Indeed, it's Full of Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Love Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the time of year, it's always open season for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when gleefully ripping the lifestyle show's first and second seasons apart. The general consensus seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned once again with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a yuletide episode). Yet now, the dynamic has changed. The standard components audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – persist, but set of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan is like the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and contributing 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 aura is known and strangely comforting. And she appears happy enough; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, word and glance will be dissected and scrutinized, but still appears unburdened and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the initial instance in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. Since, let's face it, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and extravagant – but doesn't that represent precisely what Yuletide is about? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the example she sets appears to be shop-bought.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with style. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she creates is gorgeous, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she fastens her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she wraps wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be charmed, filled with festive joy and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is arranged in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the degree of attention she has weathered from the moment she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would struggle to act this naturally. Her decision to modify or even tone down her shtick, regardless of it being so persistently, widely parodied, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will forever know our position with her.
If you're still not buying her brand, a thought that will surely come as a comfort: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished national service these days, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are overcome with jealousy about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. Whether you're a royal or a everyday person, no kid fully understands the effort and hard work their mum does in the holiday season. So you can take heart by envisioning the young royals' faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a chocolate.
