Indeed, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually hunting season for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to pieces. The prevailing view seemed to be a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the now-infamous pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback once again with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a holiday episode). But this time, the dynamic has changed. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – remain, but set of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid together; it's a perfect snow storm.
Now, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – offering unasked-for guidance, 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 quite a personality, but her presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems happy enough; she's not doing the slightest hurt.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, syllable and glance will be picked apart and criticised, but still appears relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
Perhaps this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – may well be true. The reason is, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is charming. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and extravagant – but isn't that just what Christmas is about? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the walk she's walking appears to be impeccably styled.
Anything she sets her mind to, she pulls off with style. Her cooking looks tasty, the festive decoration she makes is stunning, her presents are practically too exquisite to tear into. Not a single thing is ordinary or visually unappealing – even the way she ties her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she creases gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be won over, overcome by festive joy and left with a intense desire for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but despite that, after the level of examination she has endured since she became involved with Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her decision to alter or even tone down her routine, regardless of it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, come what may. We will always know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her message, a thought that will surely come as a relief: you don't have to. There isn't national service in this country, and were it to return, it would be unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are consumed by envy about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a everyday person, no kid truly appreciates the dedication and labor their mother does in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a candy.
