Admittedly, it's Full of Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually open season for commentary on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when eagerly tearing the program's initial installments to pieces. The general consensus held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had hardly ever taken place than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback once again with a "Festive Special" (aka a Christmas special). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, intense hospitality – remain, but within the context of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and supplying the periodic peculiar declaration. ("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 company is customary and strangely comforting. And she appears content; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She is aware her every micro expression, syllable and glance will be dissected and criticised, but manages to seem relaxed and serenely untroubled.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. The reason is, in all honesty, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, silliness and extravagant – but doesn't that represent precisely what Yuletide is for? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the life she leads appears to be beautifully curated.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with panache. Her recipes looks delicious, the wreath she crafts is stunning, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is ordinary or ugly – even the way she fastens her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a dish in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she folds wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, overcome by festive joy and left with a intense desire for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but even so, after the degree of scrutiny she has weathered ever since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her refusal to alter or even tone down her persona, regardless of it being so constantly, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, come what may. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her message, a reminder that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you aren't required to. We don't have national service anymore, and if there were, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are consumed by envy about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a royal or a office worker, few children completely grasps the dedication and labor their mother does in the holiday season. So you can take heart by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a sweet treat.
