Indeed, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No considering the time of year, it's always hunting season for criticism on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's initial installments to shreds. The common opinion seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she has returned with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (or a yuletide episode). Yet now, it's different. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but framed of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan is like the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and supplying 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 a bit of a character, but her presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she looks content; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She understands her every micro expression, word and gaze will be analyzed and criticised, but nonetheless looks carefree and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. Because, in all honesty, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels lovely. Granted, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and over the top – but is that not precisely what Yuletide is about? And the talk she's talking might be ridiculous, but the example she sets appears to be impeccably styled.
Whatever she attempts, she pulls off with panache. Her cooking looks delicious, the festive decoration she crafts is stunning, her gifts are practically too exquisite to tear into. Not a single thing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she secures her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she wraps wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a intense desire for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the intensity of attention she has endured ever since she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her decision to modify or even soften her persona, even though it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, no matter what. We will always know what to expect with her.
If you're still not buying her message, a reminder that will surely come as a comfort: you don't have to. We don't have the draft in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you choose to watch and are gripped with jealousy about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a duchess or a data administrator, hardly any child fully understands the effort and hard work their mum puts in in December. So you can console yourself by imagining the young royals' faces when they reveal a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a candy.
