Admittedly, it's Brimming with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the time of year, it's constantly open season for criticism on the Meghan Markle's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the program's earlier episodes to shreds. The general consensus seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she has returned for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a Christmas special). But this time, things have shifted. The standard components we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, intense hospitality – persist, but within the context of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan resembles the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – offering unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and supplying 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 presence is familiar and oddly reassuring. And she seems content; she's not doing the slightest hurt.
She knows her all subtle gestures, utterance and gaze will be picked apart and scrutinized, but still appears unburdened and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. The reason is, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and flamboyant – but is that not precisely what Yuletide is all about? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the example she sets genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Anything she attempts, she accomplishes with style. Her recipes looks delicious, the festive decoration she makes is breathtaking, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Nothing is mediocre or visually unappealing – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she folds wrapping 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, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where greens is positioned in the shape of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the intensity of scrutiny she has faced since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this naturally. Her unwillingness to change or even soften her routine, despite it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a reminder that will undoubtedly come as a relief: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are consumed by envy about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a royal or a everyday person, hardly any child truly appreciates the dedication and labor their mother does in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by imagining the young royals' faces when they reveal a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, rather than a candy.
