Yes, it's Full of Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the time of year, it's always open season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, both professional and armchair, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when gleefully ripping the series' initial installments to shreds. The common opinion held that a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, like a merry renegade master, she is back for another round with a "Festive Special" (also known as a yuletide episode). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The familiar ingredients audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – persist, but within the context of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – 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 an interesting figure, but her company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she seems happy enough; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her every micro expression, syllable and glance will be analyzed and criticised, but nonetheless looks relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
Perhaps this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. The reason is, in all honesty, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is charming. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and over the top – but is that not exactly what Yuletide is all about? And the talk she's talking might be ridiculous, but the life she leads appears to be shop-bought.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she executes with panache. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the wreath she crafts is breathtaking, her presents are practically too exquisite to tear into. Nothing is average or ugly – including the way she secures her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't throw a dish in the oven, it "takes a twirl", and she folds wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is arranged in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the degree of scrutiny she has weathered since she became involved with Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would struggle to act this authentically. Her refusal to modify or even tone down her routine, despite it being so persistently, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our volatile world, here is something we can rely on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will always know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a reminder that will certainly come as a comfort: you aren't required to. We don't have mandatory conscription in this country, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are overcome with longing about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. If you are a royal or a office worker, few children fully understands the effort and hard work their mum does in December. So you can take heart by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, in place of a candy.
