Indeed, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually open season for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the series' earlier episodes apart. The general consensus held that a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a Christmas special). But this time, the dynamic has changed. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, intense hospitality – remain, but framed of a holiday show, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – providing random tips, and contributing the occasional strange exclamation. ("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 presence is familiar and oddly reassuring. And she looks pleased; she's causing a bit of damage.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, syllable and look will be dissected and criticised, but nonetheless looks relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. The reason is, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, nonsense and flamboyant – but isn't that just what Yuletide is for? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Anything she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with panache. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the wreath she crafts is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Not a single thing is average or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she ties her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she folds gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, filled with seasonal cheer and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where greens is positioned in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but even so, after the level of examination she has faced ever since she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her decision to alter or even moderate her routine, regardless of it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a reminder that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you aren't required to. We don't have mandatory conscription anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you decide to tune in and are gripped with envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a everyday person, hardly any child fully understands the time and energy their parent puts in 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.
