Prince Harry's Netflix Nightmare: Duke's Polo Documentary Slammed as 'Proof Money Can’t Buy Taste' With Dismal Audience Score
Another one bites the dust for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix deal as 'POLO' tanks in ratings and audience scores.
Prince Harry's five-part documentary POLO proved to be the Duke's second flop in a row for Netflix following 2023's mostly forgotten Heart of Invictus.
A PR exec told Newsweek the "pompous portrayal" of the elite sport is "proof that money can't buy good content" as the series scored a "flat out embarrassing" 24 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
In just eight days, the new show failed to connect with viewers, just as many royal and PR analysts predicted.
One viewer on X wrote, "They honestly think people want to see a nonfiction series about polo? Unless you can play it in high school most people don't give a s---."
The latest Duke and Duchess of Sussex endeavor takes viewers into the world of the 2024 U.S. Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Fla. The five-part docuseries attempts to reframe polo as a sport of grit and community, distancing it from its longstanding reputation as a pastime for the ultra-rich.
Showrunner Miloš Bala? praised Harry and Meghan for their active involvement, calling them "wonderful to work with" and highlighting their commitment to reshaping perceptions of polo. "Harry’s expertise and Meghan’s fresh perspective combined to tell a story that’s both authentic and engaging," he shared.
The series features players, including Nacho Figueras and Adolfo Cambiaso, showcasing the dedication and familial bonds within the sport.
While the series captures the beauty and complexity of polo, the criticism seems to be outweighing the praise.
Another X user wrote, "How out of touch can they be? A series about polo during a cost-of-living crisis feels tone-deaf" while another said, "It’s glossy, but who is this for? Most people can’t relate to this world."
Mainstream critics echoed these sentiments, with The Telegraph dismissing the show as a "dull indulgence" and The Guardian labeling it "unintentionally comedic."
Despite its criticisms, POLO has moments of emotional resonance for some fans, but one viewer felt "it is just manufactured garbage from an ex-actress who seems to think people can't tell how fake she is."
While some fans found this touching, others accused the couple of staging these moments for the cameras. "Is this a documentary or a vanity project?" one viewer questioned on Instagram.
Royal commentator Phil Dampier weighed in, saying, "It’s hard to see how a documentary about a sport only wealthy people play will resonate with everyday viewers."
Regardless of reception, the series reflects Harry and Meghan’s ongoing effort to carve out a space in media that aligns with their passions. The Duchess of Sussex will be the next royal rebel to face viewer sensibilities when her long-discussed cooking and lifestyle series drops on the streamer reportedly in early 2025.
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