Admittedly, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. But I Do Love Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the season, it's perpetually fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when enthusiastically shredding the program's initial installments to pieces. The general consensus was that a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a Christmas special). But this time, things have shifted. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – persist, but framed of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
Now, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at the typical holiday get-together – dispensing random tips, and supplying 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 appears content; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She knows her every micro expression, word and glance will be picked apart and criticised, but still appears relaxed and serenely untroubled.
Perhaps this is the initial instance in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – could actually be true. The reason is, let's face it, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and over the top – but is that not precisely what the holiday season is all about? And the talk she's talking might be ridiculous, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks shop-bought.
Anything she attempts, she pulls off with style. Her culinary efforts looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she creates is stunning, her gifts are almost too pretty to tear into. Nothing is average or visually unappealing – including the way she secures her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't toss a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she wraps gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, filled with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where greens is organized in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, naturally, but even so, after the level of examination she has weathered since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her refusal to alter or even moderate her persona, even though it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, come what may. We will forever know our position with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a thought that will surely come as a comfort: you aren't required to. We don't have national service in this country, and if there were, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you decide to tune in and are overcome with envy about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a royal or a office worker, no kid completely grasps the effort and hard work their mum puts in in the holiday season. So you can take heart by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a sweet treat.
