Yes, it's Brimming with Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. But I Do Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the time of year, it's constantly fair game for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when enthusiastically shredding the program's initial installments to pieces. The common opinion seemed to be a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Now, like a merry renegade master, she is back once again with a "Festive Special" (also known as a yuletide episode). Yet now, it's different. The usual elements we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but set of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan resembles the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing 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 company is customary and unexpectedly soothing. And she appears pleased; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, utterance and look will be analyzed and scrutinized, but still appears carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
Perhaps this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. Since, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, silliness and extravagant – but doesn't that represent just what Yuletide is about? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the example she sets seems authentically shop-bought.
Whatever she attempts, she accomplishes with flair. Her recipes looks delicious, the wreath she makes is stunning, her presents are practically too exquisite to open. Nothing is average or visually unappealing – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she folds gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, bursting with holiday spirit and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is organized in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the level of examination she has faced since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would struggle to act this authentically. Her unwillingness to modify or even tone down her persona, even though it being so constantly, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can rely 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 point that will certainly come as a relief: you don't have to. There isn't the draft in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you decide to tune in and are consumed by jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. Whether you're a duchess or a office worker, hardly any child fully understands the effort and hard work their mother expends in December. So you can find comfort by imagining her children's faces when they reveal a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a candy.
