Fresh humiliation for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as their 'Polo' documentary fails to make Netflix's top ten in any market

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix documentary Polo, which dropped on December 10, has faced criticism for its lackluster reception. The five-part series, where the couple are listed as executive producers, did not make the top ten in key markets like Britain, the US, or other regions. The show has been widely panned by both audiences and critics, with poor ratings and reviews. Unlike many Netflix releases, Polo did not receive a promotional poster campaign, relying only on a trailer released on YouTube.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pictured at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Wellington, Florida. Clips of them at the charity tournament were featured in the couple's latest flop documentary 'Polo'

Prince Harry, who has been involved in polo for much of his life, offered a brief statement on Netflix's website, describing the series as an "unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look" into the sport, highlighting the passion and grit behind elite polo players. However, despite his enthusiasm, the documentary has struggled to gain traction, drawing comparisons to a more reality TV-style production, with little involvement from the Sussexes beyond the opening and final episodes.

Prince Harry's statement about the series describes it as offering a rare and in-depth look at the world of polo, focusing on the passion and intensity of the sport. However, fans of the royal couple may be disappointed to learn that they only appear in the opening and final episodes, filmed at a charity polo tournament in Wellington, Florida.

Prince Harry is pictured playing polo at the event in Florida in April 2024

Reports suggest that Harry and Meghan had limited influence over the direction of the documentary. According to a source cited by Closer magazine, the series was shaped largely by the producers, who aimed to appeal to a broader audience with a reality TV-like approach. This limited their control over the final product, which may explain some of the disconnect between the couple's vision and the audience's reception.

The source suggests that Polo was largely shaped by the producers, who prioritized making the series appeal to a broader, mass-market audience. As a result, the series adopted a reality TV-style approach, which may not have aligned with Prince Harry and Meghan's original vision.

The royal couple kiss after Prince Harry's team won the Royal Salute Polo Challenge

Critics, like Eric Schiffer, have voiced strong disapproval, describing the documentary as a "pompous portrayal of privilege" that feels inauthentic. Schiffer suggested that the show’s focus on elite polo players—coupled with the royal connection—makes it unrelatable to most viewers, alienating the general public. The portrayal of the sport, with dramatic moments like injuries and rivalries, has been seen as an attempt to make polo more sensational but ultimately reinforcing the image of an "entitled" world that most people cannot relate to. This, according to Schiffer, risks making the sport even less appealing to everyday audiences.

Netflix has not yet responded to inquiries about the viewership figures for Polo. Meanwhile, the series has drawn criticism for its portrayal of polo and its tone. The Guardian’s Stuart Heritage gave the show a two-star review, describing it as an "unintentionally hilarious profile of the world's stupidest sport." He mocked the bizarre aspects of the documentary, such as the use of confetti-filled balloons to choose fixtures and the overly dramatic portrayal of privileged players who become emotional after losses. Heritage likened it to a spoof, suggesting the show inadvertently undercut the sport it was meant to highlight.

'Polo' is the third documentary from Prince Harry and Meghan to disappoint both viewers and critics

Similarly, The Times criticized the series, stating that Prince Harry "made a TV show only he would watch." The review described it as "tedious" and "utterly unrelatable," further emphasizing how disconnected the show seemed from broader audiences. These reviews reflect the mixed reception of the series, with many viewers finding it hard to connect with its portrayal of polo and the elite world surrounding it.

Polo's poor reception continues a pattern of disappointing streaming projects for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The series currently holds a 27% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, underscoring its struggle to connect with viewers. This is part of a broader trend of their Netflix ventures not performing as expected, despite the couple securing a lucrative $100 million deal with the streaming giant in September 2020.

Their second documentary, Live to Lead, which was released in late December 2022, also fared poorly. Featuring interviews with notable figures such as the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and climate activist Greta Thunberg, it has a dismal 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The negative reception of both projects highlights the challenge the Sussexes have faced in gaining consistent viewership and critical acclaim for their content, raising questions about the future of their Netflix partnership.

Heart of Invictus, released in the summer following Live to Lead, also failed to find a strong audience despite its connection to the Invictus Games, a cause close to Prince Harry's heart. Like Polo, it did not crack Netflix's top ten list and received negative reviews from critics. The documentary, which followed competitors in the Invictus Games, struggled to generate the same level of interest as some of the couple's other projects.

In contrast, Harry & Meghan, the 2022 documentary about their royal departure, was a significant success. It became one of Netflix's biggest documentary debuts, amassing 81.6 million hours of viewing time in its first four days. The high viewership marked a notable exception to the pattern of their more recent releases, positioning Harry & Meghan as their most successful project to date. This success has raised questions about the couple's future content, especially given the mixed reception of subsequent projects.

There has been ongoing uncertainty about whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix deal will be renewed, especially after their multi-million dollar Spotify contract ended in 2023. This has raised questions about the future of their content with Netflix, given the mixed reception of their recent projects.

One of the projects still generating buzz is Meghan's cooking show, which is expected to celebrate "the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship." However, there is no official release date yet, and a Netflix insider recently told MailOnline that the show might not ultimately be released. This adds to the uncertainty surrounding the Sussexes' future in the entertainment industry, following a series of underwhelming releases despite their lucrative deals.