And then episode 2 of Harry & Meghan

Spoiler: still no news

After watching episode 1 quickly (otherwise it would have been really hard to get through and hey, it's also just my workday), I decided to go through episode 2. Because Netflix really had an obligation to come up with something new. If we were told on Monday that it would be shocking and that Buckingham Palace was in a tizzy, then after the sugary part 1, wouldn't you want to step on the gas a bit now?

Well, no. In this part, we mainly get to know Meghan. Her mother, her friends, her background, her childhood photos (fishing with dad, on the set where her father was a lighting technician, ballet performances) and later her colleagues. Moral of Meghan's life? Not to be put in a box. Smart and beautiful, maybe a bit superficial and engaged, not white, not black (her words) and therefore also very difficult to place for the royal family. Any hint of the promised brutal side of The Firm? Nope. Only the paparazzi (the paps) get it in the neck. Rightly so. And that poor Meghan who, during her first encounter with the paparazzi, laughs at them and says: ‘Stay warm, guys’ gets the entire British press on her back because she would be enjoying the attention.

Was there nothing enjoyable about this episode?
Really. Harry is a sweetheart that I often laughed at. He talks about his proposal and says he had already kidnapped Guy (her dog) to England so that Meghan couldn't easily get rid of him. Moreover, Guy had two legs in a cast so he genuinely couldn't do anything but stay with him. Furthermore, he poured champagne (a magnum bottle) while Meghan was rubbing the chicken with oil and waved her skepticism (why champagne all of a sudden?) away with a nonchalant ‘oh, I just had that lying around’. All very cute. Just like the described meeting between Meghan and Queen Elizabeth. Just before Meghan is introduced to the Queen, Harry says: ‘You know how to curtsey, right?’ and Meghan thinks he's joking. When it turns out not to be the case, she treats Elizabeth to a huge film bow that is far, far removed from the subdued curtsies we've seen in The Crown.

Is there really nothing shocking?
Only that Meghan says that you are usually in situations where you might be a bit stiff and official in the world, and as soon as the door closes and you are private, you can act normal again, but that it remained stiff and official with the British royal family. Even in the safe home environment.

But that, dear readers, is as good as it gets. Sorry.