Indeed, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Love Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the season, it's always fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, expert and amateur alike, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's initial installments apart. The prevailing view was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the much-discussed pretzel-bagging incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she is back for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a Christmas special). However on this occasion, things have shifted. The usual elements viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – are still present, but set of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – dispensing unasked-for guidance, and delivering the periodic peculiar declaration. ("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 company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she appears happy enough; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She knows her all subtle gestures, word and look will be picked apart and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks unburdened and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. Since, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Granted, it's all cringily ultra-extra, nonsense and flamboyant – but isn't that just what Yuletide is all about? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the example she sets genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she pulls off with panache. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the wreath she creates is gorgeous, her presents are almost too pretty to open. Nothing is average or visually unappealing – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "has a moment", and she creases wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself throughout. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where greens is organized in the likeness of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but even so, after the level of examination she has faced from the moment she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would struggle to act this authentically. Her refusal to alter or even moderate her shtick, even though it being so constantly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our uncertain world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a reminder that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you don't have to. We don't have national service these days, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you decide to tune in and are consumed by envy about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. Be you a duchess or a data administrator, no kid truly appreciates the time and energy their mother expends in December. So you can console yourself by imagining her children's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a sweet treat.
