Yes, it's Packed with Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the season, it's always open season for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the series' initial installments to pieces. The common opinion was that a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the now-infamous pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (aka a yuletide episode). But this time, the dynamic has changed. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but within the context of a holiday show, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – providing unasked-for guidance, and contributing 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 a bit of a character, but her aura is known and strangely comforting. And she seems happy enough; she's causing any harm.
She understands her every micro expression, utterance and glance will be dissected and judged, but still appears unburdened and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. The reason is, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is charming. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and extravagant – but is that not just what Christmas is about? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the example she sets genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Whatever she attempts, she executes with flair. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the wreath she creates is breathtaking, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is average or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she ties her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she creases gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, bursting with festive joy and left with a intense desire for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where greens is organized in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, of course, but nonetheless, after the level of attention she has faced from the moment she became involved with Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of two legendary actresses would struggle to act this genuinely. Her unwillingness to change or even moderate her persona, despite it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, come what may. We will consistently know what to expect with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a reminder that will certainly come as a relief: you are not obligated to. There isn't the draft these days, and should it be reinstated, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are gripped with longing about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a duchess or a office worker, no kid truly appreciates the dedication and labor their mother puts in in December. So you can console yourself by picturing Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a candy.
