Admittedly, it's Brimming with Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the season, it's always fair game for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Critics, expert and amateur alike, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when enthusiastically shredding the program's earlier episodes apart. The general consensus seemed to be a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a Christmas special). Yet now, it's different. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but framed of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she looks pleased; she's not doing the slightest hurt.
She understands her every micro expression, utterance and gaze will be dissected and judged, but manages to seem relaxed and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the initial instance in history where that clichéd phrase – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. Because, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and over the top – but is that not exactly what Christmas is for? And the talk she's talking might be ridiculous, but the example she sets genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Anything she sets her mind to, she pulls off with flair. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she creates is gorgeous, her gifts are practically too exquisite to tear into. Nothing is average or visually unappealing – including the way she secures her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't throw a meal in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she creases wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, filled with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the form of a wreath?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the degree of attention she has faced ever since she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her unwillingness to modify or even tone down her shtick, despite it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, come what may. We will forever know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a reminder that will certainly 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 viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are gripped with longing about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a royal or a office worker, hardly any child truly appreciates the effort and hard work their mum expends in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by envisioning the young royals' faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a sweet treat.
