The first episode of With Love, Meghan Markle delivers an unexpectedly revealing moment, courtesy of her longtime makeup artist, Daniel Martin. At least, he was a longtime friend before unwittingly exposing what might be the most brutally honest remark of the entire series.
As Meghan glides through yet another carefully curated and self-promotional project, Daniel makes an appearance, seemingly to shower her with praise. And praise he does—until, mid-fluff, a moment of unfiltered truth slips through. "I feel like this is all fake," he blurts out. Ding, ding, ding—we have a winner. The most honest statement to emerge from Meghan’s Netflix venture comes not from a critic or outsider, but from someone within her own circle.
The episode opens with Meghan setting the scene in a picture-perfect, conveniently rented home. She flits around arranging flowers, stirring mystery salts, and meticulously labeling cellophane bags, embodying the ultimate DIY queen. Yet, something feels off. Enter body language expert Imbal Honigman, who quickly dissects Meghan’s mannerisms, noting their unnatural and overly rehearsed quality. Her exaggerated smile and ballerina-like movements don’t radiate warmth but rather a self-conscious performance. And then there’s the nervous finger-tapping—an undeniable giveaway.
When Daniel finally arrives, one would expect a heartfelt reunion between old friends—the kind where people genuinely acknowledge each other. Not in Meghan’s world. She barely looks up from whatever busywork she’s pretending to do, offering only a lackluster "Oh, hello," without so much as meeting his gaze. If this is how she greets her closest friends, one can only imagine how she interacts with her Amazon delivery guy.
And then there's the cake. Poor Daniel is handed a laughably tiny sliver—yes, sliver—as if he’s being rationed dessert at a royal banquet. He looks more in need of a rescue than a treat. But the true highlight of the episode remains his unintentional truth bomb. Whether out of exhaustion or sheer honesty, he utters, "I feel like this is all fake." Never have truer words been spoken within the Meghan-verse. For a split second, you can almost see the wheels turning in her head, the flicker of panic, the flash of irritation. Then, as quickly as it appeared, she regains control and resumes the charade.
Honigman also catches another telling moment. While speaking about Daniel’s presence in her life, Meghan momentarily trails off, her gaze shifting, as if realizing she may have let something slip. Is she mentally recalculating? Weighing whether Daniel’s loyalty is still intact or if, like so many before him, he might one day spill the tea?
As the episode drags on, one thing becomes painfully obvious: Meghan’s inner circle is anything but impressive. These aren’t deep, meaningful friendships; they are transactional relationships, built on convenience and mutual benefit. The interactions feel hollow, the conversations uninspired. Even in her eyes, there’s no warmth, no genuine connection—just calculated engagement. And if even her closest friends struggle to muster enthusiasm around her, what does that say about her standing these days?
By the end of the episode, Meghan’s carefully crafted mask has slipped more times than she likely intended. From forced grins to tepid reunions to a friend inadvertently exposing the entire operation as inauthentic, With Love, Meghan doesn’t play out like a lifestyle show—it unfolds as an unintentional exposé.
