Admittedly, it's Packed with Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the season, it's constantly open season for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the series' first and second seasons to shreds. The common opinion seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Christmas Special" (aka a holiday episode). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but within the context of a yuletide episode, it all clicks into place. The puzzle has come into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing unasked-for guidance, and delivering the periodic peculiar declaration. ("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 company is customary and strangely comforting. And she seems happy enough; she's not doing any harm.
She knows her all subtle gestures, utterance and gaze will be analyzed and judged, but still appears unburdened and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. Since, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Admittedly, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, nonsense and extravagant – but is that not just what the holiday season is about? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the example she sets appears to be beautifully curated.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she pulls off with panache. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she crafts is gorgeous, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is average or ugly – including the way she fastens her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she folds wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, overcome by seasonal cheer and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is organized in the form of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, of course, but nonetheless, after the degree of examination she has faced since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her unwillingness to change or even soften her persona, regardless of it being so persistently, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're still not buying her brand, a reminder that will surely come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. There isn't mandatory conscription these days, and if there were, it would be doubtful to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you decide to tune in and are consumed by longing about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a royal or a everyday person, hardly any child fully understands the effort and hard work their mum puts in in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by envisioning her children's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a candy.
