Indeed, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Christmas Special.
No considering the time of year, it's constantly open season for commentary on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's first and second seasons apart. The prevailing view was that a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Presently, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback once again with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a holiday episode). Yet now, it's different. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, extreme hosting – remain, but set of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – dispensing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and supplying 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 an interesting figure, but her presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems pleased; she's inflicting any harm.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, word and gaze will be dissected and scrutinized, but still appears relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the only time in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. The reason is, let's face it, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and flamboyant – but is that not just what Yuletide is for? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the life she leads appears to be shop-bought.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she executes with flair. Her culinary efforts looks scrumptious, the wreath she crafts is breathtaking, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is ordinary or ugly – including the way she fastens her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she wraps gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, overcome by seasonal cheer and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is organized in the form of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the degree of attention she has weathered ever since she met Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her refusal to change or even moderate her routine, even though it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, is weirdly comforting. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will always know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a reminder that will certainly come as a comfort: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription these days, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are overcome with envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. Be you a royal or a everyday person, no kid completely grasps the time and energy their mother does in December. So you can find comfort by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, in place of a candy.
