She’s back. Meghan Markle has returned for Season 2 of With Love, Meghan, and once again, she’s inviting us into her world of sourdough starters, edible flowers, and lighting so flattering it deserves its own damehood.
Season 1 was her “soft launch”: part cozy chat, part Pinterest board, part “See, I’m normal, except my friends are Oprah and Serena.” It was syrupy, sure, but there was a hint of sincerity in there too—the kind you almost believe while licking the spoon.
When Meghan slips into being a student instead of the hostess, the show becomes genuinely fun. Netflix
Season 2, though? Imagine Meghan heard those “too curated” critiques and said, “Hold my gluten-free, organic rosé.” Everything is shinier, glossier, more lacquered than a Beverly Hills manicure. The lobster glistens like it’s auditioning for Top Chef. The sourdough sparkles, a diva among loaves. Even her handwriting in calligraphy looks ready for its own Netflix special.
If Season 1 was syrup on pancakes, Season 2 is the syrup cooked down, caramelized, and then poured into a crystal decanter before serving. Sweet, yes—but try not to get cavities.
Prince Harry doesn’t make an appearance this season, but he took a photo off- cam with Meghan and episode guest Clare Smyth,
the chef who catered their royal wedding reception. @meghan/Instagram
But to be fair, there are moments when the gloss cracks, and suddenly the show works. If you’re Team Meghan, Season 2 is a feast. She’s glowing, she’s thriving, she’s running around sprinkling edible flowers with British TV personality Tan France and giggling like the California duchess-next-door you want on speed dial. There are tender confessions, like the burnt chicken she served Harry the night he proposed— proof that even duchesses can massacre poultry.
Meghan with model and cookbook author Chrissy Teigen Netflix
There are adorable behind-the-scenes moments, like her squeamish lobster wrangling with chef José Andrés (who’s darling to watch, by the way). These are the Meghan nuggets you can screenshot, tweet about, and say: “See? She’s real. She’s fun. Leave her alone.” And as a dog lover myself, I have to say, seeing her beloved beagle Guy (now gone, sob) padding around is a highlight—if someone loves dogs, they can’t be all that bad, right?
Meghan with celebrity chef David Chang Netflix
But if you’re Meghan-skeptical—hello, Britain—you will feast, too, because Season 2 is basically a buffet of things to mock. The Times recommended viewers “start therapy now.” The Telegraph called it “needy.” The New York Post described Meghan as “a woman in need of some cash.” Ouch. The critics are clearly not eating the cupcakes, let alone the edible glitter. And honestly? They’re not wrong about the gloss. Sometimes the show feels less like a window into Meghan’s world and more like a brochure for an aspirational lifestyle brand called Sussex.
Meghan with Spanish-American chef José Andrés @meghan/Instagram
So where does that leave us? Somewhere in the middle, sipping our metaphorical tea. Because yes, the show is contrived. Yes, it is curated to death. But it’s also… not terrible. It’s easy, it’s pretty, it’s background TV that asks nothing of you except to occasionally admire Meghan’s centerpieces.
Every so often, Meghan slips into being a student instead of the hostess, and the show becomes genuinely fun. She clearly enjoys being a domestic goddess. But is it the peek-behind-the-curtain relatability the show promises? Not really. It’s more of a peek into how relatability looks when it’s been polished, staged, and lit by a Netflix budget.
Season 1 versus Season 2? Think of it this way: Season 1 was Meghan offering you a homemade cupcake, maybe a little lopsided, but served with sincerity. Season 2 is the same cupcake, now perched on a $300 cake stand, dusted in gold leaf, shot from a dozen angles, and captioned with an inspirational quote about love. The taste is the same—it’s just up to you if you’re hungry enough for seconds.
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With Love, Meghan Season 2 streams on Netflix.