Indeed, it's Full of Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the time of year, it's perpetually open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the program's initial installments apart. The general consensus seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she is back once again with a "Festive Special" (aka a Christmas special). But this time, it's different. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – persist, but framed of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
By this point, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at most festive family gatherings – offering unasked-for guidance, 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 a bit of a character, but her company is customary and strangely comforting. And she looks content; she's inflicting any harm.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, word and look will be analyzed and criticised, but still appears carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. Because, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels lovely. Granted, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and extravagant – but is that not exactly what Yuletide is for? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the example she sets genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she executes with flair. Her culinary efforts looks delicious, the wreath she makes is gorgeous, her presents are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Nothing is average or ugly – even the way she fastens her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she wraps gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is positioned in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the intensity of examination she has endured from the moment she became involved with Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her unwillingness to alter or even tone down her shtick, even though it being so constantly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're still not buying her message, a reminder that will certainly come as a comfort: you don't have to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription these days, 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 overcome with jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a royal or a everyday person, hardly any child truly appreciates the dedication and labor their mother puts in in December. So you can take heart by imagining her children's faces when they reveal a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a candy.
