Admittedly, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually open season for criticism on the Meghan Markle's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when eagerly tearing the series' initial installments apart. The general consensus was that a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned once again with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a yuletide episode). But this time, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, extreme hosting – are still present, but set of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
Now, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing random tips, and delivering the odd random outburst. ("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 aura is known and strangely comforting. And she appears happy enough; she's not doing any harm.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, utterance and gaze will be dissected and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks unburdened and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. Because, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and over the top – but is that not just what Christmas is for? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she pulls off with style. Her cooking looks delicious, the wreath she creates is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Not a single thing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't throw a meal in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she creases gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be completely savoring herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, bursting with festive joy and left with a deep longing for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but nonetheless, after the degree of examination she has faced from the moment she became involved with Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her unwillingness to modify or even soften her persona, despite it being so constantly, widely parodied, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will be like this, come what may. We will always know our position with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a reminder that will surely come as a reassurance: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription anymore, and if there were, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you decide to tune in and are consumed by longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a duchess or a everyday person, no kid fully understands the time and energy their parent puts in in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by imagining the young royals' faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a sweet treat.
