Indeed, it's Full of Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the season, it's constantly fair game for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have seldom found such common ground as when eagerly tearing the program's earlier episodes to pieces. The prevailing view seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she is back for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a yuletide episode). But this time, things have shifted. The usual elements audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, intense hospitality – remain, but framed of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at the typical holiday get-together – providing unasked-for guidance, and contributing 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 pleased; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She knows her every micro expression, word and glance will be analyzed and criticised, but nonetheless looks unburdened and too blessed to be stressed.
Perhaps this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. The reason is, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels lovely. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and over the top – but doesn't that represent precisely what Christmas is all about? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the life she leads genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she pulls off with panache. Her recipes looks delicious, the holiday arrangement she creates is stunning, her presents are almost too pretty to open. Nothing is mediocre or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she ties her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't throw a dish in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she creases wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, filled with seasonal cheer and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is arranged in the form of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, of course, but despite that, after the level of scrutiny she has faced from the moment she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of two legendary actresses would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her unwillingness to change or even soften her persona, even though it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is weirdly comforting. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will always know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a point that will surely come as a reassurance: you don't have to. The UK has abolished the draft anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are consumed by jealousy about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a duchess or a everyday person, no kid truly appreciates the time and energy their parent does in December. So you can console yourself by envisioning the young royals' faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a candy.
