Yes, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the time of year, it's perpetually open season for commentary on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have rarely been so united as when gleefully ripping the program's earlier episodes to shreds. The prevailing view held that a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Currently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a yuletide episode). However on this occasion, it's different. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but within the context of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan has become the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing random tips, and supplying 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 strangely comforting. And she looks happy enough; she's causing a bit of damage.
She knows her all subtle gestures, word and glance will be picked apart and criticised, but still appears carefree and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. The reason is, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Granted, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and over the top – but isn't that exactly what Christmas is about? And the advice she gives might be laughable, but the life she leads appears to be impeccably styled.
Anything she sets her mind to, she pulls off with panache. Her recipes looks tasty, the wreath she makes is breathtaking, her presents are practically too exquisite to tear into. Nothing is mediocre or ugly – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't throw a dish in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she creases gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself throughout. How could any cynical observer not be won over, overcome by festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the form of a Christmas ring?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the intensity of attention she has weathered ever since she met Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this naturally. Her unwillingness to alter or even soften her shtick, regardless of it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, come what may. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a thought that will certainly come as a relief: you are not obligated to. We don't have national service these days, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are overcome with longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. Whether you're a duchess or a everyday person, no kid truly appreciates the effort and hard work their parent puts in in December. So you can find comfort 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, rather than a sweet treat.
