Yes, it's Brimming with Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Love Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the time of year, it's always fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's initial installments to pieces. The general consensus seemed to be a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (aka a Christmas special). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but within the context of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – offering unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and supplying 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 a bit of a character, but her presence is familiar and oddly reassuring. And she seems happy enough; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She understands her all subtle gestures, utterance and look will be dissected and criticised, but still appears carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. Since, in all honesty, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels charming. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, silliness and extravagant – but isn't that just what the holiday season is for? And the words she speaks might be absurd, but the walk she's walking appears to be shop-bought.
Anything she attempts, she pulls off with panache. Her cooking looks delicious, the festive decoration she creates is breathtaking, her presents are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is average or visually unappealing – including the way she ties her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't throw a meal in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she folds gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, filled with holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where greens is organized in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, naturally, but despite that, after the degree of attention she has endured ever since she met Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would struggle to act this authentically. Her refusal to alter or even soften her shtick, regardless of it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable 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 not yet convinced by her message, a point that will certainly come as a reassurance: you don't have to. We don't have mandatory conscription these days, and if there were, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are consumed by jealousy about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a duchess or a everyday person, no kid truly appreciates the time and energy their parent expends in the holiday season. So you can take heart by picturing 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 chocolate.
