Indeed, it's Packed with Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the season, it's perpetually open season for commentary on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Critics, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the program's initial installments to shreds. The common opinion held that a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Festive Special" (aka a Christmas special). Yet now, it's different. The familiar ingredients audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – remain, but set of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing 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 a bit of a character, but her company is customary and unexpectedly soothing. And she appears happy enough; she's not doing the slightest hurt.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, word and gaze will be picked apart and judged, but still appears relaxed and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the only time in history where that clichéd phrase – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. The reason is, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and over the top – but is that not precisely what Yuletide is about? And the talk she's talking might be laughable, but the walk she's walking seems authentically beautifully curated.
Anything she sets her mind to, she pulls off with style. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she creates is stunning, her presents are almost too pretty to open. Not a single thing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she secures her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't throw a dish in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she folds wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, filled with festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the level of examination she has weathered since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this authentically. Her refusal to alter or even tone down her persona, despite it being so relentlessly, widely parodied, is oddly heartening. In our volatile world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, whatever happens. We will always know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a point that will certainly come as a relief: you aren't required to. There isn't mandatory conscription anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be unlikely to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are gripped with jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a royal or a everyday person, no kid truly appreciates the dedication and labor their mum expends in December. So you can console yourself by picturing the young royals' faces when they reveal a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a chocolate.