Admittedly, it's Full of Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the season, it's constantly fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the program's first and second seasons apart. The prevailing view seemed to be a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she has returned for another round with a "Festive Special" (also known as a Christmas special). But this time, things have shifted. The usual elements audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, extreme hosting – are still present, but within the context of a yuletide episode, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at most festive family gatherings – offering unasked-for guidance, 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 quite a personality, but her aura is known and strangely comforting. And she seems happy enough; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, utterance and look will be dissected and scrutinized, but still appears unburdened and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the only time in history where that clichéd phrase – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. Since, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels lovely. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and flamboyant – but isn't that precisely what Christmas is for? And the advice she gives might be laughable, but the walk she's walking seems authentically beautifully curated.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she executes with flair. Her cooking looks tasty, the wreath she crafts is gorgeous, her presents are almost too pretty to unwrap. Nothing is mediocre or ugly – even the way she ties her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a meal in the oven, it "has a moment", and she folds gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any cynical observer not be won over, bursting with seasonal cheer and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where broccoli is positioned in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, of course, but even so, after the level of examination she has weathered since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of two legendary actresses would struggle to act this genuinely. Her decision to change or even tone down her shtick, even though it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're still not buying her message, a reminder that will surely come as a comfort: you don't have to. We don't have mandatory conscription these days, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are consumed by envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a everyday person, no kid truly appreciates the dedication and labor their mum does in December. So you can console yourself by picturing her children's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a chocolate.
