Yes, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No considering the time of year, it's perpetually fair game for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's initial installments apart. The prevailing view seemed to be a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she is back with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a Christmas special). However on this occasion, things have shifted. The usual elements we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but within the context of a holiday show, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing 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 presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she appears happy enough; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She understands her every micro expression, utterance and look will be analyzed and criticised, but manages to seem unburdened and serenely untroubled.
Perhaps this is the initial instance in history where that clichéd phrase – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. Since, in all honesty, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels lovely. Yes, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and flamboyant – but isn't that exactly what Yuletide is for? And the words she speaks might be absurd, but the walk she's walking appears to be beautifully curated.
Anything she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with flair. Her cooking looks tasty, the festive decoration she crafts is stunning, her gifts are practically too exquisite to tear into. Nothing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she ties her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "has a moment", and she folds wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be charmed, overcome by festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the form of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, of course, but even so, after the degree of attention she has faced from the moment she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her refusal to change or even tone down her persona, even though it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her message, a point that will undoubtedly come as a relief: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished national service these days, and were it to return, it would be unlikely to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are overcome with jealousy about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a duchess or a everyday person, few children fully understands the effort and hard work their mum expends in December. So you can console yourself by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a candy.
