Heart of Invictus
GenreDocumentary series
DirectorOrlando von Einsiedel
MusicPatrick Jonsson
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Num episodes5
Executive producer
ProducerJoanna Natasegara
CinematographyFranklin Dow
Editor
  • Michael Nollet
  • Raphael Pereira
  • Ian Davies
  • Alice Powell
Company
NetworkNetflix
ReleasedAugust 30, 2023

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

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]

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]

References

  1. ^ Richards, Amanda (August 16, 2023). "Get Straight to the 'Heart of Invictus', a Doc Series About the Power of Healing". Tudum. Archived August 17, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  2. ^ Waterson, Jim (April 6, 2021). "Harry and Meghan announce Netflix show about Invictus Games". The Guardian. Archived April 17, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  3. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (January 12, 2023). "Netflix announces new World Cup 2022 and Six Nations docuseries". Radio Times. Archived January 12, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  4. ^ "Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's Archewell Productions Scores First Netflix Order With Invictus Docuseries". Deadline. April 6, 2021. Archived April 6, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. 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 August 16, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. 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 August 16, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. 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 August 16, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  8. ^ "Heart of Invictus" (tv). heart_of_invictus. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  9. ^ Mangan, Lucy (30 August 2023). "Heart of Invictus review – Meghan and Harry's new Netflix show (just about) avoids personal vendettas". The Guardian. Archived September 2, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  10. ^ Power, Ed (30 August 2023). "Heart of Invictus is a mess – but at least Harry talks about someone else for a change". The Telegraph. Archived September 2, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  11. ^ Crawford-Smith, James (1 September 2023). "Prince Harry's Netflix Show Flops With Audiences". Newsweek. Archived September 2, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  12. ^ Newton, Jennifer (31 August 2023). "Prince Harry's Netflix claims debunked from 'no support' to dig about blown cover". Daily Mirror. Archived September 3, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  13. ^ Porter, Rick (June 7, 2024). "Netflix Data Dump: The Biggest Bombs (and Hits)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 7, 2024.