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The reviews are in for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's latest Netflix project, Polo, part of their £80 million deal with the streaming giant. However, critics have been less than impressed, with the five-part documentary falling short of the standard set by other sports series like Disney+'s Welcome to Wrexham and Netflix's The Last Dance.
Receiving largely negative feedback, Polo has been rated two stars or less by most critics, who have called it a "tedious exploration of posh polo" and a "mostly dull glimpse into a sport few outside elite circles care about."
Stuart Heritage of The Guardian gave the series two stars, describing it as a "niche" production that "feels like a spoof documentary meant for the background of a Succession episode." He further predicted that the show would "vanish into obscurity at lightning speed."
Ed Power of The Telegraph echoed this sentiment, noting that there was "bafflingly little" of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their own series. Power criticized the series as a "self-indulgent dive into a wealthy person's pastime," lacking the star power and engaging narrative to hold viewers' attention.
Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan Markle, 43, who served as executive producers, make only sparse appearances throughout the series. Harry is featured in the opening credits but doesn't reappear until the fourth episode, while Meghan's involvement is even more minimal. Critics highlighted this absence as a missed opportunity to leverage the couple's presence to elevate the show.
Heritage went so far as to label polo "the stupidest, most obnoxious sport known to humanity," while Power concluded, "There's lots of blood, sweat, and tears in the series, but not enough of the Sussexes to make this anything other than dull."
Viewers seemed to agree. On social media, some labeled the series as "boring" and "a waste of time." One user wrote, "Polo is five hours no one can get back," while another commented, "It's too painfully boring to continue watching."
However, not all feedback was negative. A handful of fans praised the documentary for its insight into the world of professional polo. One viewer shared, "Watched all five episodes in one sitting. Couldn't pause even if I wanted to."
The series promises an "unprecedented behind-the-scenes look" at the lives of professional polo players both on and off the field. Speaking to People Magazine, Harry described the show as an opportunity to showcase "the passion and determination driving elite polo players" and to reveal "the grit behind the glamor."
Despite these ambitions, Polo has struggled to resonate with critics and audiences alike, raising questions about the couple's ability to maintain their influence in the realm of high-profile media projects.
