Indeed, it's Full of Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the time of year, it's always hunting season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when enthusiastically shredding the program's earlier episodes to shreds. The general consensus was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the notorious snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a Christmas special). Yet now, things have shifted. The familiar ingredients audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, intense hospitality – are still present, but framed of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan has become the oddball family member at the typical holiday get-together – dispensing unasked-for guidance, 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 an interesting figure, but her presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems pleased; she's causing any harm.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, utterance and glance will be dissected and scrutinized, but still appears relaxed and remarkably at ease.
It could be 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, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, silliness and over the top – but is that not precisely what Christmas is about? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the walk she's walking seems authentically impeccably styled.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with flair. Her culinary efforts looks scrumptious, the holiday arrangement she creates is breathtaking, her presents are almost too pretty to unwrap. Not a single thing is average or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she ties her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she wraps wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, filled with festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but even so, after the degree of examination she has endured since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would struggle to act this genuinely. Her unwillingness to change or even moderate her persona, regardless of it being so relentlessly, widely parodied, is oddly heartening. In our volatile world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. We don't have mandatory conscription anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are gripped with jealousy about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. Whether you're a duchess or a data administrator, no kid fully understands the dedication and labor their parent expends in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, rather than a chocolate.
