Yes, it's Packed with Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the time of year, it's perpetually open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's initial installments to shreds. The general consensus seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the now-infamous pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a holiday episode). Yet now, the dynamic has changed. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – persist, but set of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan resembles the quirky relative at most festive family gatherings – providing unasked-for guidance, 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 presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she seems content; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She knows her all subtle gestures, word and gaze will be picked apart and scrutinized, but still appears unburdened and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – may well be true. Because, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels lovely. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and flamboyant – but doesn't that represent exactly what the holiday season is all about? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the life she leads genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she pulls off with style. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the festive decoration she makes is gorgeous, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to open. Not a single thing is average or ugly – even the way she secures her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a meal in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she creases wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, bursting with festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where greens is positioned in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the degree of scrutiny she has faced since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her refusal to modify or even soften her persona, regardless of it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will be like this, come what may. We will always know our position with her.
If you're still not buying her message, a point that will certainly come as a relief: you don't have to. The UK has abolished the draft anymore, and if there were, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are gripped with envy about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. Whether you're a duchess or a data administrator, hardly any child truly appreciates the time and energy their mum does in December. So you can console yourself by envisioning the young royals' faces when they reveal a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a candy.
