Admittedly, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually fair game for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's earlier episodes apart. The general consensus held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the notorious snack re-labeling incident.
Presently, as a festive rebel, she is back once again with a "Christmas Special" (aka a holiday episode). Yet now, things have shifted. The standard components we've come to expect – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – persist, but within the context of a yuletide episode, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing random tips, and contributing 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 aura is known and strangely comforting. And she seems pleased; she's causing a bit of damage.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, syllable and look will be dissected and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. The reason is, in all honesty, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is charming. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, nonsense and extravagant – but isn't that just what Christmas is all about? And the words she speaks might be absurd, but the life she leads seems authentically impeccably styled.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with flair. Her cooking looks tasty, the festive decoration she crafts is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to unwrap. Nothing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't toss a meal in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she creases wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, filled with seasonal cheer and left with a intense desire for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but nonetheless, after the degree of examination she has endured ever since she met Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her decision to change or even soften her persona, regardless of it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a reminder that will surely come as a comfort: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished national service these days, and were it to return, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you decide to tune in and are consumed by jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a office worker, no kid truly appreciates the time and energy their mum puts in in the holiday season. So you can take heart by picturing the young royals' faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a sweet treat.
