Indeed, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No considering the season, it's always open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the series' earlier episodes apart. The general consensus held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a holiday episode). Yet now, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but framed of a holiday show, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
Now, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and supplying 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 presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems happy enough; she's causing any harm.
She understands her every micro expression, utterance and glance will be dissected and criticised, but nonetheless looks relaxed and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. Since, in all honesty, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is charming. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and flamboyant – but is that not just what Yuletide is for? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the life she leads genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Anything she sets her mind to, she executes with style. Her recipes looks delicious, the wreath she creates is gorgeous, her gifts are practically too exquisite to open. Nothing is average or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she secures her apron 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 genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, overcome by seasonal cheer and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is arranged in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the intensity of scrutiny she has endured since she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would struggle to act this naturally. Her unwillingness to change or even soften her routine, even though it being so persistently, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a thought that will certainly come as a reassurance: you aren't required to. We don't have national service these days, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are overcome with longing about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. If you are a royal or a data administrator, no kid truly appreciates the time and energy their mother does in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a chocolate.
