Yes, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the time of year, it's constantly open season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have seldom found such common ground as when eagerly tearing the series' first and second seasons to shreds. The general consensus held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she has returned for another round with a "Festive Special" (aka a Christmas special). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – psychobabble word salads, intense hospitality – persist, but within the context of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing random tips, 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 an interesting figure, but her presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she seems happy enough; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, syllable and glance will be picked apart and judged, but nonetheless looks carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. The reason is, in all honesty, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and extravagant – but doesn't that represent just what Christmas is all about? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the life she leads genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she pulls off with panache. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the wreath she makes is gorgeous, her presents are almost too pretty to open. Nothing is ordinary or visually unappealing – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "has a moment", and she creases wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be won over, bursting with festive joy and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is organized in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the intensity of examination she has faced from the moment she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would struggle to act this genuinely. Her unwillingness to alter or even tone down her persona, regardless of it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our uncertain world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, come what may. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a reminder that will certainly come as a relief: you don't have to. There isn't the draft anymore, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are consumed by jealousy about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. Be you a royal or a everyday person, few children truly appreciates the dedication and labor their mother expends in the holiday season. So you can take heart by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, rather than a sweet treat.
