Indeed, it's Packed with Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No considering the season, it's always hunting season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have seldom found such common ground as when eagerly tearing the series' earlier episodes to shreds. The general consensus seemed to be a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she has returned with a new offering with a "Festive Special" (also known as a holiday episode). However on this occasion, it's different. The usual elements audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – persist, but within the context of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan resembles the quirky relative at the typical holiday get-together – 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 quite a personality, but her aura is known and unexpectedly soothing. And she looks content; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, word and look will be picked apart and criticised, but still appears relaxed and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. Because, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels lovely. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and flamboyant – but doesn't that represent precisely what Yuletide is all about? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the example she sets appears to be impeccably styled.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she executes with flair. Her culinary efforts looks delicious, the wreath she creates is gorgeous, her presents are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is average or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she folds wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be charmed, filled with seasonal cheer and left with a intense desire for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where broccoli is arranged in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, of course, but nonetheless, after the level of examination she has faced since she became involved with Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this naturally. Her unwillingness to alter or even soften her routine, even though it being so constantly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our uncertain world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will always know what to expect with her.
If you're still not buying her brand, a reminder that will certainly come as a relief: you are not obligated to. There isn't mandatory conscription anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are consumed by jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a royal or a data administrator, hardly any child completely grasps the effort and hard work their mum puts in in December. So you can console yourself by picturing her children's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a sweet treat.
