Yes, it's Brimming with Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. But I Do Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Critics, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when eagerly tearing the series' initial installments apart. The prevailing view held that a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the now-infamous pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she is back with a new offering with a "Festive Special" (aka a yuletide episode). Yet now, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but framed of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
At this stage, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing random tips, and contributing 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 quite a personality, but her company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she looks happy enough; she's inflicting any harm.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, syllable and gaze will be picked apart and criticised, but still appears unburdened and remarkably at ease.
Perhaps this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – may well be true. Because, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and extravagant – but is that not exactly what the holiday season is about? And the talk she's talking might be ridiculous, but the walk she's walking appears to be beautifully curated.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with flair. Her cooking looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she crafts is gorgeous, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is ordinary or ugly – even the way she ties her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't throw a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she creases gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself from start to finish. How could any cynical observer not be won over, bursting with seasonal cheer and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but even so, after the level of scrutiny she has weathered from the moment she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her refusal to alter or even tone down her routine, regardless of it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a point that will surely come as a reassurance: you aren't required to. We don't have national service in this country, and if there were, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are overcome with envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a royal or a data administrator, hardly any child fully understands the dedication and labor their parent does in December. So you can take heart by envisioning her children's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a candy.
