Indeed, it's Full of Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. But I Do Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the time of year, it's constantly hunting season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's initial installments apart. The prevailing view held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she is back once again with a "Festive Special" (aka a Christmas special). Yet now, things have shifted. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but set of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and delivering 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 an interesting figure, but her aura is known and strangely comforting. And she appears happy enough; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, utterance and look will be dissected and judged, but manages to seem carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. The reason is, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is charming. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, nonsense and flamboyant – but is that not just what the holiday season is for? And the advice she gives might be laughable, but the walk she's walking seems authentically beautifully curated.
Whatever she attempts, she pulls off with flair. Her recipes looks delicious, the wreath she creates is breathtaking, her gifts are practically too exquisite to tear into. Nothing is ordinary or visually unappealing – including the way she secures her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't throw a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she creases gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be won over, bursting with festive joy and left with a powerful yearning 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, naturally, but even so, after the degree of examination she has endured ever since she became involved with Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her decision to modify or even tone down her routine, regardless of it being so persistently, widely parodied, is oddly heartening. In our uncertain world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a reminder that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you don't have to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you choose to watch and are consumed by longing about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. Whether you're a royal or a office worker, few children truly appreciates the dedication and labor their mother does in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by imagining her children's faces when they unfold a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, in place of a chocolate.
