Admittedly, it's Packed with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the time of year, it's constantly hunting season for commentary on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to shreds. The common opinion held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a holiday episode). Yet now, it's different. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but within the context of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The puzzle has come perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan has become the quirky relative at the typical holiday get-together – offering unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and delivering 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 looks happy enough; she's not doing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her every micro expression, utterance and gaze will be picked apart and criticised, but still appears relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – could actually be true. The reason is, let's face it, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is charming. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, nonsense and flamboyant – but is that not exactly what Yuletide is all about? And the advice she gives might be laughable, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she executes with panache. Her cooking looks tasty, the festive decoration she crafts is stunning, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is mediocre or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she secures her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't throw a dish in the oven, it "has a moment", and she wraps wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be won over, bursting with festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but even so, after the degree of scrutiny she has faced ever since she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her unwillingness to alter or even tone down her shtick, despite it being so constantly, widely parodied, is oddly heartening. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can rely 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 point that will surely come as a relief: you aren't required to. There isn't national service in this country, and were it to return, 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 idyllic Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a duchess or a data administrator, no kid truly appreciates the time and energy their mum does in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by envisioning her children's faces when they open a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, rather than a chocolate.
