Yes, it's Full of Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No considering the season, it's perpetually open season for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when gleefully ripping the lifestyle show's initial installments to pieces. The general consensus was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback once again with a "Christmas Special" (or a holiday episode). But this time, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, intense hospitality – remain, but set of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing random tips, and contributing the odd random outburst. ("I love spinach!" … "A tradition has to have a beginning." … "A tree is part of my memory and love of the holiday season.") She's quite a personality, but her presence is familiar and oddly reassuring. And she appears happy enough; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, utterance and glance will be picked apart and judged, but nonetheless looks carefree and serenely untroubled.
Perhaps this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. Because, in all honesty, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is charming. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, nonsense and flamboyant – but isn't that exactly what Yuletide is for? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the walk she's walking appears to be beautifully curated.
Anything she attempts, she accomplishes with style. Her culinary efforts looks delicious, the holiday arrangement she makes is gorgeous, her gifts are almost too pretty to open. Not a single thing is average or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she secures her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she folds gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any cynical observer not be convinced, overcome by seasonal cheer and left with a intense desire for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where greens is organized in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, of course, but nonetheless, after the degree of attention she has endured from the moment she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her unwillingness to alter or even soften her shtick, despite it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will forever know our position with her.
If you're still not buying her brand, a reminder that will certainly come as a relief: you are not obligated to. There isn't national service these days, and should it be reinstated, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are gripped with envy about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. Whether you're a royal or a office worker, no kid fully understands the effort and hard work their mother does in December. So you can find comfort by imagining her children's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a chocolate.
