Admittedly, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the season, it's always 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 eagerly tearing the program's earlier episodes to pieces. The general consensus held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Festive Special" (or a Christmas special). But this time, things have shifted. The standard components we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – persist, but framed of a holiday show, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid together; it's a perfect snow storm.
Now, Meghan is like the oddball family member at the typical holiday get-together – offering 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 a bit of a character, but her company is customary and unexpectedly soothing. And she appears content; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, utterance and gaze will be picked apart and criticised, but nonetheless looks relaxed and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the initial instance in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. The reason is, let's face it, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and over the top – but is that not just what Yuletide is about? And the talk she's talking might be laughable, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks shop-bought.
Whatever she attempts, she accomplishes with style. Her recipes looks delicious, the holiday arrangement she crafts is stunning, her gifts are practically too exquisite to open. Not a single thing is mediocre or visually unappealing – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a meal in the oven, it "takes a twirl", and she creases gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be completely savoring herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be won over, filled with seasonal cheer and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the likeness of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but despite that, after the level of attention she has weathered since she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her decision to change or even soften her routine, regardless of it being so persistently, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will forever know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you don't have to. There isn't mandatory conscription in this country, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are consumed by jealousy about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a everyday person, no kid fully understands the dedication and labor their mum puts in in December. So you can take heart by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a sweet treat.
