Yes, it's Packed with Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. But I Do Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the time of year, it's always hunting season for criticism on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, expert and amateur alike, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when gleefully ripping the program's first and second seasons to pieces. The common opinion was that a more egregious regal scandal had never been witnessed than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, as a festive rebel, she has returned with a new offering with a "Festive Special" (or a holiday episode). However on this occasion, things have shifted. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but framed of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and delivering 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 aura is known and strangely comforting. And she appears content; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, syllable and look will be dissected and criticised, but manages to seem unburdened and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. Since, let's face it, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and flamboyant – but doesn't that represent just what Christmas is all about? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the life she leads appears to be beautifully curated.
Anything she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with panache. Her culinary efforts looks delicious, the holiday arrangement she makes is gorgeous, her presents are practically too exquisite to open. Nothing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she fastens her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a dish in the oven, it "takes a twirl", and she folds gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, filled with seasonal cheer and left with a intense desire for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where broccoli is arranged in the shape of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the level of examination she has endured since she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this naturally. Her refusal to change or even soften her persona, even though it being so relentlessly, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can rely on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're still not buying her message, a point that will surely come as a relief: you aren't required to. We don't have national service in this country, and if there were, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are overcome with longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a office worker, no kid completely grasps the time and energy their mum puts in in December. So you can take heart by picturing Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a chocolate.
