Indeed, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Adore Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually fair game for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the program's earlier episodes apart. The prevailing view seemed to be a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she has returned for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a yuletide episode). But this time, it's different. The usual elements audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but framed of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and supplying the periodic peculiar declaration. ("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 company is customary and unexpectedly soothing. And she looks content; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, utterance and look will be dissected and judged, but still appears carefree and serenely untroubled.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – could actually be true. The reason is, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels lovely. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and over the top – but doesn't that represent exactly what the holiday season is about? And the advice she gives might be laughable, but the walk she's walking appears to be beautifully curated.
Anything she sets her mind to, she pulls off with flair. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the holiday arrangement she makes is gorgeous, her presents are practically too exquisite to open. Nothing is mediocre or visually unappealing – including the way she secures her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she wraps wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, filled with festive joy and left with a intense desire for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the form of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but despite that, after the degree of attention she has faced from the moment she became involved with Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her decision to change or even soften her shtick, regardless of it being so constantly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will forever know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a reminder that will surely come as a relief: you are not obligated to. We don't have mandatory conscription these days, and if there were, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are gripped with longing about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a duchess or a everyday person, hardly any child completely grasps the time and energy their mum expends in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by imagining her children's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a sweet treat.
