Indeed, it's Packed with Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Adore Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the time of year, it's perpetually fair game for commentary on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the program's first and second seasons to shreds. The prevailing view was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she has returned once again with a "Christmas Special" (or a Christmas special). Yet now, it's different. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, intense hospitality – persist, but set of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering random tips, and delivering the occasional strange exclamation. ("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 a bit of a character, but her presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she seems pleased; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She is aware her every micro expression, word and glance will be analyzed and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. Since, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels charming. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and flamboyant – but isn't that exactly what Christmas is about? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the life she leads appears to be impeccably styled.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she executes with panache. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the holiday arrangement she creates is breathtaking, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to unwrap. Not a single thing is mediocre or visually unappealing – including the way she secures her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't toss a dish in the oven, it "has a moment", and she creases wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be won over, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where broccoli is organized in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the degree of scrutiny she has weathered ever since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this authentically. Her unwillingness to change or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can rely on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're still not buying her message, a reminder that will undoubtedly come as a reassurance: you don't have to. The UK has abolished the draft these days, and should it be reinstated, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are consumed by envy about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. Be you a duchess or a everyday person, hardly any child fully understands the time and energy their mother puts in in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a chocolate.
