Yes, it's Brimming with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the season, it's always hunting season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the program's initial installments apart. The general consensus seemed to be a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, as a festive rebel, she is back for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a Christmas special). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – persist, but within the context of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – dispensing unasked-for guidance, and supplying 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 an interesting figure, but her aura is known and unexpectedly soothing. And she appears happy enough; she's not doing any harm.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, utterance and look will be dissected and judged, but nonetheless looks carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the only time in history where that clichéd phrase – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. Since, in all honesty, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Yes, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and over the top – but isn't that exactly what the holiday season is all about? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the life she leads genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she executes with panache. Her cooking looks delicious, the holiday arrangement she makes is stunning, her gifts are practically too exquisite to tear into. Not a single thing is average or visually unappealing – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, filled with festive joy and left with a intense desire for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is arranged in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but even so, after the degree of examination she has weathered since she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this genuinely. Her refusal to modify or even moderate her routine, despite it being so constantly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will always know our position with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a relief: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished national service in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are overcome with jealousy about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a duchess or a office worker, hardly any child completely grasps the dedication and labor their mother does in December. So you can console yourself by envisioning her children's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a sweet treat.
