Admittedly, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. But I Do Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the time of year, it's always open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the program's initial installments to pieces. The common opinion was that a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the much-discussed pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, like a merry renegade master, she has returned once again with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a holiday episode). But this time, it's different. The standard components viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – remain, but framed of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come together; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
By this point, Meghan is like the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering random tips, 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 a bit of a character, but her presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she appears content; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She knows her every micro expression, word and glance will be dissected and judged, but nonetheless looks relaxed and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – may well be true. Since, in all honesty, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, silliness and over the top – but isn't that precisely what Christmas is all about? And the talk she's talking might be laughable, but the walk she's walking appears to be impeccably styled.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with panache. Her recipes looks tasty, the festive decoration she creates is stunning, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to unwrap. Not a single thing is mediocre or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she fastens her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't toss a dish in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, bursting with holiday spirit and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where greens is positioned in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the level of scrutiny she has endured since she became involved with Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her refusal to alter or even tone down her persona, even though it being so constantly, widely parodied, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will always know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her message, a reminder that will surely come as a relief: you aren't required to. There isn't national service in this country, and if there were, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you decide to tune in and are gripped with envy about her idyllic Christmas, all is not lost either. Be you a duchess or a data administrator, few children completely grasps the time and energy their mother puts in in December. So you can console yourself by imagining the young royals' faces when they reveal a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a candy.
