Meghan Markle news: critics say her latest project fell apart

Meghan Markle news has centered on one project above the rest. Her Netflix lifestyle series “With Love, Meghan” and the linked “As Ever” brand both stalled in early 2026, and critics have pointed to specific missteps that turned momentum into a quiet retreat.

Season two numbers told the story

Season two never cracked Netflix’s Top 10. That absence mattered because the first season had already drawn muted attention. Viewers who tuned in for polished hosting instead found repetitive segments and long stretches of filler.

Tracking data showed the second batch of episodes landing outside even the lower tiers of the platform’s chart. The drop signaled that the concept had not grown an audience. Netflix’s internal metrics treat sustained ranking as a key renewal trigger, and this one never arrived.

By January 2026 the streamer confirmed there would be no third season. The decision arrived without fanfare, yet it closed the door on the only Netflix vehicle still tied to the As Ever brand.

Reviewers found the tone off

Critics noted the show felt over-managed from the first frame. Lucy Mangan in The Guardian called it “painfully contrived” and “so effortfully whimsical” that the affect became its own subject. The observation landed because the series had been sold as relaxed and intimate.

Columnist Carol Midgley wrote that expectations of “smug, syrupy endurance” were exceeded in the wrong direction. She described the finished product as worse than the advance billing, a rare escalation that stuck in coverage.

Rebecca English summed up one episode by saying she “lost the will to live after the episode about making ice cubes.” The line traveled because it captured how small tasks were stretched into segments that felt padded rather than purposeful.

Scoring reflected the response

The series posted a 23 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 40 out of 100 on Metacritic. Both aggregates placed it in the lower range for unscripted originals. Low critic marks rarely decide renewals on their own, yet they reinforce the sense that the show lacked a clear audience hook.

Comparisons surfaced with other celebrity lifestyle entries that cleared higher bars. Those shows often leaned on tighter formats or stronger guest dynamics. “With Love, Meghan” stayed centered on one voice and one setting, narrowing its appeal.

Viewers who arrived expecting practical tips encountered long pauses and repeated close-ups. The gap between promise and delivery widened each week, and the scores recorded that distance.

Netflix ended the brand tie-in

Three months after the non-renewal, Netflix cut its involvement with As Ever. The company stated the partnership had always been planned as finite. The wording framed the exit as routine, yet the timing aligned with the show’s performance.

Brand traffic had already slipped in the first quarter of 2026. Searches for the former American Riviera Orchard products declined alongside favorability numbers. The dual drop suggested the series had not lifted the retail side as hoped.

Without the streaming partner, As Ever lost a major distribution and marketing channel. The split left the direct-to-consumer line to stand on its own at a moment when visibility mattered most.

Product pricing drew pushback

Early buyers questioned the cost of certain items, including a $256 candle collection. Social posts compared the price to similar goods from established home brands. The conversation shifted from curiosity to skepticism within weeks of launch.

Critics argued the pricing signaled a mismatch between the aspirational tone and everyday use. When the show itself failed to demonstrate broad utility, the higher ticket items looked harder to justify. Sales data reflected that hesitation.

Discounts and limited editions appeared sooner than expected. The adjustments suggested the brand was recalibrating after an initial reception that fell short of internal targets.

Polling tracked a wider dip

YouGov numbers showed a measurable decline in U.S. favorability for Meghan Markle beginning in January 2023 and continuing into 2026. The trend line overlapped with the rollout of the lifestyle projects. Analysts noted the correlation without assigning sole blame to any single release.

Web traffic for As Ever followed the same downward pattern in the opening months of the year. Lower search interest translated into fewer direct visits. The combined signals pointed to reduced cultural momentum at the exact time the brand needed lift.

Internal reports mentioned staff departures and tighter budgets. Those adjustments occur when multiple indicators move in the same direction, and the pattern drew quiet attention from industry observers.

Other projects stayed on the shelf

Netflix passed on additional concepts tied to the same circle, including a documentary titled “Cookie Queens.” The rejections arrived around the same period as the non-renewal. They added to the sense that the platform was narrowing its investment.

Earlier Spotify and Archewell ventures had already concluded or scaled back. Each closure reduced the number of active outlets. The cumulative effect left fewer platforms for new material to reach an audience.

Without fresh streaming deals, the lifestyle brand had to rely on its own channels. That shift placed more pressure on direct sales and social engagement at a moment when both were softening.

Public conversation stayed pointed

Social mentions of the non-renewal and brand split spread quickly on X. Many posts referenced the same review lines that had circulated in the press. The repetition kept the narrative centered on execution rather than external factors.

Some users compared the outcome to other celebrity launches that adjusted course after early data. Those examples usually involved format changes or price resets. Observers noted that similar moves had not yet appeared for As Ever.

The discussion remained factual rather than speculative. Viewership charts, review scores, and partnership statements supplied the record, and the public record shaped the tone of the conversation.

Market lessons remain in view

The episode showed how quickly a prestige platform can step back when early metrics do not support continuation. Netflix’s statement that the partnership was always finite served as a reminder that streaming deals often carry built-in exit points.

For creators, the case underscored the importance of matching format ambition to demonstrated demand. A second season that fails to chart carries heavier weight than a quiet debut. The data leaves little room for reinterpretation.

Going forward, any new venture will be measured against these recent benchmarks. The numbers and the notices set a clearer baseline than the initial announcements once did.

Next moves will be watched closely

The takeaway is straightforward. A high-profile Netflix series and its companion brand both lost momentum in the same cycle, and critics traced the shortfall to execution, pricing, and audience fit. Future projects will need to address those gaps directly if they hope to regain platform support and consumer interest.