Yes, it's Full of Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the season, it's constantly fair game for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the program's initial installments apart. The prevailing view was that a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she is back with a new offering with a "Festive Special" (aka a holiday episode). But this time, it's different. The usual elements viewers are accustomed to – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – persist, but within the context of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
At this stage, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at the typical holiday get-together – providing random tips, and supplying 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 an interesting figure, but her presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she appears content; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She understands her every micro expression, utterance and look will be picked apart and scrutinized, but still appears unburdened and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that well-worn saying – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – may well be true. Because, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, silliness and over the top – but doesn't that represent just what the holiday season is about? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Anything she attempts, she accomplishes with style. Her culinary efforts looks delicious, the wreath she crafts is stunning, her presents are almost too pretty to tear into. Not a single thing is average or visually unappealing – including the way she secures her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she folds wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be won over, filled with festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but even so, after the degree of scrutiny she has endured since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this naturally. Her refusal to change or even soften her routine, regardless of it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, no matter what. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her message, a thought that will surely come as a relief: you are not obligated to. There isn't the draft anymore, and were it to return, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are overcome with envy about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. Whether you're a royal or a everyday person, few children truly appreciates the time and energy their mother puts in in December. So you can console yourself by picturing Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, in place of a candy.
