Yelena H

Netflix's "With Love from Meghan" tries to polish up Meghan Markle’s image, but it ends up feeling pretty staged. Each episode of the show tries to dazzle with a mix of high-end and high street fashion, like pairing Zara trousers with a swanky Loro Piana top. Does anyone actually care about seeing underwhelming pants and a top when watching a cooking show? It all feels a bit forced, especially when everything seems set up just to remind us that Meghan used to be a "royal." She even reminds Mindy Kaling who calls her "Meghan Markle," that she is a "Sussex" now. And the life lessons she tries to pass along—like saying a plain cake is "beautiful on the inside" or talking about beekeeping to encourage bravery—might come off as patronizing. Meghan talks about keeping things simple and budget-friendly, but then you see her elaborate setups and realize it’s not that simple at all. She'll say she's not picky about details and then the camera will show a meticulously organized Tea Party table setting. It's these kinds of contradictions that make the show, and Meghan, feel disconnected from real life. "With Love, Meghan" can't quite decide if it wants to be down-to-earth or aspirational, and it doesn't really succeed at either (...that's what usually happens with copying someone else's work?) It's a lot like watching the infamous Belle Gibson, who at the beginning managed to fool her audience with "positivity," "kindness," and "philanthropy." It made me wonder-was "The Tig" an undetected copy of someone else's great web-site idea, and Meghan never got caught back in 2014? "With Love Meghan" absolutely copies the idea and the vibe of both Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath and her show "Emma's Kitchen," and Pamela Anderson's "Pamela's Cooking with Love," but without the genuine warmth and originality. What other endeavors has Meghan copied in the past? Overall, "With Love from Meghan" is just exhausting. It tries too hard to be perfect and ends up feeling overwhelming with all its staged, feel-good moments acted out from Meghan who looks and feels anything but genuinely connected to anyone. After a few episodes, I felt like I needed a break from all the intense, polished, and most of the time truly awkward positivity and interactions. It’s less of a peek into Meghan's real life and more of a never-ending performance that might leave one feeling worn out.