Yes, it's Packed with Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. But I Do Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the time of year, it's always hunting season for criticism on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the series' first and second seasons apart. The general consensus was that a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a yuletide episode). But this time, things have shifted. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – persist, but framed of a holiday show, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
By this point, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing unasked-for guidance, and contributing the occasional strange exclamation. ("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 quite a personality, but her aura is known and oddly reassuring. And she looks happy enough; she's causing a bit of damage.
She knows her every micro expression, utterance and look will be analyzed and criticised, but manages to seem unburdened and too blessed to be stressed.
Perhaps this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. Since, let's face it, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels charming. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, silliness and flamboyant – but is that not precisely what Christmas is all about? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the walk she's walking appears to be impeccably styled.
Anything she attempts, she executes with style. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the wreath she crafts is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Nothing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she folds 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 intense desire for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where broccoli is arranged in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but despite that, after the level of examination she has endured ever since she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of two legendary actresses would struggle to act this naturally. Her decision to alter or even tone down her shtick, even though it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is something we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will always know what to expect with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a reminder that will certainly come as a relief: you don't have to. There isn't national service in this country, and were it to return, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you decide to tune in and are overcome with jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. Whether you're a duchess or a office worker, few children truly appreciates the effort and hard work their parent does in December. So you can take heart by picturing her children's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a chocolate.
