Yes, it's Full of Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the time of year, it's perpetually fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, expert and amateur alike, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when eagerly tearing the series' earlier episodes to pieces. The common opinion seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she is back once again with a "Festive Special" (or a Christmas special). But this time, it's different. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – persist, but set of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan has become the quirky relative at the typical holiday get-together – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and delivering 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 an interesting figure, but her aura is known and strangely comforting. And she seems content; she's not doing any harm.
She is aware her every micro expression, utterance and glance will be picked apart and scrutinized, but still appears relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that clichéd phrase – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – could actually be true. The reason is, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and extravagant – but isn't that precisely what the holiday season is for? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the life she leads seems authentically beautifully curated.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with flair. Her cooking looks tasty, the festive decoration she crafts is gorgeous, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is mediocre or ugly – including the way she secures her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss 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 thoroughly enjoying herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is arranged in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but despite that, after the intensity of examination she has faced ever since she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her decision to alter or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so constantly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our uncertain world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her message, a reminder that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. There isn't the draft anymore, and if there were, it would be improbable to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you decide to tune in and are overcome with longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. If you are a royal or a everyday person, hardly any child truly appreciates the time and energy their mother expends in the holiday season. So you can take heart by picturing the young royals' faces when they reveal a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, in place of a chocolate.
