Admittedly, it's Packed with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when eagerly tearing the series' earlier episodes to pieces. The general consensus held that a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, like a merry renegade master, she has returned for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a Christmas special). Yet now, it's different. The usual elements audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – remain, but set of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing random tips, 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 oddly reassuring. And she looks happy enough; she's causing any harm.
She is aware her every micro expression, utterance and gaze will be dissected and judged, but manages to seem unburdened and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – could actually be true. Since, in all honesty, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and extravagant – but is that not exactly what the holiday season is for? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the life she leads genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Whatever she attempts, she pulls off with flair. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she makes is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to unwrap. Nothing is mediocre or ugly – even the way she fastens her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she creases wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself throughout. 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 positioned in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the degree of scrutiny she has weathered ever since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this naturally. Her refusal to modify or even soften her persona, even though it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will consistently know what to expect with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a thought that will certainly come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are gripped with longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a duchess or a data administrator, few children fully understands the effort and hard work their mum does in December. So you can find comfort by imagining her children's faces when they reveal a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a sweet treat.
