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Prince Harry and Argentine polo player Nacho Figaris are collaborating with Netflix on a new documentary series about polo. Often referred to as the "sport of kings," polo is a favorite pastime among the super wealthy elite. The series will showcase the fast-paced excitement of the game, featuring thrilling horseback action from tournaments at the renowned Cirencester Park Polo Club in Gloucestershire, England.
Figaris expressed his enthusiasm for the project, calling it an "honor" to work alongside his close friend Prince Harry. In interviews, he has mentioned that this project feels more like "Harry's" than his own, implying that Harry is the driving force and key figure behind this Netflix endeavor. Nacho emphasized his role in supporting Harry throughout the series and conveyed his admiration for working with him. This raises some eyebrows, as Harry is known worldwide for his royal status. It appears Nacho is still in awe of being part of Harry's inner circle, though some argue this collaboration is with Netflix, not Buckingham Palace.
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The six-part documentary series is set to premiere in December and promises an "exclusive look" into the fast-paced world of polo. However, claims that watching wealthy individuals hit a ball on horseback is fast-paced or thrilling are debatable. For most people, polo is not a sport that comes to mind as exciting to watch unless they frequent polo clubs or have seen it featured on TV shows like Downton Abbey. Polo likely doesn't rank high on the list of sports most casual viewers seek out.
Figaris had the audacity to liken the upcoming series favorably to Netflix's massively popular Formula 1 documentary series "Drive to Survive," expressing hope that the show will introduce polo to millions of new fans. However, this seems overly optimistic since Netflix has not yet committed to producing additional seasons, likely waiting to gauge viewer interest first before considering future installments. If their true goal was attracting mainstream viewers, they may have been better off pitching it as "horse hockey" to draw in confused NHL fans.
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Furthermore, it's amusing to think a polo documentary could captivate American audiences in the same way as the NBA playoffs or Super Bowl. This obscure sports series risks getting lost in Netflix's algorithm, never achieving more than a handful of views unless someone actively searches for it. The excessive talk of "honor" and their "heartfelt endeavor" from Figaris feels transparent. Harry's well-documented PR strategies appear just as obvious. Watching Figaris lay it on thick about their collaboration is rather cringeworthy yet compellingly difficult to look away from.
The "Sussex PR machine" continues churning along even as the public seems largely indifferent to their every move. It feels like we are experiencing the era of the "Harkles" instead of the Kardashians. While the Kardashians have a clear strategy with branded merchandise and strategic drama releases, Harry and Nacho appear to be floundering in their Netflix venture. Nacho clings to Harry for relevance in elite social circles, while Harry maintains use of his royal status. There is a sense of mutual dependency in their quest for ongoing significance, as both lack it independently.
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It's highly unlikely polo will achieve similar mainstream success as a docuseries compared to Formula 1. However, if nothing else, perhaps Nacho and Harry's "heartfelt endeavor" will provide a few amusing quotes and headlines. Only time will tell if audiences are eager to tune into their unique inside view of the world of polo. But given the lackluster interest in polo itself among average viewers, it's hard to envision this niche sports series gaining significant traction on Netflix outside of die-hard anglophile or equestrian subscriber bases.
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