Netflix released the lifestyle television series “With Love, Meghan” March 4. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, continues to defy royal family norms as we see the former actress on Netflix, tying on an apron and returning to her television roots. Thanks to the binge-watching of viewers like me, the eight-episode series made the streaming giant’s “Top 10” list in the United States within a mere day of being available. People love to hate on the series, but I will shamelessly say that it has inspired me to revamp my own lazy-girl lifestyle into something, admittedly, still lazy but more aesthetic. 

“With Love, Meghan” follows the Duchess as she hosts friends and celebrities at a California estate, sharing crafts and recipes, as well as her resourcefulness and appreciation for nature, with the audience. I wanted to reach through my television screen and grab these quaint traits from her, especially her unquenchable zest for life, recently stolen from my own by schoolwork. Meghan has been known for her exuberance since her days pioneering “The Tig”, a lifestyle, travel, and food blog that was shut down when she married into the royal family. Watching her revive this, in a sense, through the series was a much-needed reprieve from the mid-semester slump that had dragged me into the depths of unimaginable demotivation. For the college student, life can feel like an endless cycle of study, class, work. Sleep is on the backburner and meals are less than nourishing. I have been desperate to feel more excitement in embracing my everyday life. Something about watching the Duchess of Sussex strap on a beekeeping suit and harvest beeswax to turn into candles alongside Daniel Martin, the Global Director of Artistry at Tatcha, lit a fire under my ass to get up and do something. Is that normal?

While I saw the show as an inspiring push to practice a whimsical lifestyle, others saw it as the lackluster effort of a desperate duchess who wants to make her glamorous life appear attainable. On a viral TikTok compilation of the most “insane” moments from the show, user @banana_clips wrote, “I feel like she just discovered Pinterest.” The comment received 31.5k likes. While humorous, the punchline is packed with truth: In 2025, it sure is difficult to find the patience, grit and energy needed to produce Meghan’s Pinterest-worthy projects and lifestyle. 

Contrary to other critics, I admire the effort that the series makes to be relatable. When she creates the beeswax candles with Daniel Martin, she notes that viewers who are not beekeepers can also buy beeswax on Amazon. I had to giggle at this attempt to cater to her audience, but I, unlike @banana_clips, am not mad about it. I did not take her comment as out-of-touch. Let us not forget that 1) she was not always a rich royal, and 2) nobody logs into Netflix to watch a woman mold beeswax candles with items bought from Amazon. That is what a YouTube video is for. 

Maybe more homey than honeycomb, Meghan handcrafts recipes that are aesthetically pleasing but also healthy and simple, like her single-skillet pasta. Her practical utilization of produce reminded me to actually use what is in my fridge instead of letting it wilt for the umpteenth time, a mistake every college student can relate to– Duchess or not. 

Of course, I must mention the edible flowers that she daintily decorates basically all of her food with. It may seem silly to sprinkle sunflower petals on avocado toast, but when my life is gloomy and my stomach empty, I will take advantage of anything that brings me a moment of cheer–even if that thing is putting edible flowers on everything I eat. One parody of the series from TikTok user Kai Cameron makes fun of Meghan’s unique habit. Regardless of whether the video was made tastefully or not, the comment section is filled with spite toward the Duchess. But if readers know anything about her, they’ll know that unnecessary hate in the media is something that she is no stranger to and not afraid to sprinkle flowers on.

While people continue to hate the Duchess of Sussex, I will continue to enjoy “With Love, Meghan.” Maybe my motivation to make crudités after watching the series will cook up motivation to do my homework. A lazy girl can dream, right?