicating high-profile entries. For the Sussexes’ post-royal path, it revives questions on converting fame into reliable success. Markle’s brand relaunch tests whether concise, product-tied content can rebuild audience connection in a skeptical landscape.
Sources:
Page Six Jan 2026 reporting on “With Love, Meghan”
Netflix engagement and rankings reports 2025
Fox News Jan 2026 expert commentary
Daily Mail review coverage
Industry analysis of Netflix–Archewell partnership and “As Ever” plans