Yes, it's Full of Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually open season for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have rarely been so united as when gleefully ripping the lifestyle show's initial installments to pieces. The general consensus was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the notorious snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she is back once again with a "Christmas Special" (or a Christmas special). But this time, it's different. The standard components we've come to expect – vague self-help platitudes, extreme hosting – persist, but framed of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen together; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
By this point, Meghan has become the oddball family member at most festive family gatherings – offering unasked-for guidance, 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 quite a personality, but her aura is known and oddly reassuring. And she appears happy enough; she's not doing any harm.
She is aware her every micro expression, word and look will be picked apart and judged, but still appears relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. Since, in all honesty, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and flamboyant – but is that not exactly what the holiday season is about? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the life she leads seems authentically impeccably styled.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she executes with style. Her cooking looks tasty, the wreath she creates is breathtaking, her gifts are practically too exquisite to tear into. Nothing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she ties her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't toss a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, filled with seasonal cheer and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the likeness of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the degree of attention she has faced since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of two legendary actresses would have difficulty behaving this genuinely. Her refusal to alter or even moderate her shtick, even though it being so relentlessly, widely parodied, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a reminder that will certainly come as a relief: you don't have to. The UK has abolished national service anymore, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are consumed by jealousy about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a duchess or a office worker, no kid truly appreciates the time and energy their parent puts in in December. So you can console yourself by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's 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 candy.
