Indeed, it's Full of Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the time of year, it's perpetually open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have rarely been so united as when gleefully ripping the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to shreds. The prevailing view seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned with a new offering with a "Festive Special" (aka a Christmas special). Yet now, it's different. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but set of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at the typical holiday get-together – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she seems content; she's causing any harm.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, utterance and glance will be picked apart and judged, but still appears carefree and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the initial instance in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. Because, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels charming. Yes, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and extravagant – but doesn't that represent exactly what Christmas is all about? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the life she leads genuinely looks shop-bought.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she pulls off with flair. Her recipes looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she crafts is breathtaking, her gifts are practically too exquisite to open. Not a single thing is ordinary or visually unappealing – even the way she secures her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't throw a dish in the oven, it "has a moment", and she creases wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any cynical observer not be convinced, bursting with holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where broccoli is organized in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, naturally, but even so, after the degree of scrutiny she has faced from the moment she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her unwillingness to modify or even soften her routine, even though it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a point that will certainly come as a reassurance: you aren't required to. We don't have the draft anymore, and were it to return, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are overcome with jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, you can take solace either. Be you a royal or a office worker, no kid truly appreciates the dedication and labor their parent puts in in December. So you can take heart by envisioning the young royals' faces when they reveal a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a chocolate.
