Indeed, it's Packed with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the time of year, it's constantly hunting season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Critics, expert and amateur alike, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the series' initial installments apart. The common opinion was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she is back once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a Christmas special). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – persist, but framed of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the quirky relative at most festive family gatherings – offering random tips, 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 aura is known and strangely comforting. And she seems happy enough; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She is aware her every micro expression, syllable and look will be analyzed and judged, but nonetheless looks carefree and remarkably at ease.
Perhaps this is the initial instance in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. Because, let's face it, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Admittedly, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, silliness and extravagant – but is that not precisely what Yuletide is all about? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the example she sets seems authentically beautifully curated.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she pulls off with style. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the holiday arrangement she crafts is breathtaking, her gifts are almost too pretty to open. Nothing is ordinary or visually unappealing – including the way she fastens her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she folds wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be won over, overcome by seasonal cheer and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but despite that, after the level of scrutiny she has endured ever since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this naturally. Her decision to alter or even soften her persona, despite it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our uncertain world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, whatever happens. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a thought that will surely come as a reassurance: you don't have to. We don't have the draft anymore, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you choose to watch and are overcome with envy about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a royal or a office worker, no kid fully understands the time and energy their mum puts in in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a chocolate.
