Admittedly, it's Full of Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the season, it's always hunting season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when eagerly tearing the program's earlier episodes apart. The common opinion held that a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the notorious snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned for another round with a "Christmas Special" (aka a Christmas special). Yet now, things have shifted. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, extreme hosting – persist, but within the context of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come together; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan has become the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing random tips, and delivering 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 presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she appears pleased; she's causing any harm.
She understands her all subtle gestures, utterance and glance will be dissected and judged, but still appears unburdened and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. Since, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and over the top – but is that not exactly what the holiday season is all about? And the advice she gives might be laughable, but the walk she's walking appears to be shop-bought.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she executes with panache. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she creates is gorgeous, her gifts are practically too exquisite to unwrap. Not a single thing is average or ugly – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she wraps wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, filled with festive joy and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the form of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the level of examination she has endured since she became involved with Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her refusal to modify or even tone down her shtick, regardless of it being so persistently, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, whatever happens. We will forever know where we are with her.
If you're still not buying her brand, a point that will undoubtedly come as a reassurance: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription these days, and should it be reinstated, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are overcome with longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a duchess or a office worker, no kid completely grasps the effort and hard work their parent expends in the holiday season. So you can take heart by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a sweet treat.
