Indeed, it's Full of Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Adore Meghan's Christmas Special.
No considering the time of year, it's always open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to pieces. The prevailing view was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (or a holiday episode). Yet now, it's different. The usual elements we've come to expect – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – persist, but framed of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan is like the quirky relative at most festive family gatherings – dispensing unasked-for guidance, 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 an interesting figure, but her company is customary and unexpectedly soothing. And she looks pleased; she's not doing any harm.
She knows her all subtle gestures, utterance and gaze will be analyzed and scrutinized, but manages to seem unburdened and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. Since, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels charming. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and over the top – but doesn't that represent exactly what Christmas is all about? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks shop-bought.
Whatever she attempts, she pulls off with panache. Her cooking looks delicious, the festive decoration she makes is gorgeous, her gifts are practically too exquisite to tear into. Not a single thing is ordinary or visually unappealing – including the way she fastens her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she folds gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, filled with festive joy and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is arranged in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but even so, after the level of attention she has endured from the moment she met Prince Harry, the love child of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this naturally. Her refusal to modify or even tone down her routine, even though it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will remain herself, whatever happens. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her message, a thought that will certainly come as a comfort: you don't have to. The UK has abolished national service these days, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you decide to tune in and are consumed by jealousy about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a royal or a office worker, few children fully understands the effort and hard work their mum does in December. So you can take heart by envisioning her children's faces when they open a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, in place of a sweet treat.
