Archetypes
3.1/5
Critic Rating
2.6/5
Listener Rating
Archetypes with Meghan Markle - a podcast where we investigate, dissect, and subvert the labels that try to hold women back.
Critic Reviews
Score: 2.5
Charlotte Runcie • Telegraph UK • Jun 28, 2023
"...the interviews were intellectual dead-ends. Instead of being inspiring or thought-provoking, the conversations felt limited by Meghan’s reliance on platitudes instead of genuine engagement with her guests."
Score: 2
Hilary Rose • The Times UK • Nov 15, 2022
"(Updated) Meghan says that her children love vegetables, because of course they do, perfection is clearly genetic. Before you know it, we’re back to manifesting and Meghan says “Wow”. And then Meghan breaks my heart with three short words. “Until next week . . .” There’s more. It isn’t over. They promised me this was the last. My editor shrugs. "
Score: 5
Lakshmi Hutchinson • Common Sense Media • Oct 27, 2022
"One of the strengths of the show is that it demonstrates how we don't always know what people are going through behind the scenes. Hearing women open up about their journeys, setbacks and triumphs — all while navigating society's assumptions and expectations — adds a depth that makes Archetypes more than just another celebrity podcast."
Score: 2
Kara Kennedy • The Spectator • Oct 18, 2022
"(Episode: Paris Hilton) We’re used to Meghan’s attempts to rewrite history, but now it seems that her guests are also falling victim to their own ‘truth.’ And what would Archetypes be without a long-winded soliloquy from Meghan about Meghan? Is this a running theme in Meghan’s life, walking out on a job because not every aspect of it suits her? Well, at least this time, with the help of Spotify, she won’t need to worry about paying the bills."
Score: 2
Freddy Gray • The Spectator • Oct 11, 2022
"(Episode: The Decoding of Crazy with Deepika Padukone, Jenny Slate, and Constance Wu) It’s perhaps facile to point out that the ‘crazy’ Archetypes episode is crazy. But it is. Barking mad, in parts. Meghan’s self-absorption is dizzying. The subtext of every female story ends up actually being Meghan’s own struggles. You just have to listen. Or not, if the subject gets too ‘heavy’ for you."
Score: 4.5
Ximena Smith • Stuff NZ • Oct 11, 2022
"I’ve found the most interesting bits in the episodes so far have been when Markle and her guests look back at the etymology of each label. It needs to be said that your pre-existing feelings about Markle will likely shape how you feel about Archetypes: in other words, if you find it difficult to empathise with powerful women who have millions of dollars at their disposal talking about barriers they’ve faced, then this podcast probably isn’t for you."
Score: 5
Keelin • Mentally? A Magpie. • Oct 10, 2022
"Archetypes is easy to sink into. I honestly wanted to just go along on a journey. This podcast is designed to feel like a lazy river ride. It has a direction, it’s just not necessarily in a big rush to get you there. Relax, and take the time to just listen. I love that it’s approachable and it was a great decision to start with a pair of friends who have an excellent rapport."
Score: 2
Patricia Nicol • The Times UK • Sep 11, 2022
"Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s new podcast Archetypes is, so far, argumentatively flimsy, glossily vacuous and showily self-serving. None of that feels surprising. What is shocking is how many people have worked towards creating something so noisily inconsequential. The target audience seems American, which is a relief."
Score: 4
Hollie Richardson • The Guardian • Sep 1, 2022
"Meghan Markle’s podcast is one of the most hyped of the year – but that’s not to say it’s the best. Still, the Duchess of Sussex is compelling…"
Score: 4
Dristi Sharma • DailyO • Aug 31, 2022
"Meghan's constant reminding of the fact that she and Serena are 'friends' gets frustrating after a while. This episode was not overall hijacked by Meghan because, well, Mariah wouldn’t let her. Both episodes, regardless of how cheesy they were, did have a few major revelations from the life of Meghan Markle. "
Score: 4.5
Clémence Michallon • Independent (UK) • Aug 29, 2022
"I have never found it hard to understand why Markle and her husband chose to resign from their duties as royals – but if I did, this story would probably bring me some clarity. There is something so relatably frustrating about that situation. But the more I hear about the royal family these days, the more it seems clear that the monarchy isn’t working for anyone – including the royals themselves. And from what we’ve heard on her podcast, it’s clear Markle made the right decision when she cut and ran."
Score: 4
Miranda Sawyer • The Guardian • Aug 27, 2022
"...she(Meghan) has talent: she has a lovely voice, is intelligent and is clear and light when reading a script. But hosts need more. There are many, many producers on this show, but not one dared to edit the constant “I already knew this news about you, Serena, because you are my friend” comments from Meghan. Ugh. A podcast host needs to welcome their audience, and despite her warmth, Meghan is exclusive. She has to be; it’s part of her USP. Every new podcast needs to know who it’s for, and until she can soothe her jumpy ego, this one is for Meghan and her mates."
Score: 4
Rachel Cunliffe • New Statesman • Aug 25, 2022
"Bland platitudes (“the future is something we get to write together”) are spoken softly over upbeat spa-reception music. It takes Meghan forever to introduce her guest...For starters, it’s refreshing to hear two African-American women who have achieved great success talk so candidly about their experiences of prejudice on a podcast with such high production values. The jaunty pep-talk style that will feel toe-curlingly cringey to many Brits probably hits exactly the right balance of inspiration and authenticity for a liberal American audience, and the digs at the royal family are there to give Meghan’s US fanbase exactly what they came for. Hate her all you want, but she knew what she was doing with this."
Score: 3.5
Lauren O'Neill • inews • Aug 24, 2022
"...not particularly compelling. The moments when Markle does discuss her own life are inevitably the most interesting – and here, her point of view really is unique. Archetypes is stylishly done – you can tell that its host has listened to enough US storytelling shows in her time to nail the breezy style, slightly conspiratorial tone of voice, and quiet background music – plus, Markle’s obvious personal investment in the subjects raised is admirable. Even so, if she is not able to speak especially freely or specifically about how the archetypes she hopes to break down figure in her own life, then this is unfortunately an exercise in talking a lot, but saying very little."
Score: 1
Hilary Rose • The Times UK • Aug 24, 2022
"I’ve listened to 57 minutes and 28 seconds of Meghan Markle’s syrupy California drawl, while rocking back and forth and moaning softly under my breath. The trailer alone is a ham-fisted, expensively produced shocker. Just when you think, “dear God, will it never end”, it does, with Meghan’s distillation of the previous hour. Her podcast is pure, narcissistic gibberish..."
Score: 3
Olivia Petter • Irish Independent • Aug 24, 2022
"Meghan Markle’s podcast is navel-gazing, bumper-sticker feminism – ...It’s “unfiltered”. It’s “groundbreaking”. It’s… the most self-congratulatory 57 minutes of audio you’ll hear all year. Don’t get me wrong, I am not in the camp of Meghan-haters. Quite the opposite. If anything, I expected more from Archetypes. "
Score: 3
Guy Martin • Forbes • Aug 24, 2022
"As predictably, it was a love fest. However genuine in this case, this tactic has its upsides and its downsides. An upside is that it does foster intimacy, or at least a familiarity resembling it. One downside was that over the course of the hour, not a lot of information or insight was delivered."
Score: 1
James Marriot • The Times UK • Aug 23, 2022
"The podcast is a tastefully soundtracked parade of banalities, absurdities and self-aggrandising Californian platitudes. The only enjoyable bit involves Meghan seeming to have a dig at the royal family. The listener’s overwhelming sense is of futility and irritation."
Score: 3
Celia Walden • Telegraph UK • Aug 23, 2022
"Meghan Markle has the perfect, smooth podcast voice. If the rest of the season is anything like the premiere, what we’re really going to be listening into week after week is Meghan interviewing herself. To Meghan’s credit, she smooths these jarring moments over beautifully, tying up each point with artfully worded self-help-isms."
Score: 3
Bel Mooney • Daily Mail UK • Aug 23, 2022
"This bizarre, saccharine and faintly queasy schmooze-fest...Let me be clear, Meghan’s podcast series is about a subject close to my heart, and I wanted to be impressed. So the idea of a podcast series – which will reach a colossal audience because of Meghan’s fame – taking down the prejudice and smashing what she calls ‘the double standards women face when labelled “ambitious”’ – yes, that certainly appealed. Yet from the beginning, the warning bells started to ring. This podcast is yet another example of the inescapable truth that Britain and the USA are two nations divided by a common language. What a missed opportunity this was. Instead of a revealing discussion between intelligent and opinionated women about why it is that girls ‘raise their hands in class less as they get older’ and ‘women get stereotyped as being too emotional’ – both of which are true – we got giggles and mutual stroking of egos at every opportunity."
Score: 2
Steerpike • The Spectator • Aug 23, 2022
"Meghan’s Archetypes podcast is really all about her. On and on it goes. Steerpike must admit that he struggled to force himself to listen. If the couple’s last Spotify podcast is anything to go by, this is all they’re going to get."
Listener Reviews
Score: 5
Francine C. • Nov 28, 2022
"Archetypes is an insightful, thought-provoking podcast that invites listeners to pause and consider how women move in the world with the pressures, projections and demands that we must please everyone but ourselves. The series, featuring guests ranging from the worlds of entertainment to academia sharing their unvarnished knowledge and experiences with compassion and clarity, is the highlight of my week. Kudos to Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and her team for providing such a necessary and powerful reminder for why it's so critical for women to choose valuing themselves. "
Score: 1.5
Kelly N. • Nov 3, 2022
"I was a fan of Meghan Markle on the Tig so I was hoping to get some of the same quality. Her writing is better than her speech. A bit too monotone for me and disingenuous. Some of the things she says is cringeworthy like "I wasn't the pretty one always the smart one".Sort of like a self pat in disguise. The whole thing just felt like being at a party with the one guest making awkward statements while you are standing right next to them. It's not fun. I like the guest list but the program can be better with a more skilled host."
Score: 5
Tracy D. • Oct 29, 2022
"I really enjoy this podcast every week, great guests, great topics. I think the host talks a bit too much, but she will learn with time and experience that this is the guests space to talk."
Score: 0.5
Dani D. • Oct 11, 2022
"I guess no one dared to tell her the truth. Talking about yourself gets old fast. There's nothing compelling about rigid script reading unless the content is extraordinarily interesting. She instantly kills it (and not in the good way) when she keeps 'circling back' to herself. She's got resources galore, this Podcast should be a brilliant hit, but it's not. I hate to say this but she comes across as unlikeable and that's simply because she's unnatural & fake."
Score: 0.5
Glenn G. • Oct 7, 2022
"This podcast is full of stereotypical presentations of the guests! Simply put: Misinformed and silly. The creator doesn't even know the meaning of the word "archetype", or how it differs from "stereotype"."
Score: 0.5
Rachel G • Sep 28, 2022
"Too much talking about herself - NOT life-changing.....don't bother!"
Score: 0.5
Kim H. • Sep 15, 2022
"Vacuous, shallow, boring...from a person who's apparent only value in life is self-promotion. "
Score: 5
Tatiana C • Sep 11, 2022
";o) CONGRATS! A home run Meghan! A Podcast that is well overdue, that speaks candidly about the misconception that women and women of color must know our place; stop joking about being ambitious and just stay in our place. Archetypes dispel any negative notion that women; especially women of color, belong in our place; TIS NOT TRUE. And that being ambition is our birthright. Heller...narrow minded, misogynists', patriarchal Aholes, we're here to stay, and trust me the BEST IS YET TO COME!!"
Score: 5
Romina P • Aug 31, 2022
"I really enjoyed the first two episodes, very nice conversation between the girls. Meghan voice is really beautiful and pleasant to listen. Discussing topics that are of importance, specially for women and for the future generations to come. Certainly empowering in the most positive way."
