Breaking News: Question Of The Day Like Serious , How Authentic Can With Love, Meghan Really Be?…. Check In

Meghan Markle is so back. No, not because she’s rejoining the Royal Family or finally launching her mysterious jam brand. Rather, the Duchess of Sussex recently returned to Instagram and announced that her new lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, is premiering on Netflix on January 15.

As someone who is fascinated with pop culture and homebody hobbies in equal measure, I’ve been thinking a lot about this upcoming series. How does she get her floral arrangements looking so polished and professional? Only time will tell. Should I also take up beekeeping? Probably not. And, on a slightly skeptical note, how authentic is With Love, Meghan really going to be? After all, the Netflix series isn’t even filmed at Markle’s home. Reports claim that the show’s California coastal setting is an $8 million Montecito home that belongs to philanthropists Tom and Sherrie Cipolla.

I may be a sucker for the “Markle Sparkle”—a healthy mix of quiet luxury and coastal grandmother—but some critics have pointed out that the With Love, Meghan trailer looks very…staged. The series’ picture-perfect backdrop seems more like a sterile movie set than a real home—a far cry from the “pursuit of joy” Markle promises to imbue into each episode.

Still, Markle’s legions of fans are eagerly anticipating the series, as it’s sure to provide some much-needed comfort watching. (Considering the year we have ahead, that could be exactly what we all need.) The pristine, 4,500-square-foot home complete with avocado trees, citrus groves, Caesarstone countertops, and a 48-inch Thermador range could’ve been plucked right from a Nancy Meyers movie. Watching Markle gather veggies from the garden, bake cakes, and host famous friends, we can enjoy some low-stakes entertainment—and perhaps pick up a few lifestyle tips along the way.

Also, we can’t be too mad at Markle for not filming the show at her real home. Since Harry and Meghan also filmed their 2022 Netflix docuseries in another rented property, this is par for the course. And when you consider how invasive the paparazzi (and threats of intruders) have been toward the twosome—it justifies the decision. Plus, by setting the series in a neutral space, we can focus less on Markle’s surroundings and more on what she has to say.