Yes, it's Full of Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the season, it's constantly open season for criticism on the Meghan Markle's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the series' earlier episodes apart. The prevailing view seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a holiday episode). Yet now, it's different. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – psychobabble word salads, intense hospitality – are still present, but within the context of a yuletide episode, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan has become the oddball family member at most festive family gatherings – dispensing random tips, and supplying 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 quite a personality, but her aura is known and strangely comforting. And she appears content; she's not doing any harm.
She is aware her every micro expression, syllable and gaze will be picked apart and criticised, but still appears carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
Perhaps this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. The reason is, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and flamboyant – but is that not exactly what Christmas is all about? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the example she sets appears to be shop-bought.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she pulls off with panache. Her culinary efforts looks delicious, the wreath she crafts is stunning, her gifts are almost too pretty to open. Not a single thing is average or ugly – even the way she secures her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't throw a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she creases gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be won over, bursting with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is arranged in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the degree of attention she has faced ever since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her refusal to alter or even moderate her persona, even though it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will consistently know what to expect with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a relief: you are not obligated to. There isn't the draft these days, and should it be reinstated, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are consumed by envy about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. If you are a royal or a data administrator, no kid fully understands the dedication and labor their mum expends in the holiday season. So you can take heart by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, rather than a candy.
