Indeed, it's Packed with Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. But I Do Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the time of year, it's always fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the program's initial installments to pieces. The prevailing view held that a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned for another round with a "Festive Special" (or a Christmas special). But this time, it's different. The usual elements viewers are accustomed to – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – persist, but within the context of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan has become the quirky relative at the typical holiday get-together – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 aura is known and unexpectedly soothing. And she appears happy enough; she's not doing any harm.
She knows her every micro expression, syllable and gaze will be dissected and criticised, but still appears relaxed and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. Because, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and over the top – but doesn't that represent exactly what the holiday season is about? And the talk she's talking might be ridiculous, but the example she sets seems authentically shop-bought.
Anything she attempts, she accomplishes with style. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the wreath she makes is stunning, her presents are practically too exquisite to tear into. Not a single thing is mediocre or ugly – including the way she secures her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "takes a twirl", and she creases wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be won over, filled with festive joy and left with a intense desire for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the form of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, of course, but even so, after the level of scrutiny she has faced ever since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her decision to alter or even moderate her routine, regardless of it being so relentlessly, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will always know what to expect with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a reminder that will undoubtedly come as a relief: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished the draft anymore, and were it to return, it would be unlikely to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you decide to tune in and are overcome with envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a royal or a everyday person, no kid fully understands the time and energy their mother does in December. So you can take heart by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, in place of a candy.
