Indeed, it's Brimming with Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually hunting season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to shreds. The general consensus was that a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she is back once again with a "Festive Special" (also known as a Christmas special). However on this occasion, things have shifted. The usual elements audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, extreme hosting – persist, but set of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan is like the quirky relative at most festive family gatherings – providing unasked-for guidance, and delivering 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 company is customary and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems happy enough; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, syllable and glance will be picked apart and criticised, but still appears relaxed and remarkably at ease.
Perhaps this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – may well be true. Because, let's face it, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Yes, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and flamboyant – but doesn't that represent just what Yuletide is for? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the walk she's walking appears to be impeccably styled.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with flair. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the holiday arrangement she creates is stunning, her presents are almost too pretty to open. Nothing is average or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she fastens her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "has a moment", and she creases gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where broccoli is positioned in the form of a Christmas ring?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, naturally, but nonetheless, after the level of scrutiny she has weathered ever since she became involved with Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this naturally. Her decision to modify or even tone down her shtick, regardless of it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you aren't required to. We don't have the draft these days, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are overcome with longing about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a duchess or a data administrator, hardly any child truly appreciates the effort and hard work their mother expends in December. So you can find comfort by picturing the young royals' faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a chocolate.
