If there were ever undeniable proof that a streaming giant had grown weary of its once-prized asset, it would come in the form of peanut butter pretzels.
This moment of absurdity unfolds in Meghan Markle’s latest Netflix series, delivering a scene so trivial and devoid of meaning that it could only be an act of deliberate sabotage. In the very first episode, Meghan is seen preparing a guest cottage for her close friend and makeup artist, Daniel Martin. But rather than offering heartfelt conversation or sharing deep reflections on her privileged life, she instead engages in the meticulous task of transferring peanut butter pretzels from one plastic bag to another.
Netflix’s intentions become crystal clear. This is a stroke of twisted brilliance—fulfilling contractual obligations in a way that guarantees maximum spectacle. They knew exactly what they were doing. The audience wouldn’t tune in because they admired Meghan’s approach to hospitality; they would watch for the sheer spectacle of it all. Hate-watching still counts as engagement, after all, and in the grand game of streaming numbers, it may even be the more lucrative form of viewership.
Now, let’s examine the scene of the crime—or rather, the kitchen. Picture this: Meghan Markle, once a senior royal, once standing on the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside the Queen, is now engaged in the high-stakes operation of...snack decanting. A moment so surreal it could have been lifted straight from a parody sketch, except this isn’t satire—it’s reality. Netflix, perhaps with an air of mischief, granted Meghan exactly what she asked for: her own show, stripped of the glossy PR machine that once framed her public image. The result? A bland, cringeworthy spectacle that reveals, without strategic curation, there’s not much substance beneath the surface. She even eats from the bag before passing the snacks along to her friend, as if this gesture of generosity might redeem the sheer pointlessness of the moment.
What makes this even more amusing is the artificiality of it all. That impeccably arranged pantry? Not hers. Those carefully placed snacks? Staged. The entire scene is as manufactured as an influencer’s #MorningRoutine. The illusion of authenticity crumbles under the weight of its own ridiculousness. One can’t help but wonder—did Netflix orchestrate this as a masterful act of reputational sabotage? By airing this unintentional comedy, they may have sealed Meghan’s fate in Hollywood. Who in the industry would rush to work with someone whose most memorable on-screen moment involves reorganizing store-bought snacks?
There’s an almost poetic irony in this downfall. A woman who once leveraged royal fame to carve out a media empire has now become the unwitting star of a glorified pantry makeover segment. And the best part? Even her most loyal supporters seemingly couldn’t bear it. Reports suggest that handpicked fans found the screening excruciating, with some leaving overwhelmed by secondhand embarrassment. Imagine assembling an audience of your biggest devotees, only for them to exit the theater cringing.
From Duchess to court jester, from royal engagements to snack arrangements—Netflix didn’t just throw Meghan under the bus. They handed her a first-class ticket, front-row seating, and a complimentary bag of peanut butter pretzels for the ride.
