Indeed, it's Full of Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the season, it's perpetually fair game for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when gleefully ripping the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to pieces. The general consensus held that a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a yuletide episode). Yet now, it's different. The usual elements viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but framed of a holiday show, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and contributing 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 aura is known and strangely comforting. And she appears pleased; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She understands her all subtle gestures, syllable and gaze will be picked apart and criticised, but nonetheless looks carefree and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. Since, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is charming. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and extravagant – but isn't that exactly what Yuletide is for? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the life she leads seems authentically shop-bought.
Anything she sets her mind to, she pulls off with panache. Her cooking looks delicious, the holiday arrangement she creates is gorgeous, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is ordinary or ugly – even the way she ties her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a meal in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she creases gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be won over, overcome by festive joy and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a Christmas ring?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but even so, after the level of scrutiny she has endured ever since she met Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this naturally. Her refusal to alter or even tone down her persona, even though it being so persistently, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will be like this, come what may. We will forever know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her message, a point that will surely come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. There isn't the draft anymore, and were it to return, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are overcome with jealousy about her idyllic Christmas, all is not lost either. Be you a royal or a office worker, no kid truly appreciates the time and energy their mother does in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by imagining her children's faces when they unfold a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a candy.
