Yes, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the season, it's always hunting season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to shreds. The common opinion was that a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she is back once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a yuletide episode). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, extreme hosting – persist, but set of a holiday show, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing random tips, and delivering the occasional strange exclamation. ("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 company is customary and strangely comforting. And she seems content; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, word and look will be analyzed and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks unburdened and remarkably at ease.
Perhaps this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – could actually be true. Since, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels lovely. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, nonsense and over the top – but isn't that just what the holiday season is for? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks shop-bought.
Anything she sets her mind to, she pulls off with style. Her culinary efforts looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she makes is stunning, her gifts are practically too exquisite to open. Nothing is average or ugly – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't throw a dish in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she folds gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, overcome by seasonal cheer and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is arranged in the form of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, of course, but despite that, after the intensity of attention she has weathered from the moment she became involved with Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her unwillingness to change or even moderate her routine, despite it being so persistently, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is something we can rely on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're still not buying her message, a thought that will surely come as a comfort: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished national service anymore, and if there were, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you decide to tune in and are gripped with longing about her idyllic Christmas, all is not lost either. Be you a duchess or a office worker, few children fully understands the dedication and labor their parent does in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by picturing Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a candy.
