Admittedly, it's Packed with Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the season, it's constantly fair game for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the series' earlier episodes to pieces. The prevailing view was that a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she is back once again with a "Festive Special" (aka a Christmas special). However on this occasion, it's different. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – persist, but framed of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan has become the quirky relative at most festive family gatherings – dispensing random tips, 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 a bit of a character, but her company is customary and strangely comforting. And she looks happy enough; she's not doing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her every micro expression, syllable and glance will be dissected and scrutinized, but manages to seem relaxed and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. Since, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Granted, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and over the top – but is that not precisely what Yuletide is about? And the words she speaks might be absurd, but the life she leads genuinely looks shop-bought.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she pulls off with style. Her recipes looks tasty, the wreath she crafts is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't throw a dish in the oven, it "has a moment", and she wraps wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be won over, overcome by seasonal cheer and left with a deep longing for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, of course, but nonetheless, after the degree of scrutiny she has endured since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this naturally. Her decision to modify or even moderate her routine, despite it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will be like this, come what may. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a reminder that will surely come as a reassurance: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished the draft these days, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are consumed by jealousy about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. Be you a royal or a data administrator, few children fully understands the dedication and labor their mum does in December. So you can take heart by picturing the young royals' faces when they open a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, in place of a sweet treat.
