Critics Are All Saying The Same Thing About Meghan Markle’s Festive Netflix Special

Posted on 03/12/2025 by Boris Clair

Meghan Markle’s much-derided Netflix lifestyle series may have come to an end – but it’s going out in a big way with one last instalment.

Yes, Wednesday morning saw the arrival of With Love, Meghan: Holiday Special, the first (and, presumably, only) festive special in the Duchess of Sussex’s two-season project which has seen her offering tips on everything from cooking and crafting to gardening and generally being a great first.

Seasons one and two of With Love, Meghan were slammed by critics upon their release earlier this year, with many reviews claiming that the show felt out of step with what’s going on in the world, particularly in light of the current social and economic climate.

And – surprise, surprise! – the Holiday Special has also been met with a similarly lukewarm response.

Here’s a selection of what critics are saying about With Love, Meghan’s seasonal swansong…

“That, mercifully, is the end. I feel both offended and harmed, but in the spirit of goodwill I will add a star to my rating in gratitude for the fact that at least we are safe now until next year. God bless us, every one.”

“I said a little prayer before watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. Give me the strength, I muttered, to endure what is to come, and the grace not to give in to despair. I’ve been struggling since the trailer landed a couple of weeks ago, because it opened with Meghan, in wellies, dancing around Christmas trees shouting, ‘Hey-oh!’. Now the whole festive episode has arrived and it is more than we could have hoped for, or done to deserve.”

Naomi Osaka pays Meghan Markle a visit in her new Holiday Celebration

“You’ll be reaching for the Christmas spirits – make mine a double – within the first five minutes, as Meghan talks us through the basics. ‘Once a year, you get to do the tree thing’. Advent calendars ‘are about having a surprise every day for 24 days until you get to Christmas’. ’Tis the season to wrap gifts. You don’t say!

“This is reminiscent of the advice given by Pippa Middleton in Celebrate, that seminal work of non-fiction produced by the Princess of Wales’s sister, which recommended serving turkey on Christmas Day and going stargazing at night-time because that’s when it’s dark.”

“It’s not a real special by any stretch, but some YouTube content or the radio that you might put on in the background as you do your tree or wrap your presents. White noise to dull the senses. It’s all a little Stepford Wives; not informative, fun, enjoyable or even aspirational.”

“Sometimes, people are given a platform because of who they are, rather than what they can bring, and With Love, Meghan gives me the same feeling as when I am around very wealthy people who think that making a salad with friends makes them ‘grounded’ and ‘relatable’. On the other hand, there’s something soothing, even enjoyable, about the show’s glossy inanity.”

“It’s hardly scintillating stuff, but Netflix has really hit its stride with this special episode of With Love, Meghan. They’re really leaning [into] the frantic energy of its star trying to crack puns without splashing hot oil or butter down her pristine cashmere sweaters. Honestly, the production team must be trolling Meghan here with increasingly bizarre and elaborate set-ups for her to impart hosting ‘hacks’. In fact, are they really hacks? They would make anyone actually hosting Christmas for a big group have a nervous breakdown before the canapes were served.”

With Love, Meghan and With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration are streaming now on Netflix.

Will The Beast In Me Get A Season 2? What We Know About The Netflix Show’s Future

Posted on 17/11/2025 by Boris Clair

This article contains spoilers for Netflix’s The Beast In Me.

Critics may not be unanimously sold on Netflix’s new thriller The Beast In Me, but that certainly hasn’t stopped people from bingeing the series in their droves.

Released on the platform last week, the eight-part mystery drama stars Homeland’s Claire Danes as a woman who begins to grow suspicious about her new next door neighbour, portrayed by Matthew Rhys.

At the time of writing, The Beast In Me was number one on Netflix’s list of most-watched shows in the UK, with those who’ve already binged it pondering whether the story could continue in some capacity.

With that in mind, we’ve got good news and bad news for fans of The Beast In Me hoping for more from the show…

So, will there be a season 2 of The Beast In Me on Netflix?

First, the bad. The Beast In Me is billed on Netflix as a “limited series”, and as anyone who’s now binge-watched all eight episodes will know, the story is a self-contained one that clearly wasn’t created with the intention of continuing the story.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean there couldn’t be more from the drama in the future, as Netflix shows like Beef and Monster were originally conceived as one-offs, only to be brought back when they proved popular with viewers.

Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys share the screen in The Beast In Me

So, given that The Beast In Me has already soared to the top of Netflix’s most-watched chart, it’s definitely not beyond the realm of possibility that the team behind it might look at bringing it back.

In fact, it’s something showrunner Howard Gordon has already expressed interest in…

What has the team behind The Beast In Me said about a possible season 2?

Asked about the possibility of more episodes in the future, Gordon told TV Insider: “The short answer is, I would say, sure […] I think there probably is a story there.”

But while – spoiler alert – Matthew Rhys would not be back for any future episodes, the showrunner also told TheWrap: “To the extent that Aggie is a writer who has been delivered to this next stage of her life, whatever that stage is… if there is a story, there might be more.”

He also teased: “I am tempted by the character of her grifter father in some way. We’ll see how the show does and if an idea comes. But I think they’d be open to more.”

Who else stars in the cast of The Beast In Me?

Besides Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys, the show features an impressive array of stars including…

Brittany Snow

Natalie Morales

Deirdre O’Connell

David Lyons

Tim Guinee

Hettienne Park

Bubba Weiler

Aleyse Shannon

Julie Ann Emery

Will Brill

Kate Burton

Bill Irwin

Leila George

Find out more about where you might have seen the stars of The Beast In Me before here.

The Beast In Me is now streaming on Netflix.

Psycho Actor Anthony Perkins’ Son Lays Into Monster Season 3

Posted on 24/10/2025 by Boris Clair

The son of actor Anthony Perkins has called out the inclusion of the Psycho star in the controversial Netflix series Monster.

Earlier this month, the third season of Monster began streaming, focussing on the horrific crimes of serial killer and grave-robber Ed Gein, whose actions inspired the murderous fictional characters in movies like The Texas Chainshaw Massacre, The Silence Of The Lambs and Psycho.

One episode centres around the creation of Psycho, with Tom Hollander and Joey Pollari playing its director and star, Alfred Hitchcock and Anthony Perkins.

Following its debut, the show received criticism from many viewers over the way the show hinted at a link between the latter and Ed Gein, because of the way the actor chose to conceal his sexuality publicly in his lifetime.

Speaking to TMZ, Anthony’s son Osgood Perkins (the director behind recent horror movies like Longlegs and The Monkey) claimed he “wouldn’t watch” the series “with a 10-foot pole”.

He also slammed streaming platforms for “glamourising” the true-crime genre and which he said is “increasingly devoid of context”, while lamenting that “the Netflix-isation of real pain” is “playing for the wrong team”.

Oz told People magazine last year that the way his parents concealed his father’s sexuality from him when he was growing up was part of the inspiration for his movie Longlegs.

“Everybody knew it, even my brother and I theoretically knew it, but we were never given any language for it,” he claimed.

“The idea that [my mother] could make up – not make up, it’s not a lie – but it’s like a cover, a storytime…”

He said that Longlegs became “the most baroque horror version of, ‘What’s going on in my household?’”, noting: “Every kid probably feels [that] to some greater or lesser extent. But if your father’s a public movie star and you don’t know who he is, that’s a little bit more profound.”

Despite the controversy around all three seasons of Monster so far, the show has continued to be popular with Netflix users, with a fourth currently in the works, based on another famous case from history.

Bridgerton Season 4 Release Date: Here’s How Long Fans Have To Wait Until The New Episodes

Posted on 13/10/2025 by Boris Clair

Bridgerton bosses have revealed that fans’ next trip to The Ton is mere months away.

It’s now been over a year since the latest instalment of the Netflix period drama, which broke from the order of the original novel series in order to bring fans the love story between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, played by fan-favourites Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan.

On Monday morning, Netflix shared an exciting preview video for season four, which revealed some good news and bad news for Bridgerton devotees.

First, the good news: Bridgerton will be back on our screens early next year.

Unfortunately, not all of the news is positive however, with Netflix once again making the decision to split the season in two, the first part of which will arrive on Thursday 29 January 2026, followed by a second drop four weeks later, on 26 February.

Watch the teaser for yourself below:

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It was previously confirmed that the new batch of episodes will focus on Benedict Bridgerton, portrayed in the first three seasons by Luke Thompson.

While Benedict has previously taken a somewhat more fast-and-loose approach to romance, the new season will see him falling in love with a new character, played by Yerin Ha, who meets him at a much-hyped masquerade ball.

An official Netflix synopsis previously teased: “The fourth season of Bridgerton turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict. Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down – until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball.”

Other new additions to the cast include Michelle Mao, Isabella Wei and Katie Leung, previously best known for her work as Cho Chang in the Harry Potter movies.

The first three seasons of Bridgerton, as well as the spin-off prequel series Queen Charlotte, are available to stream now on Netflix.

Monster Season 3 Faces Further Backlash Over Anthony Perkins Psycho Storyline

Posted on 09/10/2025 by Boris Clair

Unsurprisingly, the third season of Netflix’s controversial Monster anthology was faced with backlash from the get-go.

Ryan Murphy’s latest creation depicts the life and crimes of real-life serial killer Ed Gein, following previous seasons’ equally-controversial dramatisations of Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers’ crimes.

Straight away, reviewers panned the Netflix show as being “utterly devoid of morality” and pandering to “viewers’ basest instincts” with its graphic and violent portrayal of Gein’s crimes.

Needless to say, the controversy has also not exactly hindered the show becoming Netflix’s most-watched show in the UK at the time of writing.

In addition to the suggestion that the show “sensationalises” the heinous crimes committed by Gein, many viewers have also taken issue with Monster’s subplot involving the depiction of Anthony Perkins, the real-life actor who appeared in Psycho as Norman Bates, a character partially inspired by Gein.

Joey Pollari as Anthony Perkins and Tom Hollander as Alfred Hitchcock in Monster: The Ed Gein Story

As well as taking viewers into the bowels of Gein’s depravity, Monster highlights that his crimes influenced many iconic horror films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Alfred Hitchcock’s aforementioned Psycho, depicting Perkins (played in the show by Joe Pollari) being cast as the infamous fictional killer Norman Bates by Alfred Hitchcock (as portrayed by Tom Hollander).

However, viewers have pointed out that Monster makes some dangerous and “tasteless” links between Gein and Perkins, because of the latter’s decision to keep his sexuality private.

“Ryan Murphy is so tasteless to me, man. If you’re going to do a Anthony Perkins biopic, do a Anthony Perkins biopic and give him the respect he deserves,” wrote one viewer. “But you comparing Ed Gein being a closeted killer to him being a closeted gay man is homophobia”.

Another criticised the show for implying that “Anthony Perkins had a special connection and understanding of Gein because Gein being a murderer is just like being a closeted gay man”.

Meanwhile others called Murphy’s Perkins subplot “disrespectful” and accused the show of “pushing” false narratives about Hitchcock casting Perkins in Psycho because of his sexuality and a perceived connection to Gein.

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Ryan Murphy is so tasteless to me man. If youre going to do a Anthony Perkins biopic, do a Anthony Perkins biopic and give him the respect he deserves.

But you comparing Ed Gein being a closeted killer to him being a closeted gay man is homophobia,

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Ryan Murphy is so tasteless to me man. If youre going to do a Anthony Perkins biopic, do a Anthony Perkins biopic and give him the respect he deserves.

But you comparing Ed Gein being a closeted killer to him being a closeted gay man is homophobia,

— Jane Doe (@AdhdBarbiee) October 3, 2025

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the Ryan Murphy Ed Gein show saying that Anthony Perkins had a special connection and understanding of Gein because Gein being a murderer is just like being a closeted gay man pic.twitter.com/iZnTtIegVt

— 🖤🤍 (@rorschachisgay) October 7, 2025

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the Ryan Murphy Ed Gein show saying that Anthony Perkins had a special connection and understanding of Gein because Gein being a murderer is just like being a closeted gay man pic.twitter.com/iZnTtIegVt

— 🖤🤍 (@rorschachisgay) October 7, 2025

The Wednesday universe just got a whole lot bigger after a new cohort of stars joined the Netflix hit for its long-awaited second season.

After a three-year wait, the new episodes see Jenna Ortega’s character finally heading back to Nevermore to tackle new mysteries while she navigates family, friends and old foes.

Joining returning stars like Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Isaac Ordonez and the rest of the kooky family, this season brings a host of new stars and A-list performers into the mix.

With the first four episodes of the season available to watch now (ahead of part two dropping on 3 September), you might have spotted more than a few familiar faces.

Here’s where you’ve seen them before…

Joanna Lumley

Joining season two as the Addams family matriarch, Grandmama Hester Frump, British acting icon Dame Joanna Lumley is best known for starring in the British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous alongside Jennifer Saunders.

Dame Joanna’s career spans decades, including TV shows like The New Avengers, Sapphire & Steel, Sensitive Skin, Finding Alice and Fool Me Once, while The Wolf Of Wall Street, Ella Enchanted, Paddington 2 are among her many film credits.

She’s also known for her numerous travel series where she’s journeyed all over the world to countries like Russia, Japan and India (where she was born).

Wednesday actually marks a Tim Burton reunion for Dame Joanna, who voiced Maudeline Everglot in his 2005 stop-motion classic Corpse Bride and played Aunt Spiker in James And The Giant Peach, which he produced.

Steve Buscemi

Another screen legend joining this season is Steve Buscemi in the role of Principal Dort. You’ll know him for playing Nucky in Boardwalk Empire, along with Mr “I Don’t Tip” Pink in Reservoir Dogs.

His other big movie credits include Fargo, The Death Of Stalin and Ghost World. With more than a few hardman roles added to his resume over the years, he’s also no stranger to comedy, having appeared in Hubie Halloween, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and The Week Of.

If nothing else, you’ve most definitely seen his famous “how do you do, fellow kids” line memed to high heaven from 30 Rock, or heard his voice as Randall in Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.

Billie Piper

Doctor Who fans will always know and love Billie Piper as the iconic companion Rose in the first two revived seasons of the beloved sci-fi show.

She joins Wednesday as Isadora Capri, the Academy’s new head of music, and has previously starred in shows like Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, I Hate Suzie and Penny Dreadful, and portrayed Fanny Price in the Jane Austen TV movie adaptation of Mansfield Park.

More recently, you might have watched her in Lena Dunham’s movie Catherine Called Birdy or Netflix’s Scoop about the Prince Andrew Newsnight interview about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Before all of that, though, she was a chart-topping popstar, racking up hits like Because We Want To, Day And Night and Girlfriend.

Thandiwe Newton

The A-list Brits just keep on coming, with Thandiwe Newton joining Wednesday in the role of psychiatrist Dr. Rachael Fairburn.

She won an Emmy for her stunning portrayal of brothel madam Maeve in Westworld, while her other memorable roles across film include Beloved, Mission Impossible II and Crash. Her TV credits, meanwhile, range from Line Of Duty, Rogue and ER.

Thandiwe has also had some huge voice parts, including Mona in Big Mouth and Eshe in Disney’s Lion King prequel Mufasa, which came out last year.

Christopher Lloyd

The Back To The Future legend is officially returning to the Addams Family universe, after portraying Uncle Fester in Barry Sonnenfeld’s 1990s films.

However, this time around, he’s playing Professor Orloff, Nevermore’s longest-serving teacher. Along with his unforgettable role as Doc Brown in the iconic sci-fi trilogy, he’s also known for playing Jim Ignatowski in the Emmy-winning comedy series Taxi.

Christopher’s other notable movie credits include Who Framed Roger Rabbit, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

Lady Gaga

Does this legend really need an introduction?

The pop superstar, Oscar-recognised actor and all-round entertainment icon is set to guest star in the second part of this season when it arrives on 3 September.

She won an Academy Award for her contribution to the A Star Is Born soundtrack (and snagged an additional nomination for her performance as Ally in the film itself), and has gone on to land starring roles in Joker: Folie à Deux and the 2021 series House Of Gucci.

Gaga previously led the fifth season of American Horror Story back in 2015, winning a Golden Globe in the process, before returning to play the witch Scáthach in the the following year’s series.

Haley Joel Osment

Former child actor Haley Joel Osment guest stars in the first episode of season two as a serial killer known as the Kansas City Scalper.

You may well still be a little traumatised from his performance in The Sixth Sense (for which he received an Oscar nomination) with Bruce Willis. He also delivered a hugely moving performance in A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

As an adult, you might have watched him in Blink Twice, Sex Ed, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile and, much more recently, Happy Gilmore 2.

Heather Matarazzo

All millennials likely did a double take when they spotted Heather Matarazzo in the new season as Dr. Fairburn’s righthand woman Judi – who is best known to many of us for playing Mia’s best friend Lily Moskowitz in The Princess Diaries.

Her other credits include Welcome to the Dollhouse, Saved!, The Devil’s Advocate and Hostel: Part II.

Frances O’Connor

Another season two guest star is Frances O’Connor, who is, funnily enough, another A.I. Artificial Intelligence alum, previously playing Haley Joel Osment’s mum in the Spielberg movie.

Frances has also been seen in the 1999 adaptation of Mansfield Park, The Conjuring 2, Mr. Selfridge and The End.

Owen Painter

You might not recognise him in his Slurp zombie get-up in Wednesday, but Owen’s resume includes a small role as a border control guard in The Handmaid’s Tale and a young Lucas in Tiny Beautiful Things.

Evie Templeton

Nevermore student Agnes DeMille, a superfan of Wednesday’s, is set to make Evie Templeton one of the breakout stars of season two.

Wednesday is Evie’s biggest acting gig to date, but she’s also had small roles in Criminal Record, Life After Life and Robert Zemeckis’ reimagining of Disney’s Pinocchio.