Indeed, it's Packed with Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the season, it's constantly fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the series' first and second seasons to shreds. The general consensus seemed to be a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the much-discussed pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, as a festive rebel, she is back for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a Christmas special). Yet now, things have shifted. The standard components audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, intense hospitality – remain, but within the context of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and supplying the odd random outburst. ("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 strangely comforting. And she looks content; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, word and gaze will be picked apart and judged, but nonetheless looks relaxed and remarkably at ease.
Perhaps this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. The reason is, let's face it, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and over the top – but isn't that precisely what the holiday season is for? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the walk she's walking appears to be beautifully curated.
Whatever she attempts, she pulls off with panache. Her cooking looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she creates is breathtaking, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Nothing is ordinary or ugly – even the way she ties her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a dish in the oven, it "has a moment", and she wraps gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, bursting with festive joy and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where greens is positioned in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, naturally, but nonetheless, after the intensity of scrutiny she has endured ever since she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would struggle to act this authentically. Her refusal to change or even soften her persona, despite it being so constantly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will be like this, come what may. We will forever know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her message, a point that will certainly come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished the draft in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include watching 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. If you are a royal or a data administrator, few children fully understands the effort and hard work their mum expends in December. So you can take heart by picturing her children'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.
