Admittedly, it's Full of Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the time of year, it's constantly open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Critics, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to pieces. The general consensus seemed to be a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she is back with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a yuletide episode). But this time, the dynamic has changed. The standard components audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, extreme hosting – persist, but set of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at the typical holiday get-together – dispensing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and delivering 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 quite a personality, but her presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems content; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She understands her every micro expression, syllable and gaze will be picked apart and judged, but still appears unburdened and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. Because, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Admittedly, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, silliness and extravagant – but doesn't that represent just what the holiday season is all about? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the example she sets appears to be shop-bought.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with panache. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she crafts is breathtaking, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Not a single thing is ordinary or ugly – even the way she ties her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be won over, filled with festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is arranged in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the degree of scrutiny she has faced ever since she met Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her decision to alter or even tone down her routine, even though it being so persistently, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a thought that will undoubtedly 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 improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are consumed by longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, you can take solace either. Whether you're a royal or a data administrator, few children fully understands the dedication and labor their mum expends in December. So you can find comfort by imagining her children's faces when they unfold a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a sweet treat.
