Yes, it's Packed with Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the time of year, it's constantly fair game for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's initial installments to shreds. The prevailing view was that a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned with a new offering with a "Festive Special" (aka a Christmas special). Yet now, the dynamic has changed. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – persist, but framed of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan is like the quirky relative at most festive family gatherings – offering 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 quite a personality, but her aura is known and oddly reassuring. And she looks happy enough; she's causing a bit of damage.
She understands her every micro expression, syllable and glance will be dissected and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
Perhaps this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – may well be true. The reason is, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and flamboyant – but is that not exactly what Yuletide is for? And the words she speaks might be absurd, but the example she sets seems authentically impeccably styled.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she executes with flair. Her culinary efforts looks delicious, the wreath she creates is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Not a single thing is average or visually unappealing – even the way she fastens her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, overcome by festive joy and left with a deep longing for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, naturally, but despite that, after the degree of examination she has faced since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her refusal to modify or even soften her shtick, despite it being so constantly, widely parodied, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will remain herself, whatever happens. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a reminder that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription in this country, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are overcome with envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a royal or a office worker, hardly any child completely grasps the dedication and labor their mum does in December. So you can console yourself by imagining her children's faces when they reveal a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a candy.
