Admittedly, it's Packed with Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the season, it's always fair game for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's initial installments to shreds. The common opinion held that a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she is back for another round with a "Christmas Special" (or a Christmas special). Yet now, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but set of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering unasked-for guidance, and supplying the periodic peculiar declaration. ("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 company is customary and unexpectedly soothing. And she appears pleased; she's not doing any harm.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, syllable and glance will be picked apart and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks carefree and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. Since, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Admittedly, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and flamboyant – but is that not exactly what Yuletide is all about? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the walk she's walking seems authentically beautifully curated.
Whatever she attempts, she accomplishes with flair. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she creates is breathtaking, her presents are almost too pretty to open. Nothing is ordinary or visually unappealing – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she wraps wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be charmed, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the shape of a Christmas ring?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but even so, after the level of attention she has weathered ever since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her unwillingness to change or even soften her routine, despite it being so persistently, widely parodied, is oddly heartening. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will forever know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her message, a thought that will surely come as a reassurance: you are not obligated to. We don't have national service these days, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you choose to watch and are consumed by envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. Whether you're a duchess or a data administrator, few children fully understands the effort and hard work their mum expends in December. So you can console yourself by envisioning the young royals' faces when they reveal a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, in place of a sweet treat.
