Reviews for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s Netflix series, Harry & Meghan, were scathing in the British press. The critique was expected, considering that the couple dedicated a significant portion of the initial three episodes to criticizing Britain’s sensationalist tabloid media. This was done for intruding on their privacy and allegedly perpetuating racist stereotypes. As it delved into the expanded account of why the couple departed from the royal household, it was far from immune to criticism.

Months after remaining the talk of the town, the docuseries has returned to the spotlight once again. Sara Bernstein, the President of Imagine Documentaries, shared her perspective. Setting aside completely different characters, Bernstein presented her own set of rationales.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s documentary- A unique category?

Sara Bernstein, the president of Imagine Documentaries, shared her insights on the Netflix documentary during a recent interview. She noted that this documentary falls into a unique category compared to others. In conversation with Deadline, Bernstein pointed out, the changing dynamics in the entertainment industry, where prominent figures increasingly desire involvement in the creative process, including editorial control. While the Sussexes were not the first to do so, their documentary did pave a path.

BBC Docs boss Clare Sillery had expressed reluctance to work with the royal couple, due to their out-of-control demands. Bernstein, however, took a different stance, emphasizing the need to understand the nature of such projects. She highlighted that the documentary offers viewers a glimpse into the lives of the royal couple. Moreover, it leans more toward entertainment than strict information. Bernstein has been part of Imagine for around five years and has worked on various documentary projects during her tenure.

Sara Bernstein may have talked about the technical aspects of why the Sussexes’ docuseries was unique, but there are other reasons to back up her claims. For instance, its alleged role in boosting Netflix’s UK revenue to a staggering $18 million.

From criticisms to boosting revenue- Harry & Meghan

In a remarkable turn of events, Netflix UK saw a 4% increase in subscribers, defying expectations and rising above higher subscription fees. The key driving force behind this growth was the success of the Harry & Meghan documentary, which helped Netflix’s UK sales surge to over $18 billion in 2022. This six-part documentary series became the most-watched new subscription TV show of the year. This attracted 4.5 million viewers for its debut episode.

The popularity of this documentary, combined with other successful releases like The Crown, whose actress Emma Corrin also praised the documentary helped Netflix. In contrast to its UK performance, Netflix faced challenges globally with the first quarterly drop in subscriber numbers in over a decade, underlining the unique impact of the Harry & Meghan documentary on the UK market.

Do you also agree with Bernstein’s views? Let us know in the comments below.