Indeed, it's Full of Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No considering the time of year, it's always fair game for commentary on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to pieces. The general consensus was that a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she has returned for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a yuletide episode). But this time, things have shifted. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but framed of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – 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 an interesting figure, but her company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she looks happy enough; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, syllable and look will be dissected and scrutinized, but manages to seem unburdened and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. The reason is, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and flamboyant – but is that not precisely what Yuletide is about? And the talk she's talking might be ridiculous, but the life she leads appears to be beautifully curated.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she executes with flair. Her cooking looks delicious, the wreath she creates is breathtaking, her gifts are almost too pretty to tear into. Nothing is average or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she fastens her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a dish in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she folds gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be charmed, bursting with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is arranged in the likeness of a Christmas ring?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, naturally, but even so, after the level of examination she has faced ever since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this genuinely. Her unwillingness to change or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will always know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her message, a reminder that will surely come as a relief: you don't have to. We don't have mandatory conscription these days, and if there were, it would be improbable to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are gripped with longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. If you are a royal or a office worker, few children truly appreciates the time and energy their parent expends in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a candy.