Admittedly, it's Packed with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Love Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the time of year, it's perpetually fair game for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Critics, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's earlier episodes apart. The common opinion seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the notorious snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a holiday episode). Yet now, the dynamic has changed. The familiar ingredients 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 resembles the oddball family member at most festive family gatherings – dispensing random tips, 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 a bit of a character, but her presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she appears happy enough; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She knows her every micro expression, word and look will be picked apart and criticised, but nonetheless looks unburdened and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. Since, let's face it, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and flamboyant – but is that not exactly what the holiday season is about? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the example she sets appears to be shop-bought.
Anything she sets her mind to, she executes with flair. Her culinary efforts looks scrumptious, the holiday arrangement she crafts is breathtaking, her gifts are practically too exquisite to unwrap. Nothing is ordinary or visually unappealing – even the way she secures her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a dish in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she wraps gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, overcome by festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where greens is positioned in the form of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but even so, after the level of scrutiny she has weathered since she became involved with Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her decision to modify or even soften her persona, even though it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will always know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her message, a thought that will surely come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. We don't have national service these days, and if there were, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are gripped with jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. Be you a duchess or a data administrator, no kid completely grasps the dedication and labor their mum does in the holiday season. So you can take heart by imagining her children's faces when they open a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, in place of a candy.
