Yes, it's Full of Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the season, it's always hunting season for scrutiny 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 program's first and second seasons apart. The common opinion held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she has returned once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a yuletide episode). But this time, things have shifted. The usual elements audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – remain, but framed of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at most festive family gatherings – dispensing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and contributing 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 quite a personality, but her company is customary and strangely comforting. And she appears pleased; she's causing any harm.
She understands her every micro expression, word and look will be analyzed and criticised, but manages to seem carefree and remarkably at ease.
Perhaps this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. The reason is, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Admittedly, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, silliness and over the top – but isn't that just what Christmas is for? And the talk she's talking might be laughable, but the example she sets appears to be impeccably styled.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she pulls off with style. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the holiday arrangement she makes is stunning, her gifts are practically too exquisite to unwrap. Nothing is mediocre or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't throw a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she creases wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, filled with holiday spirit and left with a intense desire for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where greens is organized in the likeness of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but even so, after the intensity of attention she has faced since she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her unwillingness to alter or even moderate her shtick, despite it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our volatile world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will forever know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a point that will certainly come as a relief: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished national service in this country, and if there were, 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. Be you a royal or a data administrator, no kid fully understands the effort and hard work their parent does in the holiday season. So you can take heart by picturing Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a candy.
