Should the Duke and Duchess of Sussex be blamed? One of the most unsettling audiovisual trends of 2023 has them in the spotlight, after the Netflix docuseries Enrique and Meghan, which unfolds their love story, their triumphs, and the pressures of intrusive media attention from a first-person perspective. Backed by a director with significant prestige, the project attempts to situate this personal saga within a broader historical and political frame. It hints at shared authorship, suggesting the collaboration of multiple storytellers rather than a single voice.
In recent months, Netflix has leaned into these themes with biographical documentaries produced in collaboration with the people involved and guided by public relations teams rather than independent investigations. The release grew with a long-form entry at the end of January: Pamela Anderson: A Love Story, a response to the previous work Baywatch star Pamela Anderson offered. A few months later followed Arnold, Beckham, Sly, and Robi Williams. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé dominated cinemas with touring films produced and directed by the artists themselves.
While these titles are often grouped with documentaries, they frequently lack the journalistic objectivity associated with traditional documentary work. They read more like elevated biographies where points of friction are softened or removed, and moments the subjects would prefer viewers not dwell on are minimized.
constructed intimacy
Netflix’s own documentaries tend to cultivate a cozy atmosphere through deliberate storytelling. Interviews unfold in the stars’ homes rather than on neutral sets, mirroring the informal feel of pandemic-era programs and celebrity home tours. The appeal often lies in analyzing design choices and interior styling as much as in the life stories themselves.
In the series, Robbie Williams appears in a relaxed setting, sometimes in his bedroom at a Los Angeles residence. The approach mirrors other contemporary specials where personal environments are foregrounded. At times, viewers glimpse intimate details that underscore the sense of proximity the producers seek to create.
What is not seen
Television critic Patrick Freyne recently wondered whether Beckham’s cozy image fuels broader marketing deals tied to starring roles, including relationships and partnerships that appear in the public eye. Topics like his linked drama with Rebecca Loos remain unaddressed in Beckham’s projects, illustrating a selective storytelling approach.
Professional figures in any field may prefer to avoid intimate family matters on screen. The same tension appears in Sly, where the discussion of private history is limited. The production avoids turning this into a disaster or a simple nostalgia act, choosing instead to present a curated past that reinforces a desired public persona.
There is a more candid thread in Robbie Williams’ work, which tackles fame’s ongoing effects, including addiction, insecurity, and hostility. Yet the series often lacks the inclusion of other viewpoints that could corroborate or challenge the star’s statements. As The Guardian’s review noted, constant visibility can hinder emotional connection when audiences see the same face repeatedly. For extremely wealthy figures, empathizing with their experiences can become even harder.
real wrinkles
The appeal of these projects rests in the fact that the most compelling biographies are often those shaped by the central figure and a small number of ghostwriters or collaborators who craft the narrative and voice. Britney Spears chose to acknowledge those contributors without naming them in detail in her memoir, focusing instead on the personal journey she narrates.
Audiences rarely learn about real flaws, contradictions, or the missteps behind celebrated moments. Liz Phair’s memoir Horror Stories took a different route by openly addressing past mistakes and the choices made along the way. Yet such candor remains unusual among a small group of high-profile narratives that prioritize polish over self-critique. Complex public figures rarely consent to comprehensive self-scrutiny on screen.