Indeed, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No considering the season, it's always fair game for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the series' earlier episodes to shreds. The prevailing view held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (aka a holiday episode). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – persist, but set of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan resembles the quirky relative at the typical holiday get-together – dispensing unasked-for guidance, 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 quite a personality, but her company is customary and strangely comforting. And she seems pleased; she's causing a bit of damage.
She understands her every micro expression, utterance and look will be picked apart and scrutinized, but manages to seem carefree and remarkably at ease.
Perhaps this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – may well be true. The reason is, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and flamboyant – but doesn't that represent exactly what the holiday season is about? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the example she sets genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with flair. Her recipes looks delicious, the holiday arrangement she makes is breathtaking, her presents are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she secures her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a meal in the oven, it "takes a twirl", and she wraps gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, naturally, but even so, after the degree of scrutiny she has weathered from the moment she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this authentically. Her refusal to modify or even soften her routine, regardless of it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. There isn't national service anymore, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you choose to watch and are overcome with envy about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. Be you a royal or a everyday person, few children truly appreciates the dedication and labor their parent puts in in the holiday season. So you can take heart by imagining the young royals' faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a sweet treat.