Admittedly, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the season, it's perpetually fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the series' earlier episodes to pieces. The general consensus was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback once again with a "Festive Special" (also known as a holiday episode). But this time, the dynamic has changed. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, intense hospitality – persist, but framed of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen together; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the quirky relative at the typical holiday get-together – dispensing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and contributing 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 presence is familiar and oddly reassuring. And she looks pleased; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, word and look will be dissected and judged, but manages to seem relaxed and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – may well be true. Because, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and over the top – but doesn't that represent precisely what Christmas is about? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the life she leads genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with flair. Her culinary efforts looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she makes is gorgeous, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is mediocre or visually unappealing – even the way she fastens her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a meal in the oven, it "has a moment", and she creases gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself throughout. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, bursting with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is positioned in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, naturally, but nonetheless, after the intensity of attention she has weathered ever since she became involved with 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 routine, even though it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will always 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 aren't required to. We don't have the draft in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are consumed by jealousy about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. If you are a royal or a office worker, hardly any child completely grasps the time and energy their mum expends in December. So you can find comfort by imagining the young royals' faces when they unfold a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a chocolate.
