The latest Netflix numbers for the second half of 2023 have been released, and the results are far from impressive. "Heart of Invictus" managed to scrape together a mere 300,000 views.
You might expect a documentary centered on veterans to attract at least a million viewers, but it fell drastically short. Similarly, the "Harry and Meghan" documentary pulled in 1.9 million views—certainly not the worst, but far from stellar.
Questions are also looming over "Meet Me at the Lake." Meghan, will this project come to fruition, or is it destined to be another low-performing endeavor? With such dismal numbers, one wonders if Netflix would even bother.
The biggest flop, however, is "Live to Lead," which garnered only 100,000 views, marking it as the most significant failure of the period. The first half of the year didn't fare any better, indicating a consistent lack of audience engagement. The job of bringing in viewers has clearly not been met.
One might find it surprising that "Heart of Invictus," with its focus on veterans, only managed 300,000 views. It's disappointing that the attempt to highlight veterans' stories was overshadowed by personal narratives, which did not resonate with the audience.
Amid these poor numbers, King Charles III reportedly hopes that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix deal continues for a crucial reason. The couple signed a five-year deal with the streaming giant in 2020, shortly after stepping down as senior royals. This lucrative contract is set to expire next year. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams suggests that both King Charles and Prince William no longer trust Harry and Meghan. He believes the King is keen on renewing the deal to prevent further exposes of royal life.
Fitzwilliams told The Mirror that with Netflix no longer producing "The Crown" as they once did, their interest in the Sussexes might wane. Losing this contract could spell financial trouble for the couple's Archewell foundation, as their exposes have generated significant revenue, but other ventures have not.
Discussing the Sussexes' trust issues, Fitzwilliams noted that following the Oprah interview, the Netflix documentary, and Harry’s memoir "Spare," the royal family’s popularity suffered. The Sussexes are seen as having gone rogue, eroding trust within the family. This lack of trust is unsurprising given the personal revelations made by Harry and Meghan, particularly those in Harry's memoir.
Royal biographer Robert Hardman echoes these sentiments, suggesting that reconciliation between King Charles and Prince Harry remains distant. Speaking at the Hay Festival in Wales, Hardman highlighted that trust is at the core of the ongoing feud, especially after Harry divulged intimate family details in his book. Many, especially Prince William, remain hurt by these revelations. The author speculated that King Charles finds the ongoing drama deeply unsettling, further complicating any hopes for family harmony.
