Indeed, it's Full of Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the season, it's constantly fair game for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to shreds. The common opinion seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (or a yuletide episode). However on this occasion, things have shifted. The usual elements audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – remain, but within the context of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
By this point, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing unasked-for guidance, and delivering the periodic peculiar declaration. ("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 unexpectedly soothing. And she looks pleased; she's not doing any harm.
She knows her all subtle gestures, utterance and glance will be analyzed and scrutinized, but manages to seem carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – could actually be true. Because, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Granted, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and flamboyant – but doesn't that represent exactly what Yuletide is for? And the talk she's talking might be laughable, but the example she sets appears to be impeccably styled.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she pulls off with panache. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she makes is stunning, her presents are practically too exquisite to tear into. Nothing is average or ugly – including the way she ties her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself from start to finish. How could any cynical observer not be won over, filled with seasonal cheer and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the form of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the intensity of scrutiny she has weathered from the moment she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her decision to change or even soften her routine, regardless of it being so persistently, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're still not buying her brand, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a relief: you don't have to. There isn't national service these days, and were it to return, it would be unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are consumed by longing about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. Whether you're a duchess or a data administrator, hardly any child fully understands the effort and hard work their parent does in December. So you can take heart by imagining the young royals' faces when they open a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a candy.
