Indeed, it's Full of Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the time of year, it's perpetually fair game for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when gleefully ripping the series' earlier episodes apart. The general consensus seemed to be a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a holiday episode). But this time, things have shifted. The usual elements we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – persist, but framed of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
Now, Meghan is like the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and contributing 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 presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she looks happy enough; she's inflicting any harm.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, utterance and look will be dissected and scrutinized, but still appears unburdened and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. Because, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels lovely. Admittedly, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and over the top – but isn't that just what the holiday season is for? And the advice she gives might be laughable, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks shop-bought.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she pulls off with flair. Her culinary efforts looks scrumptious, the wreath she makes is stunning, her gifts are almost too pretty to tear into. Nothing is ordinary or ugly – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she wraps gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, filled with seasonal cheer and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is positioned in the form of a wreath?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but even so, after the degree of examination she has faced ever since she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this genuinely. Her decision to modify or even moderate her shtick, even though it being so relentlessly, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile 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 her brand, a thought that will surely come as a reassurance: you don't have to. The UK has abolished national service these days, and were it to return, it would be unlikely to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you choose to watch and are gripped with envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. If you are a duchess or a data administrator, few children fully understands the effort and hard work their mother expends in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by envisioning the young royals' faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a candy.
