Indeed, it's Packed with Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the season, it's perpetually open season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the program's first and second seasons to pieces. The general consensus seemed to be a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she is back for another round with a "Festive Special" (aka a yuletide episode). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The standard components audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – are still present, but set of a holiday show, the purpose becomes clear. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
By this point, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at the typical holiday get-together – offering unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and supplying 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 aura is known and oddly reassuring. And she seems pleased; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She understands her all subtle gestures, utterance and gaze will be analyzed and judged, but manages to seem carefree and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. Because, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and flamboyant – but isn't that just what the holiday season is for? And the talk she's talking might be ridiculous, but the example she sets appears to be impeccably styled.
Anything she attempts, she executes with style. Her cooking looks delicious, the festive decoration she makes is stunning, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is mediocre or ugly – even the way she secures her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she folds wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be won over, filled with festive joy and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but nonetheless, after the intensity of examination she has weathered since she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of two legendary actresses would struggle to act this genuinely. Her refusal to alter or even tone down her routine, despite it being so constantly, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a point that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. We don't have mandatory conscription in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are consumed by envy about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a duchess or a everyday person, few children completely grasps the effort and hard work their parent puts in in the holiday season. So you can take heart by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a sweet treat.
