Yes, it's Packed with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No considering the season, it's perpetually fair game for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the series' first and second seasons apart. The prevailing view seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she is back with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (or a Christmas special). But this time, things have shifted. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, intense hospitality – are still present, but within the context of a holiday show, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come into place; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering random tips, 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 a bit of a character, but her company is customary and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems happy enough; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, syllable and look will be dissected and criticised, but nonetheless looks unburdened and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. Because, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and extravagant – but is that not precisely what Christmas is about? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the example she sets seems authentically impeccably styled.
Anything she attempts, she executes with flair. Her recipes looks tasty, the wreath she crafts is gorgeous, her gifts are almost too pretty to tear into. Nothing is mediocre or visually unappealing – even the way she ties her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she creases wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, filled with holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is arranged in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, of course, but despite that, after the level of attention she has weathered since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her decision to alter or even moderate her routine, despite it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will be like this, come what may. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a reminder that will surely come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you decide to tune in and are gripped with longing about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a duchess or a data administrator, hardly any child fully understands the time and energy their mother does in December. So you can find comfort by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a chocolate.
