Admittedly, it's Packed with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Love Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually fair game for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the series' initial installments to shreds. The common opinion held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, like a merry renegade master, she has returned for another round with a "Christmas Special" (aka a Christmas special). Yet now, things have shifted. The usual elements audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, extreme hosting – remain, but framed of a yuletide episode, it all clicks into place. The puzzle has come into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan resembles the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing 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 company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she seems content; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, syllable and gaze will be dissected and scrutinized, but still appears carefree and serenely untroubled.
Perhaps this is the initial instance in history where that clichéd phrase – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. The reason is, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels charming. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and flamboyant – but is that not just what Yuletide is all about? And the words she speaks might be absurd, but the example she sets seems authentically beautifully curated.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she pulls off with style. Her recipes looks tasty, the wreath she crafts is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to unwrap. Not a single thing is average or ugly – even the way she secures her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't throw a dish in the oven, it "takes a twirl", and she wraps wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be won over, overcome by festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where greens is positioned in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the degree of attention she has weathered ever since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this genuinely. Her unwillingness to change or even tone down her routine, regardless of it being so constantly, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will consistently know what to expect with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a reminder that will surely come as a comfort: you aren't required to. There isn't national service these days, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you choose to watch and are gripped with envy about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. Whether you're a royal or a everyday person, hardly any child fully understands the dedication and labor their mum expends in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by imagining 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, rather than a candy.
