Indeed, it's Packed with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the time of year, it's constantly open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the series' first and second seasons to pieces. The prevailing view was that a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback once again with a "Christmas Special" (or a Christmas special). Yet now, it's different. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – persist, but set of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan is like the oddball family member at most festive family gatherings – offering unasked-for guidance, and contributing 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 an interesting figure, but her company is customary and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems happy enough; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She knows her all subtle gestures, word and glance will be dissected and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
Perhaps this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. Because, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, nonsense and over the top – but is that not just what Yuletide is for? And the talk she's talking might be laughable, but the walk she's walking seems authentically shop-bought.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she executes with panache. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the wreath she makes is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is ordinary or visually unappealing – including the way she secures her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she creases gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be won over, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but even so, after the degree of attention she has faced ever since she became involved with Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her refusal to modify or even moderate her persona, regardless of it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. 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 comfort: you don't have to. We don't have national service anymore, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are consumed by jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a royal or a data administrator, few children truly appreciates the effort and hard work their parent puts in in the holiday season. So you can take heart by imagining her children's faces when they reveal a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a candy.
