Indeed, it's Brimming with Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the time of year, it's perpetually open season for criticism on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, expert and amateur alike, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the series' earlier episodes apart. The prevailing view held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a holiday episode). Yet now, it's different. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – persist, but set of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan has become the oddball family member at the typical holiday get-together – offering unasked-for guidance, and delivering 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 a bit of a character, but her presence is familiar and oddly reassuring. And she appears content; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She knows her all subtle gestures, utterance and look will be analyzed and criticised, but nonetheless looks relaxed and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the initial instance in history where that clichéd phrase – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. Since, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and over the top – but is that not precisely what the holiday season is about? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the walk she's walking appears to be beautifully curated.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she pulls off with panache. Her cooking looks tasty, the festive decoration she crafts is breathtaking, her gifts are almost too pretty to tear into. Nothing is mediocre or ugly – even the way she fastens her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a dish in the oven, it "takes a twirl", and she creases gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be charmed, filled with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a Christmas ring?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but even so, after the intensity of scrutiny she has endured ever since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her decision to change or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, is weirdly comforting. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're still not buying her brand, a reminder that will surely come as a relief: you don't have to. There isn't the draft in this country, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you decide to tune in and are gripped with jealousy about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. Whether you're a duchess or a everyday person, hardly any child truly appreciates the effort and hard work their parent expends in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a chocolate.
