Harry & Meghan

This revealing docuseries serves as a public platform from which the couple takes back control of a story originally created and exploited by others. While discussing how they unexpectedly fell in love, their wedding, and how they hoped to help modernize the British monarchy, Harry & Meghan carefully, but pointedly, deconstructs many of the stories concocted about them. The tabloid press and targeted social disinformation campaigns, which were eventually traced back to specific external sources, are blamed for much of what happened during their courtship and during the Duchess's short stint as working senior royal, and for many of the challenges they faced once they stepped back from their duties. Much of what they share isn't a surprise, but these details are contextualized within broader conversations about antiquated royal traditions, misogyny, exploitation, bullying, and systemic racism -- the latter further fueled by a wave of public nationalism that led to Brexit. The impact that all of this has had on the now former royals' physical and mental well-being is highlighted. So are the damaged relationships of once close members of their respective families.

Not surprisingly, parallels are drawn between their journey and the experiences of the late Princess Diana, who was also accused of destabilizing the royal establishment. Some of this is delivered in a moralizing tone, which viewers may find annoying. Nonetheless, Harry & Meghan sends a very important message, which is that we live in a world dominated by media that is both manipulated and manipulative, and that the stories it chooses to tell have very real consequences.