Indeed, it's Packed with Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the season, it's always hunting season for criticism on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the program's first and second seasons to pieces. The prevailing view seemed to be a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the notorious snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she is back for another round with a "Christmas Special" (aka a holiday episode). But this time, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – remain, but framed of a yuletide episode, it all clicks into place. The puzzle has come together; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan is like the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing random tips, and delivering 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 aura is known and oddly reassuring. And she appears content; she's causing any harm.
She understands her all subtle gestures, syllable and look will be picked apart and criticised, but still appears unburdened and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. The reason is, let's face it, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and extravagant – but is that not just what Christmas is all about? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the example she sets appears to be beautifully curated.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she executes with panache. Her recipes looks delicious, the festive decoration she makes is stunning, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is average or ugly – even the way she fastens her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she folds wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be charmed, bursting with seasonal cheer and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the form of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but despite that, after the level of examination she has faced since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her refusal to modify or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so constantly, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, no matter what. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her message, a reminder that will certainly come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. There isn't mandatory conscription in this country, and were it to return, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you choose to watch and are consumed by longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a royal or a office worker, few children completely grasps the time and energy their mother puts in in the holiday season. So you can take heart by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a candy.
