Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix docuseries, "Harry & Meghan," has been nominated for a Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) award, marking another milestone in the couple's post-royal career. The six-part series, which aired in December 2022, has been nominated in the best-streaming non-fiction series category, alongside other notable contenders such as "Prehistoric Planet 2," "Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss," "The 1619 Project," "The Reluctant Traveller with Eugene Levy," and "Rennervations."
The series, directed by two-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus, debuted with three episodes on December 8, 2022, and quickly broke documentary ratings records for Netflix. Royal expert Kinsey Schofield acknowledged the success of the series, stating, "We have to give credit where credit is due. Analytically, it is likely considered a success by all parties involved. Even if it was morbid curiosity that attracted the audience. They were still watching."
However, the series has not been without its share of controversy. Some critics argue that the docuseries has further damaged the Sussexes' image as philanthropists. A YouGov survey of British citizens conducted on December 7 and 8 revealed that 64% had an unfavorable view of Meghan Markle, and 59% of Prince Harry. Among older Britons, the disapproval ratings were even higher, with 79% and 84% having unfavorable views of the duke and duchess, respectively.
Royal expert Shannon Felton Spence said, "The issue isn't the docuseries in isolation. It's the series of royal family-focused content that has all but ruined the Sussexes' reputations as serious philanthropists." She added, "Awards don't mean anything. If awards signaled seriousness, Harry and Meghan wouldn't be in the spot they are at the moment. They have been given awards all over the place, and it has not done anything to enhance their image. If anything it has exposed how meaningless these honors are."
Despite the criticism, the nomination is seen as a significant achievement for the Sussexes, who signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Netflix in 2020. The deal has already resulted in the release of "Live to Lead" in December 2022, and another docuseries, "Heart of Invictus," is set to be released this summer.
Royal author Christopher Andersen said the HCA award is "as much a nod" to Garbus as it is to the Sussexes, "who made it very clear they had given Garbus the free rein to tell their story." He added, "But look, you've got to hand it to Harry and Meghan - they know how to grab us by the throat and hold our attention, and in Hollywood, that's pretty much all that counts."
As the Sussexes continue to navigate their new roles in the entertainment industry, the nomination serves as a reminder of their ability to captivate audiences, despite the controversies that surround them.
