Admittedly, it's Packed with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the season, it's constantly fair game for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the series' initial installments apart. The general consensus was that a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback once again with a "Festive Special" (or a Christmas special). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, intense hospitality – are still present, but within the context of a holiday show, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at the typical holiday get-together – offering unasked-for guidance, and contributing the odd random outburst. ("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 presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she seems pleased; she's inflicting any harm.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, utterance and glance will be analyzed and judged, but still appears carefree and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. The reason is, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and over the top – but is that not just what Yuletide is for? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the example she sets appears to be shop-bought.
Anything she attempts, she pulls off with panache. Her cooking looks tasty, the wreath she creates is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Nothing is ordinary or ugly – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she creases gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be won over, bursting with seasonal cheer and left with a intense desire for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the form of a Christmas ring?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the degree of examination she has endured ever since she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of two legendary actresses would struggle to act this naturally. Her refusal to modify or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will be like this, come what may. We will forever know where we are with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a reminder that will surely come as a relief: you don't have to. We don't have the draft anymore, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you choose to watch and are gripped with envy about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. Whether you're a royal or a office worker, few children fully understands the effort and hard work their mum 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, instead of a chocolate.
