Yes, it's Packed with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Holiday Special.
No concerned with the time of year, it's constantly open season for commentary on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the lifestyle show's earlier episodes apart. The common opinion seemed to be a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a yuletide episode). But this time, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements we've come to expect – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – remain, but framed of a yuletide episode, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid together; it's a perfect snow storm.
Now, Meghan resembles the quirky relative at most festive family gatherings – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 quite a personality, but her presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems happy enough; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She understands her all subtle gestures, syllable and glance will be analyzed and criticised, but nonetheless looks relaxed and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the only time in history where that clichéd phrase – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. Because, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and over the top – but is that not just what Yuletide is for? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the example she sets appears to be shop-bought.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she executes with style. Her recipes looks delicious, the holiday arrangement she crafts is stunning, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is average or visually unappealing – including the way she fastens her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she folds gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where greens is positioned in the form of a Christmas ring?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the degree of examination she has weathered since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of two legendary actresses would struggle to act this naturally. Her unwillingness to change or even soften her persona, regardless of it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our uncertain world, here is something we can rely on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will always know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a relief: you aren't required to. We don't have national service anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you decide to tune in and are overcome with longing about her idyllic Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a royal or a data administrator, no kid truly appreciates the effort and hard work their mother does in December. So you can take heart by imagining her children's faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, in place of a candy.
