Indeed, it's Full of Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the time of year, it's perpetually open season for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's first and second seasons to pieces. The common opinion seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had never been witnessed than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she has returned with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a Christmas special). But this time, it's different. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – persist, but set of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
By this point, Meghan is like the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing random tips, 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 an interesting figure, but her company is customary and strangely comforting. And she appears happy enough; she's not doing any harm.
She understands her all subtle gestures, syllable and gaze will be dissected and judged, but still appears carefree and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. Since, in all honesty, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels charming. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and extravagant – but isn't that just what the holiday season is about? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the walk she's walking appears to be beautifully curated.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with style. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she makes is gorgeous, her presents are almost too pretty to open. Nothing is mediocre or ugly – including the way she secures her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, filled with holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but even so, after the level of attention she has weathered since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her decision to modify or even moderate her persona, despite it being so persistently, widely parodied, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will stay true to form, come what may. We will forever know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her message, a reminder that will undoubtedly come as a reassurance: you are not obligated to. There isn't mandatory conscription these days, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are overcome with jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a duchess or a everyday person, few children truly appreciates the time and energy their parent expends in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by picturing Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a sweet treat.
