Yes, it's Full of Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the season, it's always fair game for commentary on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to pieces. The common opinion seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had never been witnessed than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a Christmas special). But this time, things have shifted. The familiar ingredients audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, intense hospitality – remain, but within the context of a holiday show, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come into place; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
Now, Meghan resembles the quirky relative at most festive family gatherings – dispensing unasked-for guidance, and supplying 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 a bit of a character, but her presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she appears pleased; she's causing any harm.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, word and glance will be picked apart and scrutinized, but manages to seem carefree and serenely untroubled.
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. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and flamboyant – but doesn't that represent exactly what the holiday season is about? And the talk she's talking might be laughable, but the life she leads genuinely looks shop-bought.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with flair. Her culinary efforts looks delicious, the festive decoration she creates is gorgeous, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is mediocre or ugly – including the way she secures her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she creases gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be won over, bursting with festive joy and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where broccoli is arranged in the form of a wreath?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but even so, after the level of scrutiny she has weathered ever since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her unwillingness to change or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will consistently 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. We don't have the draft anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are overcome with jealousy about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a office worker, hardly any child fully understands the time and energy their mum expends in December. So you can find comfort by envisioning her children's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a sweet treat.