In times like these, satire has never been more essential, and South Park remains the master of the art. The moment Meghan Markle’s latest Netflix venture, With Love, Meghan, dropped, the internet exploded with calls for Trey Parker and Matt Stone to do what they do best—mercilessly dismantle it with their signature animated takedown.
Fans who still revel in the hilarity of the Worldwide Privacy Tour episode from 2023 are practically begging for round two, and honestly, who can blame them? If ever there was a show begging for South Park’s razor-sharp mockery, this is it. A so-called lifestyle series featuring Meghan Markle playing the role of Montecito’s Martha Stewart? That’s comedy gold just waiting to be mined.
The premise alone is laughable. Meghan warmly invites viewers into her world of homemade jam, overpriced party favors, and, of course, deep and introspective musings—on herself. The setting? A $5 million rented mansion, because nothing screams relatable like a home with more bathrooms than the average person has rooms. Each 30-minute episode attempts to paint Meghan as the ultimate domestic goddess, but critics have already shredded it, calling it vacuous, pointless, and so bad that it loops back around to being entertaining—like watching a slow-motion car crash on the highway. Some might argue that Meghan and Harry have entered the "so bad it’s good" era of their careers, but is it really good if no one is watching? With dismal viewership numbers and brutal reviews, even royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has suggested that this could be the couple’s defining moment—though it's looking more like a breaking point than a breakthrough.
Naturally, the internet wasted no time summoning the kings of satire. “South Park, we need you now!” pleaded one desperate user, while another quipped, “Call it Worldwide Disaster Tour and let the comedy write itself.” Not a bad idea, considering Meghan and Harry’s recent streak of flops—including that infamous polo documentary no one asked for—has left them as an endless source of unintentional humor. Their first South Park takedown wasn’t just funny; it was a cultural event. The now-iconic “sorority girl, actress, influencer, victim” label slapped onto Meghan’s character was so brutally accurate that even her most devoted fans struggled to defend her. The fallout? A sharp decline in their popularity in the U.S., proving that animated satire can be more effective than even the most damning Newsweek exposé.
Now, as Meghan attempts to pivot from failed podcaster to failed lifestyle influencer, it’s impossible not to picture South Park already crafting its next episode. Imagine Meghan hosting an over-the-top dinner party, meticulously instructing viewers on how to slice strawberries into heart shapes, while a monotone narrator assures the audience that, yes, this is a real show on Netflix and, no, they’re not hallucinating. Cut to Harry, standing in the background with a dazed expression, clutching a polo mallet and silently questioning every decision that led him here. As Guardian TV writer Stuart Heritage put it, this could very well be the last thing Meghan ever makes for Netflix. “Kiss the Netflix deal goodbye,” he declared—perhaps the kindest review she’s received so far.
Meanwhile, Netflix, ever patient but undoubtedly exasperated, must be wondering why they ever inked this deal in the first place. Back when The Crown was at its peak and the Sussexes seemed like a golden investment, it made sense. But now? The shine has worn off. Spotify pulled the plug, book sales are dwindling, and their Archewell foundation holds about as much cultural influence as a small-town PTA meeting. So, what’s next for the most self-parodying couple on the planet? If With Love, Meghan is any indication, another round of painfully awkward reinvention attempts is inevitable.
And so, we wait. Will South Park swoop in to deliver the parody we’re all craving, or has reality officially outpaced satire? Either way, one thing is certain—Meghan Markle’s accidental comedy show is far from over.
