Admittedly, it's Packed with Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the time of year, it's always hunting season for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, expert and amateur alike, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when eagerly tearing the program's earlier episodes apart. The general consensus was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, like a merry renegade master, she has returned with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a holiday episode). But this time, things have shifted. The usual elements viewers are accustomed to – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – persist, but framed of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at the typical holiday get-together – dispensing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and supplying 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 quite a personality, but her presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she appears happy enough; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She understands her every micro expression, utterance and glance will be dissected and scrutinized, but still appears carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. Since, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, nonsense and extravagant – but doesn't that represent precisely what Yuletide is all about? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the life she leads genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with style. Her culinary efforts looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she crafts is gorgeous, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is mediocre or ugly – even the way she fastens her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she creases gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, filled with seasonal cheer and left with a intense desire for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where greens is organized in the form of a wreath?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but despite that, after the degree of scrutiny she has weathered since she became involved with Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would struggle to act this naturally. Her unwillingness to change or even moderate her persona, even though it being so relentlessly, widely parodied, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will stay true to form, come what may. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a reminder that will surely come as a comfort: you aren't required to. There isn't the draft these days, and if there were, it would be doubtful to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you decide to tune in and are gripped with jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. Be you a duchess or a office worker, no kid truly appreciates the dedication and labor their parent expends in December. So you can find comfort by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, rather than a chocolate.
