Heart of Invictus

Last updated

Heart of Invictus
Heart of Invictus docuseries.jpg
Promotional poster
Genre Documentary series
Directed by Orlando von Einsiedel
Music by Patrick Jonsson
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes5
Production
Executive producers
ProducerJoanna Natasegara
CinematographyFranklin Dow
Editors
  • Michael Nollet
  • Raphael Pereira
  • Ian Davies
  • Alice Powell
Production companies
Original release
Network Netflix
ReleaseAugust 30, 2023 (2023-08-30)

Heart of Invictus is a 2023 American documentary series set for streaming on Netflix. It was released on August 30, 2023. [1]

Contents

Background and production

In April 2021, it was announced that Archewell Productions' first project with Netflix would be Heart of Invictus, a documentary series in partnership with The Invictus Games Foundation. [2] [3] The project will surround the six competitors from the 2020 Invictus Games, directed by Orlando von Einsiedel and produced by Joanna Natasegara. [4] Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, founder of the Invictus Games, will executive produce the series and appear on camera. [4] Other executive producers are Ben Browning, Chanel Pysnik, Lord Allen of Kensington, Sir Keith Mills, Dominic Reid, and Abigail Anketell-Jones. [5] [6]

The first trailer for the series was released on August 16, 2023. [7]

Episodes

No.EpisodeDirected byOriginal release date
1Something Needs to ChangeOrlando von EinsiedelAugust 30, 2023 (2023-08-30)
2Invisible InjuriesOrlando von EinsiedelAugust 30, 2023 (2023-08-30)
3One Step Forward, Three Steps BackOrlando von EinsiedelAugust 30, 2023 (2023-08-30)
4Group TherapyOrlando von EinsiedelAugust 30, 2023 (2023-08-30)
5Where the Light EntersOrlando von EinsiedelAugust 30, 2023 (2023-08-30)

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 86% approval rating with an average rating of 8.0/10, based on 7 critic reviews. [8] Writing for The Guardian , Lucy Mangan gave the series 4/5 starts in her review and described it as "moving and nuanced – even if Harry seems tempted to settle scores about his army career." [9] Ed Power of The Daily Telegraph gave the series 3/5 stars and believed "While the struggles of the ex-military personnel profiled in the first instalment are hugely emotive, they ultimately and unfortunately function as filler between the Harry stuff – and it looks like everyone involved knows it." [10] The series failed to make the Netflix Top 10 charts. [11]

Some of the claims made by Harry in the series came under scrutiny. He stated that after returning from Afghanistan in 2012 "there was an unravelling" but "no-one around me could really help, I didn't have that support structure that network or that expert advice to identify what was actually going on with me." [12] His statement was in contrast to comments he had previously made in 2017, when he credited his brother with encouraging him to seek therapy. [12] Harry also suggested that the British media breached the blackout placed on details surrounding his deployment to Afghanistan, whereas it was an American website and an Australian women's magazine who revealed Harry's presence in Afghanistan. [12] The docuseries received 300,000 views between its debut and the end of 2023, making it one of the year's least-watched "higher-profile" Netflix productions. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex</span> British prince (born 1984)

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is a member of the British royal family. As the younger son of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales, he is fifth in the line of succession to the British throne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meghan, Duchess of Sussex</span> Member of the British royal family and former actress (born 1981)

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is an American member of the British royal family and a former actress. She is married to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, the younger son of King Charles III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandana Dayani</span> Iranian-American businesswoman (born 1982)

Mandana Rivka Dayani is an Iranian-American businesswoman and former media executive. In 2018, she co-founded I Am a Voter, a nonpartisan organization aimed at educating and mobilizing voters, which has been promoted by various celebrities and athletes. Since the Israel–Hamas war started in October 2023, Dayani has made frequent media appearances to speak on antisemitism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invictus Games</span> International multi-parasport event

The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event first held in 2014, for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans. The word 'Invictus' is Latin for 'unconquered', chosen as an embodiment of the fighting spirit of the wounded, injured and sick service personnel and what they can achieve, post-injury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle</span> 2018 British royal wedding

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held on Saturday 19 May 2018 in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. The groom is a member of the British royal family; the bride is American and previously worked as an actress, blogger, charity ambassador, and advocate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doria Ragland</span> American social worker and yoga instructor (born 1956)

Doria Loyce Ragland is the mother of Meghan Markle and the ex-wife of American retired television lighting director and director of photography Thomas Markle Sr.. Ragland holds a degree in social work and is a former makeup artist and yoga instructor.

Thomas Wayne Markle is an American retired television lighting director and director of photography. He received a Chicago/Midwest Emmy Award for work on the television program Made in Chicago in 1975 and was a co-recipient of two Daytime Emmy Awards for work on the television soap opera General Hospital in 1982 and 2011. His youngest child is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex</span> Markle and Ragland families

Members of the Markle and Ragland families have been related by marriage to the British royal family since the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in May 2018, when she became the Duchess of Sussex. The couple have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex. The Markle family is of German descent and originates in Alsace on the modern French–German border, and Meghan's paternal ancestors moved to the United States in the 17th century; among her father's other ancestors are American settlers of English, Dutch, and Irish descent. The Ragland family is of African American descent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frogmore Cottage</span> Historic building in Windsor, UK

Frogmore Cottage is a historic Grade II listed home on the Frogmore estate, which is part of Home Park in Windsor, England. The cottage was described as a 5,089 sq ft (472.8 m2), four bedroom and nursery, four bathroom single-residence house in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megxit</span> 2020 withdrawal from royal duties of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

On 8 January 2020, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, announced on Instagram their decision to "step back as 'senior' members" of the British royal family, split their time between the United Kingdom and North America, become financially independent, and only represent the monarchy on a reduced basis. The decision was dubbed Megxit, a portmanteau of the words "Meghan" and "exit" and a play on the term Brexit. The term was adopted globally on mainstream and social media, spawning various Internet memes and "Megxit" merchandising.

<i>Finding Freedom</i> 2020 biography

Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of A Modern Royal Family is a biography by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, revolving around the married lives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The book was written with the Duchess's contribution through a third-party source. It was published on 11 August 2020 by HarperCollins.

Markle Windsor Foundation was a proposed transitional name for Sussex Royal The Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a British charitable organisation intended to support the work of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after the couple left the Royal Foundation in June 2019 to carry out their own projects. Sussex Royal Foundation was renamed MWX Foundation on 5 August 2020 and dissolved the same day.

Archewell Inc. is a Beverly Hills-based mix of for-profit and not-for-profit (charitable) business organizations registered in Delaware and founded in 2020 by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The group includes the couple's non-profit charitable foundation, as well as for-profit business divisions focusing on media production, Archewell Audio and Archewell Productions.

Oprah with Meghan and Harry is a 2021 television special hosted by American media personality Oprah Winfrey, that featured an interview between Winfrey, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. The special premiered March 7, 2021, on CBS in the United States, and in the United Kingdom the next day on ITV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Invictus Games</span>

The 2020 Invictus Games was an adaptive multi-sport event for wounded, injured and ill veteran and active defence personnel, that took place in The Hague, Netherlands in April 2022, after having been postponed twice. It was the fifth edition of the Invictus Games.

<i>Archetypes</i> (podcast) Society and culture podcast

Archetypes is a podcast produced by Archewell Audio Productions and hosted by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The podcast debuted on Spotify on August 23, 2022, and featured Meghan talking with artists, athletes, and experts about the history of stereotypes that get leveled against women. In June 2023, Spotify and Archewell Audio released a statement that confirmed they mutually agreed to part ways. In February 2024 it was announced that Lemonada Media would redistribute the first season of Archetypes on all audio platforms.

<i>Harry & Meghan</i> 2022 documentary series on Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Harry & Meghan is an American documentary series streaming on Netflix, starring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The series has six parts and covers the couple's relationship from their early courtship to their decision to step back as working members of the British royal family and their subsequent activities. It also includes interviews with family, friends, historians, and journalists.

<i>Live to Lead</i> 2022 documentary series

Live to Lead is a 2022 American documentary series set for streaming on Netflix. It was released on December 31, 2022.

Christopher Bouzy is an American tech entrepreneur known for founding Bot Sentinel, a Twitter analytics service that tracks disinformation, inauthentic behavior and targeted harassment. In 2023, he launched Spoutible, a social media platform.

References

  1. Richards, Amanda (August 16, 2023). "Get Straight to the 'Heart of Invictus', a Doc Series About the Power of Healing". Tudum. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  2. Waterson, Jim (April 6, 2021). "Harry and Meghan announce Netflix show about Invictus Games". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  3. Jeffery, Morgan (January 12, 2023). "Netflix announces new World Cup 2022 and Six Nations docuseries". Radio Times. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's Archewell Productions Scores First Netflix Order With Invictus Docuseries". Deadline. April 6, 2021. Archived from the original on April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  5. Rice, Lynette (August 16, 2023). "'Heart Of Invictus': Netflix Drops Trailer, Announces Premiere Date For Docuseries From Duke And Duchess Of Sussex". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  6. Wagmeister, Elizabeth (August 16, 2023). "Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Latest Netflix Series, 'Heart of Invictus,' Sets Premiere Date". Variety. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  7. Henni, Janine (August 16, 2023). "Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's 'Heart of Invictus' Is Heading to Netflix! Release Date and Trailer Revealed". People. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  8. "Heart of Invictus: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  9. Mangan, Lucy (August 30, 2023). "Heart of Invictus review – Meghan and Harry's new Netflix show (just about) avoids personal vendettas". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  10. Power, Ed (August 30, 2023). "Heart of Invictus is a mess – but at least Harry talks about someone else for a change". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  11. Crawford-Smith, James (September 1, 2023). "Prince Harry's Netflix Show Flops With Audiences". Newsweek. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Newton, Jennifer (August 31, 2023). "Prince Harry's Netflix claims debunked from 'no support' to dig about blown cover". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  13. Porter, Rick (June 7, 2024). "Netflix Data Dump: The Biggest Bombs (and Hits)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved June 7, 2024.