Yes, it's Brimming with Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the time of year, it's always hunting season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the program's earlier episodes to pieces. The prevailing view was that a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Presently, like a merry renegade master, she is back for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a Christmas special). Yet now, it's different. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – are still present, but set of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
Now, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing random tips, and contributing 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 quite a personality, but her company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she appears content; she's not doing any harm.
She understands her all subtle gestures, syllable and glance will be dissected and scrutinized, but manages to seem unburdened and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. Since, let's face it, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and over the top – but is that not exactly what the holiday season is for? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the example she sets appears to be beautifully curated.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she pulls off with panache. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she makes is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she secures her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't throw a meal in the oven, it "has a moment", and she wraps gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself from start to finish. How could any cynical observer not be won over, bursting with festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where greens is positioned in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, naturally, but despite that, after the intensity of examination she has weathered from the moment she became involved with Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her decision to alter or even soften her persona, regardless of it being so constantly, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will consistently know what to expect with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a reminder that will surely come as a relief: you don't have to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription anymore, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are consumed by jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, you can take solace either. Whether you're a duchess or a data administrator, no kid truly appreciates the effort and hard work their mother does in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by picturing her children's faces when they reveal a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a candy.
