Yes, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the season, it's constantly open season for commentary on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when enthusiastically shredding the program's initial installments to shreds. The common opinion was that a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she is back for another round with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a holiday episode). Yet now, the dynamic has changed. The standard components audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, intense hospitality – are still present, but framed of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan resembles the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing 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 strangely comforting. And she seems pleased; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, utterance and look will be dissected and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks relaxed and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. Since, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Granted, it's all cringily ultra-extra, nonsense and over the top – but isn't that precisely what Christmas is all about? And the talk she's talking might be laughable, but the example she sets appears to be impeccably styled.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with flair. Her cooking looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she makes is breathtaking, her presents are almost too pretty to unwrap. Nothing is average or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she secures her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't bung a dish in the oven, it "has a moment", and she creases gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is arranged in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but nonetheless, after the level of attention she has weathered since she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would struggle to act this naturally. Her refusal to alter or even moderate her shtick, despite it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a point that will certainly come as a reassurance: you don't have to. We don't have national service these days, and should it be reinstated, it would be doubtful to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you decide to tune in and are gripped with envy about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. Be you a royal or a office worker, hardly any child completely grasps the effort and hard work their mum does in the holiday season. So you can take heart by picturing her children's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a candy.
