Admittedly, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Adore Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the time of year, it's always fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when eagerly tearing the program's first and second seasons to pieces. The prevailing view was that a more egregious regal scandal had never been witnessed than the now-infamous pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Festive Special" (also known as a yuletide episode). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The standard components audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, intense hospitality – are still present, but set of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan has become the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 strangely comforting. And she looks happy enough; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, utterance and glance will be picked apart and scrutinized, but still appears carefree and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. Because, in all honesty, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and flamboyant – but isn't that precisely what the holiday season is about? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks shop-bought.
Whatever she attempts, she executes with panache. Her cooking looks tasty, the wreath she creates is breathtaking, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is mediocre or ugly – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't throw a dish in the oven, it "takes a twirl", and she creases wrapping 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 holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the degree of attention she has endured from the moment she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her refusal to alter or even moderate her shtick, despite it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, come what may. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you aren't required to. There isn't mandatory conscription in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you choose to watch and are gripped with longing about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. Whether you're a duchess or a office worker, no kid completely grasps the time and energy their mum expends in December. So you can take heart by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a chocolate.
