Admittedly, it's Packed with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Adore Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the time of year, it's perpetually open season for commentary on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's initial installments to pieces. The prevailing view seemed to be a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Christmas Special" (or a holiday episode). However on this occasion, it's different. The usual elements we've come to expect – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – persist, but within the context of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – offering 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 company is customary and strangely comforting. And she appears happy enough; she's inflicting any harm.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, syllable and glance will be analyzed and scrutinized, but manages to seem unburdened and serenely untroubled.
Perhaps this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. Since, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Admittedly, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and extravagant – but doesn't that represent precisely what Yuletide is all about? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks shop-bought.
Anything she attempts, she pulls off with flair. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the festive decoration she crafts is stunning, her gifts are practically too exquisite to open. Nothing is average or ugly – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she folds gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, filled with festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the shape of a Christmas ring?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, naturally, but even so, after the degree of scrutiny she has endured ever since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her decision to alter or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so persistently, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a thought that will surely come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished national service these days, and if there were, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you decide to tune in and are gripped with envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a royal or a data administrator, few children fully understands the effort and hard work their mum expends in December. So you can console yourself by picturing the young royals' faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a sweet treat.
