Indeed, it's Packed with Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Love Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually open season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's first and second seasons to pieces. The common opinion was that a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned for another round with a "Festive Special" (or a yuletide episode). Yet now, the dynamic has changed. The standard components we've come to expect – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – remain, but set of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at most festive family gatherings – dispensing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 an interesting figure, but her presence is familiar and oddly reassuring. And she appears happy enough; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, syllable and glance will be picked apart and judged, but manages to seem unburdened and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. Since, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is charming. Yes, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and extravagant – but is that not just what Yuletide is for? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with flair. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the wreath she crafts is stunning, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to unwrap. Nothing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, filled with festive joy and left with a deep longing for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but even so, after the level of attention she has endured from the moment she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her unwillingness to alter or even tone down her shtick, even though it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a point that will undoubtedly come as a relief: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished national service anymore, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you choose to watch and are gripped with envy about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. Be you a duchess or a office worker, hardly any child completely grasps the dedication and labor their mum does in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by picturing her children's faces when they open a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, rather than a sweet treat.
