Yes, it's Brimming with Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Christmas Special.
No considering the season, it's constantly open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to pieces. The general consensus seemed to be a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned once again with a "Christmas Special" (aka a Christmas special). Yet now, it's different. The standard components we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, intense hospitality – are still present, but within the context of a holiday show, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan is like the quirky relative at most festive family gatherings – providing unasked-for guidance, and contributing 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 aura is known and strangely comforting. And she looks happy enough; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, utterance and gaze will be picked apart and judged, but manages to seem carefree and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. Since, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is charming. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and flamboyant – but isn't that just what Yuletide is for? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the example she sets seems authentically impeccably styled.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she pulls off with panache. Her recipes looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she creates is gorgeous, her gifts are almost too pretty to tear into. Not a single thing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she fastens her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she folds gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself from start to finish. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, filled with holiday spirit and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is organized in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the intensity of examination she has weathered since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her decision to alter or even tone down her persona, despite it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will stay true to form, come what may. We will always know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a thought that will surely come as a comfort: you don't have to. There isn't mandatory conscription in this country, and if there were, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you decide to tune in and are gripped with envy about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a duchess or a data administrator, no kid completely grasps the effort and hard work their parent puts in in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by imagining her children's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a candy.
