Admittedly, it's Packed with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the season, it's always hunting season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the program's initial installments to pieces. The general consensus seemed to be a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had hardly ever taken place than the notorious snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback once again with a "Christmas Special" (aka a holiday episode). However on this occasion, it's different. The usual elements we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but within the context of a yuletide episode, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering unasked-for guidance, and delivering 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 company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she seems happy enough; she's causing any harm.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, utterance and gaze will be picked apart and criticised, but nonetheless looks carefree and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. Because, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Granted, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and extravagant – but isn't that precisely what the holiday season is for? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the walk she's walking appears to be impeccably styled.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with panache. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the wreath she creates is breathtaking, her gifts are practically too exquisite to open. Not a single thing is ordinary or ugly – even the way she secures her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't bung a meal in the oven, it "has a moment", and she wraps wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be charmed, overcome by festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where broccoli is positioned in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, of course, but despite that, after the degree of scrutiny she has faced ever since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this authentically. Her refusal to modify or even soften her shtick, even though it being so persistently, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, whatever happens. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a relief: you are not obligated to. We don't have the draft anymore, and were it to return, it would be improbable to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you decide to tune in and are consumed by envy about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. If you are a duchess or a data administrator, hardly any child fully understands the effort and hard work their mum does in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by picturing Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a sweet treat.
