Yes, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the season, it's constantly hunting season for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the program's first and second seasons apart. The common opinion seemed to be a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had hardly ever taken place than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she is back with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a yuletide episode). But this time, it's different. The usual elements viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, extreme hosting – remain, but within the context of a holiday show, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering random tips, and supplying 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 quite a personality, but her presence is familiar and oddly reassuring. And she appears content; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her every micro expression, utterance and gaze will be analyzed and criticised, but manages to seem carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. The reason is, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is charming. Yes, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and over the top – but is that not precisely what Yuletide is all about? And the advice she gives might be laughable, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Anything she sets her mind to, she pulls off with style. Her cooking looks delicious, the wreath she crafts is gorgeous, her presents are practically too exquisite to unwrap. Nothing is mediocre or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't throw a meal in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she folds wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, filled with festive joy and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but even so, after the intensity of examination she has endured ever since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her unwillingness to alter or even soften her persona, regardless of it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will remain herself, whatever happens. We will forever know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished the draft in this country, and if there were, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you decide to tune in and are consumed by longing about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a duchess or a everyday person, no kid fully understands the time and energy their mother expends in December. So you can find comfort by envisioning her children's faces when they unfold a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a sweet treat.
