Indeed, it's Full of Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the time of year, it's perpetually hunting season for commentary on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's earlier episodes apart. The general consensus held that a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the much-discussed pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (or a yuletide episode). However on this occasion, it's different. The usual elements viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, extreme hosting – remain, but set of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid together; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
Now, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at the typical holiday get-together – dispensing random tips, and supplying 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 a bit of a character, but her aura is known and strangely comforting. And she looks content; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, utterance and gaze will be dissected and judged, but manages to seem carefree and serenely untroubled.
Perhaps this is the only time in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. The reason is, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Yes, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and flamboyant – but is that not precisely what Yuletide is all about? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the life she leads genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Anything she sets her mind to, she executes with panache. Her recipes looks delicious, the holiday arrangement she creates is gorgeous, her presents are practically too exquisite to open. Not a single thing is average or ugly – even the way she secures her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't toss a dish in the oven, it "takes a twirl", and she wraps wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any cynical observer not be convinced, filled with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is positioned in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, of course, but nonetheless, after the degree of attention she has faced ever since she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her decision to alter or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will always know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her message, a reminder 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 unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are gripped with jealousy about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a duchess or a everyday person, no kid completely grasps the time and energy their mother expends in December. So you can console yourself by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a chocolate.
