Admittedly, it's Packed with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the time of year, it's always hunting season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the series' first and second seasons apart. The general consensus was that a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned for another round with a "Festive Special" (aka a holiday episode). But this time, things have shifted. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – remain, but set of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The puzzle has come perfectly; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
At this stage, Meghan has become the oddball family member at the typical holiday get-together – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 seems content; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She knows her all subtle gestures, word and glance will be dissected and scrutinized, but still appears carefree and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. Since, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and extravagant – but isn't that precisely what Yuletide is about? And the words she speaks might be absurd, but the walk she's walking appears to be shop-bought.
Anything she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with panache. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the wreath she makes is breathtaking, her gifts are practically too exquisite to tear into. Not a single thing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she fastens her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a dish in the oven, it "has a moment", and she wraps wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any cynical observer not be convinced, bursting with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where greens is organized in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the intensity of examination she has weathered since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of two legendary actresses would struggle to act this authentically. Her refusal to change or even tone down her routine, despite it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, come what may. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a reminder that will certainly come as a reassurance: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished national service in this country, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are consumed by longing about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. Be you a duchess or a everyday person, no kid completely grasps the dedication and labor their mother expends in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by picturing Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a chocolate.
