Indeed, it's Full of Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No considering the season, it's constantly hunting season for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to shreds. The common opinion seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had never been witnessed than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she has returned once again with a "Festive Special" (also known as a holiday episode). However on this occasion, it's different. The standard components audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, extreme hosting – persist, but framed of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid into place; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
At this stage, Meghan is like the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering unasked-for guidance, and contributing 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 strangely comforting. And she seems happy enough; she's not doing any harm.
She knows her all subtle gestures, word and look will be picked apart and criticised, but nonetheless looks relaxed and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. The reason is, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and extravagant – but doesn't that represent exactly what the holiday season is for? And the advice she gives might be laughable, but the example she sets genuinely looks shop-bought.
Whatever she attempts, she executes with panache. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she crafts is breathtaking, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is ordinary or ugly – even the way she ties her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't throw a dish in the oven, it "has a moment", and she creases gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, overcome by festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where broccoli is arranged in the form of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the intensity of examination she has endured since she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her unwillingness to change or even tone down her persona, regardless of it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will forever know where we are with her.
If you're still not buying her brand, a reminder that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. We don't have the draft these days, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are consumed by jealousy about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. Be you a royal or a everyday person, few children truly appreciates the time and energy their parent expends in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by imagining her children's faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a candy.
