Indeed, it's Full of Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Love Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the time of year, it's always open season for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Critics, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the series' earlier episodes apart. The common opinion was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned for another round with a "Festive Special" (or a Christmas special). Yet now, it's different. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but framed of a yuletide episode, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid together; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
By this point, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – dispensing 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 a bit of a character, but her company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she looks pleased; she's inflicting any harm.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, utterance and glance will be picked apart and criticised, but still appears unburdened and too blessed to be stressed.
Perhaps this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. The reason is, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and flamboyant – but is that not precisely what Christmas is about? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the example she sets genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Whatever she attempts, she executes with panache. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she creates is breathtaking, her gifts are almost too pretty to tear into. Nothing is average or ugly – including the way she ties her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself throughout. How could any cynical observer not be convinced, bursting with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where greens is positioned in the likeness of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but even so, after the level of scrutiny she has weathered since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would struggle to act this naturally. Her unwillingness to modify or even tone down her persona, even though it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our volatile world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her message, a point that will certainly come as a reassurance: you don't have to. There isn't national service in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you choose to watch and are overcome with jealousy about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. If you are a duchess or a everyday person, no kid fully understands the effort and hard work their parent expends in December. So you can take heart by envisioning her children's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a candy.
