Admittedly, it's Packed with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No considering the time of year, it's constantly hunting season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the program's first and second seasons to pieces. The general consensus held that a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a holiday episode). But this time, it's different. The standard components audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but within the context of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The pieces have fallen together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan resembles the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and delivering 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 strangely comforting. And she looks pleased; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, word and glance will be analyzed and criticised, but nonetheless looks relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
Perhaps this is the initial instance in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. Since, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and over the top – but isn't that precisely what Christmas is for? And the talk she's talking might be laughable, but the example she sets genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Anything she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with panache. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the wreath she crafts is stunning, her presents are almost too pretty to tear into. Nothing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she fastens her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a dish in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she folds wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself throughout. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, bursting with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is organized in the likeness of a Christmas ring?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but despite that, after the degree of attention she has weathered from the moment she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of two legendary actresses would struggle to act this naturally. Her decision to alter or even soften her persona, despite it being so persistently, 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 consistently know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a reminder that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you don't have to. We don't have national service these days, and should it be reinstated, it would be unlikely to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you choose to watch and are consumed by longing about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a everyday person, hardly any child fully understands the effort and hard work their mum does in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by picturing her children's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, rather than a chocolate.
