Since I last wrote about Meghan Sussex, a lot has occurred. Rumors swirled about Meghan and Harry’s Netflix deal, season 2 of With Love, Meghan dropped, As Ever has had three more launches, and Meghan celebrated her 44th birthday. I’m here today with an update on all things business for our favorite Royal Girl Boss, along with my personal As Ever story!
My disclaimer from my first Meghan post applies: I once again want to make it clear that any racist or hateful comments on this post regarding Meghan and her family will not be tolerated.
The State of the Netflix Deal
On August 11, after weeks of speculation and false rumors, it was announced that Harry and Meghan had extended their working relationship with Netflix. The couple has a “multi-year, first-look deal via their banner Archewell Productions.” Additionally, Netflix will continue to work with Meghan to further develop the As Ever brand.
In July, word spread that Netflix had chosen not to renew their $100 million deal that expired this month. Who spread this word? Well, an unnamed “Hollywood insider,” of course. This story originated in The Sun, a notorious U.K. tabloid. It’s shocking how many legitimate news outlets took this headline and ran with it, only to have to backtrack weeks later with the truth, this time directly from Netflix. I was particularly perplexed by People Magazine’s engagement with the rumors. People has been a trusted outlet for Harry and Meghan, with Meghan even appearing on the cover with exclusive photos and an interview ahead of the first season of With Love. But hey, clicks are clicks.
Meghan’s People cover from March ’25
The only real change that comes with this new deal is that Harry and Meghan have the opportunity to shop their projects to other networks and streamers, after showing them to Netflix first. If Netflix chooses to pass on a project, the couple can send it to Hulu, Paramount, etc. The royal couple isn’t the only one who has entered into this sort of deal with the streaming giant. Barack and Michelle Obama have a similar first-look deal with Netflix. Not a bad company to be in!
With Love, Meghan Season 2
With Love, Meghan season 2, premiered on Netflix on August 26. The new season boasted guests from Tan France to Samin Nosrat. Though this season was filmed at the same time as the first season, I believe the vibe in this season is even more joyful. Meghan seems much more comfortable in front of the camera this time and works alongside her guests with more confidence. She seems less nervous and more present. Similarly, the guests this season seem more confident as well. There doesn’t seem to be as much of a “starstruck” quality to the guests as there was in the first season (*cough* Mindy Kaling *cough*). Season 2 seems to be closer to what Meghan envisioned for the show – two or more people coming together and sharing in the love of food, entertaining, and friendship.
The season 2 poster for With Love, Meghan
As of this writing, a third season of With Love hasn’t been announced. However, a holiday special of the show was revealed alongside the news of the couple’s new Netflix deal, named With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. The special will air this December.
The numbers from Season 1 of With Love arrived in July, with Netflix releasing its latest Engagement Report. With Love ranked 389th in the television category with 5.3 million views. You may look at that number initially and grimace, like I did. But I downloaded the entire report and was pleased to see the company that Meghan was in. At 410th is Beyoncé with the Beyoncé Bowl, and Gilmore Girls season 1 is 411th – believe me, y’all, Meg is doing just fine.
As Ever Evolves Past Their Initial Launch
Since our last As Ever update, a lot has happened! There have been two more spread drops, along with a special wine launch. In June, an apricot spread was added to the As Ever family, and in August, an orange marmalade spread joined the fun. Each flavor drop was accompanied by a restock of the evergreen products – the shortbread cookies, the flower sprinkles, the crepe mix, and the tea. The 2024 Napa Valley Rosé launched this summer. The rosé is sold in bottles of 3, starting at $90. Let me tell you, I’m dying to try this wine, but the price is a little too steep for me at the moment. If you’ve had the opportunity to try it, please let me know in the comments.
A screenshot from the As Ever website from 9/9/25
Business wise, the second As Ever launch completely sold out, similar to the first launch. The third launch was accompanied by more stock, leading to only the orange marmalade spread in the keepsake packaging being sold out at the time of this writing. Meghan spoke about As Ever’s inventory with Emily Chang of Bloomberg, sharing how each launch has been a learning opportunity for the company. You never truly know what the demand for a product will be until you launch it. Essentially, As Ever went from launching with 10,000 jars of raspberry spread to producing 100,000 jars of the orange marmalade spread. That sort of growth in less than a year is extraordinary.
With a holiday With Love special coming in December, I expect there to be a festive As Ever drop sooner rather than later. Cranberry spread? A gingerbread mix? The possibilities are endless.
My Personal As Ever Experience
When the second launch for As Ever arrived on the morning of June 20, I had the website up and ready, prepared to sacrifice my firstborn child for some apricot spread. I was thrilled to check out with my apricot spread (in the keepsake packaging) within minutes, wiping my brow later that morning when I saw that the launch had once again sold out. Unfortunately, this moment of relief was not meant to last.
I, along with many other customers, had their apricot spread orders cancelled a week later. I can’t lie, I was pretty bummed to receive that email. There wasn’t any nefarious reason for the cancellation, but the As Ever team told customers in an email that the spreads were oversold. They assured customers they would receive a refund for both the spread and for the shipping (which was $7 for me). On top of that, the team vowed that we would receive a spread upon restock, free of charge. I was skeptical of this claim, but nonetheless thrilled to receive a refund.
With the launch of season 2 of With Love, Meghan, the As Ever team contacted those with the cancelled orders to let them know that their spreads would be shipping within days. A week later, I received a special package in my mailbox.
Let me just say, the box, the packaging, the glass jar? It all looked absolutely stunning upon arrival and felt high-quality. After I had a little photoshoot with the jar, I knew it was time for a taste test.
As of this writing, I’ve tried the spread twice. Once with biscuits and once with rye toast. I will say that the apricot flavor packs a punch. A little goes a long way. I didn’t know this when I tried it with the biscuit, and was a bit overwhelmed with the tart taste of the apricot. I enjoyed the spread more with toast, as there was more surface area for the flavor to go. I could enjoy each bite without going “oh my!” I’d love to try the raspberry flavor in the future to see if that flavor packs as big of a punch as the apricot did.
The consistency of the spread is a bit more watery than traditional jam or jelly. The jar has a wide opening, and between that and the texture of the spread, it’s easy to take a spoon or a knife to the spread and smear it onto your item of choice. The spread itself settles back into the jar beautifully. Cleanup was easy, and any excess spread was able to be wiped off with a paper towel. I’m looking forward to finishing the product and reusing the gorgeous jar in a different way!
Overall, the apricot spread was a lovely experience for me. I would highly recommend ordering from As Ever. The customer service was incredible, the product itself was delightful, and the packaging was sturdy. Bravo, Meghan and team!
I’ll be back this winter to discuss the upcoming With Love holiday celebration. For now, I’ll be here with my apricot spread and watching With Love season 2 again.
Perhaps Meghan Sussex (Markle) says it best herself. “Meghan is a major advocate for mental health, family care, and gender equity. The Duchess hopes to be a cultural catalyst for positive change, reflecting her core belief that representation matters, and that communities can be enhanced through learning, healing, and inspirational support.”Boldly declaring herself a feminist in the first sentence of her biography, Meghan has always made one thing clear to the public – she is a believer in equitable change, inclusion, and the rights of all to enjoy a homemade jam. Or maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.
A disclaimer before we get started – I’m a fan of Meghan. I have been since she was on the cover of Vanity Fair in 2017 (with the headline “Wild About Harry!”) following Prince Harry coming out swinging against her critics, boldly (and correctly) calling the attacks racist. (Strangely, this statement appears to have been deleted from the Royal Family’s website.) I admired her modern feminism and unapologetic ambition. I’ve never seen Suits and didn’t read her blog The Tig, but I enjoyed watching her from afar after becoming familiar with her. Little did I know that opinion would be considered a hot take a few short years later! But we’re not here today to talk about the vitriol that Meghan (and to a lesser extent, Harry) has been forced to endure. We’re here to talk about her many business ventures and what I think of her latest one, her new lifestyle brand called As Ever.
Not that I expect any, but I want to make it clear that any racist or hateful comments on this post regarding Meghan and her family will not be tolerated. At the end of the day, I believe Meghan and Harry are lovely people raising young children. They deserve some peace.
Now, let’s dive into the business life of a Royal Girl Boss.
May 5, 2014: Meghan launches The Tig
“In the interest of taking good luck wherever I can find it, today marks the launch of The Tig,” MM in The Tig’s inaugural post.
The Tig, Meghan’s lifestyle blog, was the beginning of Meghan’s business ventures. Three years into acting as Rachel Zane on Suits, I imagine Meghan was looking for another creative outlet. The mid-2010’s was the height of personal blogs and The Tig came about at the perfect time. At its height, the blog assisted Meghan in gaining over 3 million Instagram followers before its deactivation in 2017.
The Tig featured posts on food, travel, beauty, and wellness. There were how-to’s, and travel tips, and Meghan interviewed chefs, designers, and friends. Her Q&A seemed to ask the following questions:
My nickname is _.
The first thing I do when I wake up is _.
I can’t live without _.
If I had one week to escape _.
If I only had $10 in my pocket _.
Everything tastes better with_.
A screenshot of The Tig’s homepage from 2014, courtesy of Meghan Maven
You may wonder how Meghan made money from this venture. The answer is simple: affiliate links and advertisers.
Affiliate links first became popular in the 2010s. Mention a lipstick you like? Link it and watch the money roll in. At that time, it wasn’t a requirement for bloggers, YouTubers, or other influencers to let their audience know they were making money off of their purchases – they were able to make their recommendations, add the link, and make thousands of dollars off of their audience. It wasn’t until later in the 2010s that the FTC caught on to this practice and required some sort of disclaimer on this practice.
I’m unsure if Meghan made a disclaimer to her readers on affiliate links, but I’m certain that she was bringing money in from them once The Tig hit its stride. The website had a “shop” tab and I have to assume she was linking clothing, shoes, accessories, and beauty products, among other items. The number I see floating around the internet regarding The Tig’s influence at its height was $80,000 a month, though I have no way of confirming that. But from what I’ve heard/seen from beauty and lifestyle YouTubers musings on this topic, that number feels legitimate.
As for advertising, I know for a fact that brands were paying big money to be featured on lifestyle brands websites in the 2010s. Into the Gloss, the brainchild of Emily Weiss, was an extremely popular blog that’s influence was at its peak around the same time as The Tig. That blog was receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars a month from beauty brands to advertise on its site. Again, I have to assume that The Tig was receiving similar offers from brands.
The Tig was shut down in April 2017, with Meghan thanking her readers and assuring them once more, “You, my sweet friend, you are enough.” It was later confirmed in the book Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie that Meghan shut The Tig down “to avoid it being ‘used to fuel false speculation about her personal life with the prince.’”
Meghan’s farewell message to The Tig
The Tig seemed to be a true passion for Meghan, and it’s sad to me that she felt forced to shut it down. But it does make sense from a personal standpoint – I doubt she ever would have had the same time to devote to it after marrying into the Royal Family. Still, I dream of a different timeline where Meghan was allowed and even encouraged to keep the blog and we got a “Tig Talk” with Princess Kate.
A special shoutout to Meghan Maven for having an archive on The Tig!
January 2018 – February 2021: Charity Work & Patronages
As everyone and their grandmother knows, Meghan and Prince Harry announced their engagement in November 2017 and were married on May 19, 2018. Following their engagement, Meghan began to become involved in The Royal Family’s charities. Following their marriage, Queen Elizabeth II named Meghan as a patronage to four UK charities.
Below, I will include a list of the patronages Meghan was a part of and when she left them. This is also when I need to remind you that Prince Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles of “working royals” in January 2020 and moved to Southern California. With these moves, two of Meghan’s patronages reverted back to the crown, while the other two were hers to continue being a part of.
London’s National Theater: Jan. 2019 – Feb. 2021
Association of Commonwealth Universities: Jan. 2019 – Feb. 2021
The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (young entrepreneurs): March 2019 – Feb. 2021
Mayhew (animal welfare): Jan. 2019 – 2022 (left as a private patron)
Smart Works: Jan. 2019 – Current
On top of her patronages, Meghan and Prince Harry were involved in other charities as a couple during this time.
The Royal Foundation: Feb. 2018 – June 2019 (shared foundation with Prince Harry, Prince William, and Princess Catherine)
Sussex Royal: July 2019 – Aug. 2020 (dissolved upon M&H stepping back)
As we can see, Meghan’s interests and passions aligned incredibly well with her patronages. On top of these charities, Meghan went out of her way to assist in other areas during her time as a working royal.
Before their marriage, Meghan joined Prince Harry in supporting the charity Elephants Without Borders, which assisted with conservation efforts taking place in Botswana. In January 2018, Meghan began to spend time in the Hubb Community Kitchen, run by survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire in West London. In September 2018, survivors released Together: Our Community Cookbook, which featured a forward from Meghan. Proceeds from the cookbook were donated to the UK charity Migrateful, which “supports refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants by helping them organize cookery classes.” Additional proceeds were donated to the UK charity Himmah, which supported the “Salaam Shalom Kitchen, the only Muslim and Jewish community kitchen in the UK.” The charities received $10,000 and $13,000, respectively.
The cover of Together: Our Community Cookbook
As we would later learn, Meghan was struggling with her mental health during this time period and did contemplate taking her own life. This was clearly not a time for business and, thankfully for her, she did not need to think about money while being a working member of The Royal Family. But that would soon no longer be the case.
March 2020 – March 2024: Post-Royal Business Ventures & Media Appearances
Since stepping away from their “working royal” status, Prince Harry and Meghan have made both joint and solo business deals together. Their joint business dealings began as early as September 2019, when the couple was reportedly in talks to partner with Quibi (RIP) over a possible role in the service – thankfully, the couple decided against joining the doomed app.
In March 2021, the couple sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a television special titled Oprah with Meghan and Harry. This special seemed to mark a turning point for the couple. A year after leaving The Royal Family as working royals, this interview marked the first occasion where the pair began to speak more openly about their struggles within the institution. Looking back four years later, it’s clear to me that the couple felt they needed to have one of these bombshell interviews (ala the prince’s own parents in the 90s) in order to move forward into the next steps of their new lives as philanthropists and future business owners.
Nearly 50 million people worldwide watched the special. The couple were not producers on the special, but I do believe it’s worthy to note that the special was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award that same year.
Streaming was clearly an ambition of the couple. In September 2020, they signed a private commercial deal with Netflix and a multi-year deal with Spotify. Today, the Netflix deal is still active, while the Spotify deal appeared to be DOA. Below, I’ll list the projects the couple has released with each service.
Netflix:
Harry & Meghan (documentary miniseries) – 2022
Live to Lead (documentary miniseries) – 2022
Heart of Invictus (documentary miniseries) – 2023
Polo (documentary miniseries) – 2024
With Love, Meghan (lifestyle series) – 2025
With Love is the first series produced by the couple that is currently scheduled to run for more than one season. The series’ first eight episodes, originally scheduled to be released in January of this year before being delayed after the Southern California Wildfires, was released in March to a mixed reception. According to Netflix, the show reached 12.6 million hours watched in its first week. This sounded pretty good to me until I saw that Deadline reported that the couple’s first documentary miniseries Harry & Meghan reached nearly 100 million hours watched in its first week back in 2022.
Harry & Meghan is the most-viewed documentary-series in Netflix history
The good news for Meghan is that three days after its release, Netflix announced that a second season of eight episodes had already been filmed and will be released this fall. I watched the show and enjoyed it! A standout moment for me was when Meghan gave a gift-wrapping seminar in episode 7. The show, to me, is good, simple fun. It’s Meghan in older sister/mom mode, showing the audience how she makes everyday moments more special. Don’t tell the British media, but I definitely learned a trick or two from the show! It also definitely made me want some homemade jam.
Spotify:
Archetypes – a 12-episode podcast hosted by Meghan in 2022. This show focused on the stereotypes about women conveyed through language. The podcast was canceled by Spotify in 2023.
That’s it!
It’s a bit shocking to me that Harry and Meghan seemed to decide that Meghan would be the face of the couple’s podcast projects. Again, I like Meghan, but many, many people can’t stand her. Podcasting is a fickle industry and it’s surprising to me that the couple would want to be involved with it in the first place. But it’s been a pillar of Archewell Productions business ventures since the beginning. They say on their website that Archewell Productions is “dedicated to illuminating thought-provoking and diverse narratives that underscore our common humanity and celebrate community – through scripted and non-scripted TV, film, documentaries, and podcasting.”
The couple’s Spotify deal ended in 2023 with Archetypes being the sole series released. The couple took a break from podcasting until March 2025 when, once again, Meghan launched a second podcast titled Confessions of a Female Founder. This time, the podcast was released through Lemonada Media. Lemonada also appeared to acquire Archetypes from Spotify, taking the original podcast from a Spotify exclusive to a multi-platform release.
The cover of Meghan’s latest podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder
I have listened to episodes of both Archetypes and Confessions. Both podcasts seem to follow a similar script. Meghan opens the episodes with a story from her adolescence, early career, or, more recently, her business journey that relates to the topic of the episode, she tells us why her guest is the perfect person to help her with this discussion/problem, and then interviews the guest. The intros are a bit theatrical at times, Meghan’s inner actress (or really, her inner theater kid) shining through, but both podcasts are very listenable. I don’t believe I’m the target audience for Confessions – Meghan and her guests talk a lot about being working mothers and juggling family with CEO life, and that’s just not something I deal with or am that interested in hearing about time after time. Archetypes is more my speed, especially as an avid media consumer. Both shows are pretty niche, and I wonder how their numbers have done/are now doing on Lemonada. Podcasting is clearly something that Meghan is determined to master, and I admire her for not backing down from the challenge. If there’s ever a season 2 of Archetypes, I will tune in! Now I’m left wondering if Prince Harry will ever host a show…
March 2024 – Present: As Ever, LLC & The Future of Meghan Sussex
In March 2024, jars of jam appeared in the Instagram stories of SoCal’s most famous members specifically thanking Meghan for sending them. The label on the jars said American Riviera Orchard, which was soon revealed to be Meghan’s upcoming business. According to a report from Forbes in April 2024, “company registration documents revealed plans to create an online retail store selling tableware, cutlery, cookbooks, stationary, party decorations and other similar items.” Originally slated to be released that spring, the brand would soon be faced with trademark and operational challenges. Meghan was unable to secure the trademark for American Riviera Orchard, which she had been attempting to obtain since at least February of 2024. Allegedly, (and despite research, I couldn’t find a clear source for this claim) Meghan was also having issues securing a CEO for the brand before installing herself as CEO.
The brand’s name was eventually changed to As Ever in 2025. The first As Ever products went on sale on April 2, including the famous raspberry spread, flower sprinkles, wildflower honey, three types of tea, and more, with all products selling out within an hour. Products from this launch, particularly the flower sprinkles, were featured throughout the first season of With Love, Meghan. Meghan later revealed in a message to As Ever subscribers that the brand would be releasing new products “seasonally.”
A screenshot from the As Ever website on 4/28/25
And that brings us to today. What does the future hold for Meghan Sussex, the most famous Royal Girl Boss?
It appears that Meghan is back in her influencer era. Shortly after With Love premiered, Meghan launched a ShopMy storefront. Storefronts like these allow celebrities/influencers to link their favorite clothing, beauty items, accessories, etc. for their audiences to shop. The platform itself and the storefront owner make a commission off of each purchase made through their link. I’ve attached a screenshot below from her most recent post on her ShopMy store.
A screenshot from Meghan’s ShopMy from 4/28/25
Honestly, I think this is genius. Whether they love or hate her, people love to search for what Meghan wears or uses. This is a super smart way to make a few dollars back from the online publications that have spent nearly a decade making money off of her wardrobe with their own links. It also brings us back full circle to how Meghan first began to make money off of her own influence by linking to items on The Tig.
Whether or not With Love is renewed after season 2, I believe that Meghan has a strong future with As Ever. Consumable products like food and drinks are bound to create repeat customers. Once some products are available permanently, like the three teas in the original launch, I guarantee her team will create some sort of subscription program to ensure that buyers never run out of their favorite flavor.
Additionally, you have to assume that many non-food items are in the future for the brand. A cookbook seems to be a no-brainer. Pots, pans, mugs, tea towels, aprons, coasters, the list of items she could stamp the As Ever logo on is endless. Some sort of collab between Meghan and one of her favorite brands (Crate & Barrel? Pottery Barn?) has to be in the works for this coming holiday season.
Whether or not any of my predictions come true, Meghan has made a few things clear over the last few months. First, her name is Meghan Sussex, not Meghan Markle. Second, she wants to sprinkle a little joy into everyday moments. Lastly, head to her ShopMy account to shop her favorites. 😉
In the battle of the 2025 Girl Boss, Meghan Sussex could very well turn up on top.
Duke & Duchess of Sussex. “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex | The Office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.” Sussex.com, https://sussex.com/meghan-duchess-of-sussex/. Accessed 14 April 2025.
The latest addition to the Mindy Kaling Television Universe landed on Netflix last week, and it’s called Running Point. Starring Kate Hudson, the sports-comedy series was co-created by Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stasse. The trio took over the production from the original creator, Elaine Ko. The show is loosely based on the life of Jeanie Buss, the controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The series follows Hudson as she plays Isla, a reformed party girl and only daughter of the famous Gordon family as she is appointed the president of the (fictional) Los Angeles Waves following her eldest brother, Cam’s, arrest and rehab stint. Hudson is joined by Brenda Song (Ali), Justin Theroux (Cam), Drew Tarver (Sandy), Scott MacArthur (Ness), and Fabrizio Guido (Jackie) as her best friend/chief of staff, three brothers, and (revealed at the end of the pilot) secret half-brother, respectively.
The series was given the (apparent) max number of episodes a streaming show can have these days, 10, and I believe they use all 10 episodes wisely. The show’s pace is impeccable, jumping from plot to plot well. I was immediately a little skeptical of the show because I was wary of watching a sports-comedy version of Succession. I wasn’t interested in watching the privileged (white) Gordon siblings fight over control of a basketball team. But my skepticism was proven wrong by episode 2, as Sandy and Ness jointly attempt to overthrow Isla and are comically shut down by a series of smart business moves by the president herself. From there, the conflicts within the team are about everything except trying to oust Isla, which I appreciated.
I was pleasantly surprised by how the show handled Guido’s character, Jackie. As the secret love child of the deceased Gordon, Jackie isn’t even aware that he’s a biological Gordon until the end of the pilot. His mother, one of the Gordon family’s former housekeepers, recently passed away and ensured that his biological father wouldn’t be revealed to him until her death. The kicker? Jackie begins the series as a concessions worker for the Los Angeles Waves.
This plot could have easily gone so wrong. In the wrong hands, it would have been insensitive and perpetuated harmful stereotypes. Does anyone else remember the Arnold Schwarzenegger scandal? Just me?) But the RP writing team treats the complex topic with care. While Jackie is initially presented with a $2 million payday if he signs an NDA and agrees to never pursue a relationship with any member of the Gordon family, he doesn’t want to sign it. After the death of his beloved mother, he wants to get to know his biological family. The Gordon siblings initially reject him and only show up to an in-person meeting to get Jackie to sign the deal. Naturally, Isla breaks first and tells Jackie not to sign the deal. Jackie then joins the family business alongside his siblings – he’s once again working for the Waves, this time as Isla’s assistant.
The series also features a Kaling universe favorite – a good old-fashioned love triangle. Isla is engaged to Dr. Lev Levenson (Max Greenfield), a kind and supportive pediatric doctor. They’ve had a long engagement (because of COVID and both of their mother’s getting facelifts, of course). In one scene we watch Isla talk through her work problems with Lev, and in the next, she is eyeing Waves head coach Jay Brown as he does (admittingly, impressive) pull-ups. The two men are mostly unaware of each other and don’t interact – I mean, Jay attends Isla and Lev’s engagement party in episode 5. So far in the series, this triangle only exists in Isla’s mind, but anyone who has seen a romance movie knows where this plot is going.
Onto basketball. Let me preface this portion of the review by saying that I am not a big sports person. The only team I keep up with is my college alma mater, and that’s only for football. I don’t know much about basketball, but I’ve seen a lot of One Tree Hill, so I know what basketball should look like on screen.
Four of our main characters: Isla, Sandy, Ness, and Ali
The team dynamic on RP is giving Ted Lasso. We have Toby Sanderman as Marcus, the star player who starts off the series as a Roy Kent shadow. Chet Hanks (yes, of THE Hanks family) is Travis, an obnoxious sexist but great player who has a strange amount of chemistry with Isla. Dane DiLiegro is Badrag, the player who gives us the most amount of funny one-liners. Honestly, the team plotlines are a little lacking. This is something that should be reworked in a potential second season.
Ben Travers of IndieWire gave Running Point a C+ rating and pointed out that “a shocking number of Waves players look better suited for the NFL, but you’re able to suspend disbelief because you don’t have to see them hoop… until the finale decides to spend one-third of its run-time watching stiff and stout actors do their best impression of agile and altitudinous athletes.” I have to agree. When I saw that there were less than 10 minutes left of the season finale and the team was still playing, I knew we were in for a rushed ending. Chet Hanks isn’t even in the finale, dammit!
If I were to go the IndieWire route, I would give the first season of Running Point a solid B. It’s fun, mostly silly, and has the perfect amount of drama. I like a lot of the cast, (Tarver is a particular favorite of mine from his last show, The Other Two) and I particularly like Hudson when she’s doing comedy. I love to see Song getting some airtime on a platform as big as Netflix. The writing is snappy and I was never outright bored during an episode. But there were some weak plotlines, great characters being brushed aside, (Max Greenfield, you deserved more screen time) and odd time jumps that briefly confused me.
All that said, I’m looking forward to tuning in for a second season of Running Point. Netflix, hurry up and renew this, I know you want to.
Catch the first season of Running Point, streaming on Netflix now.
I know, I know. It’s a cult classic. I watched it for the first time in 2021 and found myself cringing more than anything else during it. I can’t exactly explain what I found so uninteresting about it, but I know that I didn’t like how Ramona Flowers was portrayed. The manic pixie dream girl of it all was a turn off for me. I was always glad that I had finally forced myself to watch it so I could participate in conversations about it, but I was certain that I wasn’t ever going to watch it again.
When I heard that Netflix was releasing an anime version of the story this fall, I didn’t think much of it. However, I found myself interested in the concept once it became available to stream. Curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to sit down and try it out. And let me tell you…. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is one of my favorite shows of 2023.
But let’s back up. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is, like the film, based off of the graphic novels written by Bryan Lee O’Malley. The first episode largely follows the film plot, with Scott dreaming of and then meeting Ramona, taking her on a date, falling asleep in her bed, etc. However, the show completely changes gears at the end of the first episode. You know how Scott is supposed to win the fight against Matthew Patel, defeating Ramona’s first evil ex? Well, he doesn’t. He dies.
Or does he?
That is the mystery that the show sets out to solve. With Scott out of the picture, we follow Ramona as she skates around town, trying to find out where Scott really went. It’s a brilliant twist that I did not see coming.
Ramona is a fantastic protagonist. The next few episodes open with a beautiful sequence of Ramona dying her hair a new color each morning, symbolizing where we’re going on the journey in the episode. Mary Elizabeth Winstead does great voice work opposite Aubrey Plaza, Alison Pill, Mae Whitman, Chris Evans, and Brandon Routh in these episodes.
In these episodes, we watch Ramona track down each of her ex’s to see if they are the key to finding Scott. While confronting them, we’re treated to seeing Ramona make peace with each of them and come to terms with all that she had done to contribute to the downfall of each relationship. It’s great character development for everyone involved.
I won’t spoil how the show ends, but I will say that it comes to a satisfying conclusion. The show is billed as a limited series and if this is the last we get of this iteration of Scott Pilgrim, I think fans will be pretty happy.
I was shocked at how much I genuinely enjoyed this series. Honestly, it was the animation style that convinced me to give it a shot, and I’m glad I did. I’m an adult animation fan, but this is the first official anime I’ve ever watched. I really enjoyed the art style and will definitely check out more in the future.
I’ll end this review with a quick list of some of my favorite changes featured in the Scott Pilgrim show versus the film.
Ramona! She’s fully fleshed out in this show and skates straight away from the manic pixie dream girl trope.
KNIVES! Oh my gosh, what a badass. She has a fantastic plot where she ends up as a valued member of Sex Bob-omb, and it’s so fun to watch. I love that girl.
More Wallace! Who doesn’t love Wallace? Kieran Culkin is brilliant as Wallace and is featured in every episode. I love that man, and I love this character.
Less Scott —- SUE ME, I’M SORRY.
Better Scott —- The Scott we see is consistently sweet and treats Ramona (and Knives) as human beings. We love to see it.
Have you watched Scott Pilgrim Takes Off? Were you a fan of this adaptation? Let me know in the comments!
Like a lot of modern day women, consuming true crime content is one of my guilty pleasures. I try to do this mindfully, avoiding any over sensationalized creators, stories, or pieces of media. (Looking at you, Ryan Murphy and Dahmer.) I listen to the Crime Junkie podcast every week, donate to Season of Justice, and sign petitions. The rule that I stick to when it comes to my own true crime consumption is that I want to walk away from a project and feel that I know more about the victim(s) than the perpetrator(s). That being said, I have certainly consumed my fair share of, let’s say, distasteful content. One of the main culprits of this subpar true crime content? Netflix.
Over the past few years, Netflix has become one of the main hubs for both true crime documentaries and docuseries. I love a good documentary (check out my Letterboxd to see some of my documentary picks) and have watched my fair share, ranging from white collar crime to serial killer investigations. However, I and other watchers have noticed a troubling pattern with Netflix and their true crime content. The streamer has a habit of drawing out stories into three, four, sometimes even five 45 minute episodes, devoting time to interviewing conspiracy theorists, indulging in meaningless speculation and often spending more time discussing the accused criminal rather than the victim of the crime.
Here, I’d like to discuss a few Netflix true crime docuseries I’ve watched over the years. For the full list of the true crime content I’ve watched on the streamer, check out my Letterboxd list.
*Spoilers ahead! Only keep reading ahead if you have already seen or aren’t planning to watch the following programs.*
Who Killed Jill Dando? (2023)
Jill Dando is the latest Netflix original that I watched, as I took advantage of the Thanksgiving holiday to check some things off my Netflix watchlist. This is a case that I knew next to nothing about. The series consists of three 45-50-minute episodes. The first half of the first episode looked into Jill herself, a famous television presenter in Great Britain. I was a little shocked at just how famous Jill was – after her death, people said she was their Diana! Jill was murdered on her own doorstep in the spring of 1999 and her case remains unsolved. I thought this series was decently well done. I learned a lot about Jill and her career. Throughout all three episodes, they showed a lot of footage of Jill, never letting you forget about the vibrant life that was violently taken away on a normal spring day in ‘99. That said, nearly the entire third episode was spent on the man who originally spent time in prison for Jill’s murder. It was a lot of back and forth between the police who put the man behind bars and the man himself. I believe this case would have been served better as an hour-and-a-half documentary – the three episodes got cluttered, and the series lost its heart by the end.
Do I recommend Jill Dando? Yes, actually. If, like me, you’ve never heard of this case, give it a watch.
Image courtesy of: The Independent
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021)
The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel dives into the case of Elisa Lam, a young Canadian tourist who was found dead on the roof of the Cecil Hotel in January 2013. The Cecil Hotel, located in Los Angeles, is notorious in the true crime community. The hotel is closely located to Skid Row and is stereotyped as being frequented by houseless people and criminals.
The disappearance of Lam and the discovery of her body have captivated the attention of millions around the world over the years. I knew a little bit about this case before I watched the series. The Crime Junkie podcast released an episode about Lam in 2018, detailing her past struggle with mental illness and the solo trip that she took to California in January of 2013. It’s been confirmed by Lam’s family that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression and was appropriately medicated by her team of doctors for the illnesses. Unfortunately, Lam had a history of not being consistent with her medication, leading to scary side effects, including hallucinations. In the end, after being missing for several weeks, Lam’s body was found in a water tank on top of the Cecil Hotel. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning, and her toxicology report found that she was undermedicated.
The Vanishing dives into Lam’s case throughout four episodes, mixing her story with background information on the hotel. On a grading scale, I would give this series a C. I have watched this series twice over the years and found it interesting each time. However, each time I’ve watched, I’ve been rubbed the wrong way by the inclusion of “internet sleuths” in the later episodes. The filmmakers chose to include interviews with multiple people who were obsessed with Lam’s case, filming the “sleuths” making their way into the hotel to “investigate.” This inclusion led their filmmakers down a conspiracy pipeline, taking an entire episode to sort it out. I don’t think this was necessary. While I do think it’s important to clear up conspiracy theories in general, the one’s features in this series have already been disproven. Their inclusion can only lead to more viewers potentially latching onto these theories, taking attention away from the facts of the case.
Do I recommend The Vanishing? That depends. If you don’t know about Lam’s case or the history of the Cecil Hotel, I think it’s a decent starting point. If you already know about one or both topics, I say skip. Overall, I believe this series sensationalizes Lam’s story and puts the spotlight on the wrong people to keep viewers interested.
Image courtesy of: The Crime Wire
The next time you see Netflix advertise a splashy new true crime docuseries, I highly recommend checking out the case before turning on episode one. Check to see if Netflix secured the blessing of the victim’s family for the series. If you think the series is diving into conspiracy territory, don’t hesitate to skip ahead or turn the program off altogether. Consume true crime responsibly and respectfully. Conduct research and make your own viewing decisions, but do so with the victim and their family at the front of your mind.
There’s one reason and one reason only why I have a soft spot for Topher Grace – in my mind, he will always be Eric Forman. That ‘70s Show is one of my favorite sitcoms of all time, boasting a young cast that the series launched into stardom. Who hasn’t seen a meme of Kitty drinking a margarita from her blender or of Red threatening to put his foot in someone’s ass? The original series is a classic for a reason.
In 2021, following the original series enjoying a boost in popularity due to the success on streaming platforms, Netflix announced that it had ordered a spin-off series titled That ‘90s Show. In the announcement, it was confirmed that Kurtwood Smith (Red) and Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty) would reprise their roles from the original series.
With the spin-off announcement came a familiar question. Was this show really necessary?
Since the 2010s, the film and television industry has been attempting to revive old IP for new audiences. A few television examples include: And Just Like That…, Charmed, Will & Grace, Fuller House, Party Down and iCarly.
Reboots and spin-offs can be a mixed bag. Take And Just Like That… as an example. The Sex & The City revival series premiered on HBO Max (now Max) in 2021. Head to TikTok or Threads after a new episode and you’ll see countless complaints about how the old characters don’t seem the same, how the new characters are dragging the show down or how the dialogue is cringey. Compare that to the iCarly revival series on Paramount+. The show was released in 2021 and has aired three seasons, with more on the way. Fan consensus on TikTok and other social media platforms shows that audiences of both the original series and the reboot are fans of the revival. They enjoy seeing Carly and the gang take on new, more adult, adventures.
On a scale of And Just Like That… to iCarly (2021), where does That ‘90s Show fall? In my opinion, somewhere in the middle.
That ‘90s Show premiered in January of this year. The series follows Leia Forman, the daughter of Eric Forman and Donna Pincotti of That ‘70s Show. In the pilot, we see Leia accompany her parents to Point Place, WI in July of 1995 to visit her grandparents. While there, she meets Gwen, a young teenager living in the house next door to Red and Kitty. They become fast friends and Gwen introduces Leia to the rest of her friends – Jay Kelso (yes, of *that* Kelso family), Ozzie, Nikki and Nate. Hijinks ensue and Leia tells her parents that she wants to stay in Point Place for the rest of the summer. Cue the next nine episodes.
That ‘90s Show is fine. It has some laughs, shows some character development and packs enough nostalgia for the original series into each episode to keep you watching. I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a little disappointed, though. I was expecting a bit more edgier humor, similar to the original series. A fatal mistake that the show makes, in my opinion, is the age of the new set of characters. Leia turns 15 in episode six, a plot that startled me. I assumed that each of the characters had to be at least 16. To think that for four episodes we watched a 14 year old drink her first beer, smoke from her first bong and kiss multiple boys? Call me a prude, but 14 is a bit young for all of that. The writers were clearly betting on getting more seasons, a bet that did pay off.
The show was renewed for a second season in February of this year. The second season will have more episodes, up to 16 from their 10 episode first season.
With all this said, is That ‘90s Show a worthy successor to That ‘70s Show or another ill-advised reboot? I don’t think it’s either.
That ‘70s Show is a superior series in almost every way. The scripts were funnier, the cast had more chemistry and the humor was edgier. The difference between a show written for network television versus a show written for streaming is on full display when you compare these two shows.
But I also think that That ‘90s Show serves a purpose. It fills a gap in the current market – a sitcom focused on teens. Teens today have enough dramas, from Euphoria to The Summer I Turned Pretty. And, as mentioned earlier, the show has enough nostalgia for the original series to keep older viewers’ attention.
If you’re an avid fan of the original series, I do recommend giving That ‘90s Show a chance. Honestly, it’s worth watching the pilot alone to see Eric, Donna, Kelso and Jackie. You can watch the first season on Netflix now.
Coined by Deadline in October of 2022 as a “streaming shocker,” the news of Girls5Eva, a Peacock original, moving to Netflix for its third season was a welcome surprise to many fans.
The musical-comedy series, starring Sara Bareillis, Busy Phillips, Paula Pell and Renee Elise Goldberry, premiered in May of 2021 as one of Peacock’s first original comedies. The series was created by Meredith Scardino, a renowned comedy writer, and boasts Tina Fey as an executive producer. Ashley Park guest stars throughout the series as the fifth member of the original Girls5Eva lineup, who passed away in an infinity pool accident in 2004.
The first season of the series follows the surviving members of Girls5Eva as they attempt to relaunch the group. Known for one hit song, “Famous 5Eva,” they are brought back into contemporary pop culture when a rapper (coined Lil’ Stinker) samples “Famous 5Eva” in his new single. The sample is a shock to the women, who haven’t been in the music industry in years.
Dawn, played by Bareillis, is a New York City mom, working in her brother’s Italian restaurant. Summer, played by Phillips, is one-half of a Christian power couple (#SummerAndKev) and spends her days being ignored by her social media influencer tween and former boy band member husband. Gloria, played in the present by Paula Pell, is a successful dentist with her own practice. Finally, Wickie, played by Elise Goldberry pretends to be a successful entrepreneur online, but in reality makes her living shooting geese at an airport.
The women band together to reignite the group and take control of their lives. The series follows the four of them as they grapple with relationship issues, money insecurity and mom shaming.
The show was renewed by Peacock for a second season, which premiered in May of 2022. The second season takes more risks, has more guest stars and has some true banger songs. But that wasn’t enough for Peacock, who handed the show over to Netflix.
Why does Girls5Eva deserve their third season? Here are just a few reasons.
The immensely talented cast gets more time to shine. All four actors are criminally underrated and each episode they get to show off their talent and chemistry. I’m excited to watch the girls get into more mischief in season 3.
The sometimes absurd, sometimes touching, mostly amazing music. My favorites from season 2 are “Larry’s Song,” “At The Beep” and “Bend Not Break (written by Bareillis!)
The guest stars. I’ll be honest, I’ve never really cared for the Property Brothers. But their completely unhinged appearance in the season 2 finale makes me respect them.
Catch the first two seasons of Girls5Eva on Peacock (in the U.S., on Netflix internationally) and keep your eyes out for the third season on Netflix.
poptalkwithrach 