Yes, it's Full of Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No considering the time of year, it's perpetually open season for criticism on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when gleefully ripping the program's earlier episodes to shreds. The common opinion seemed to be a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the much-discussed pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, as a festive rebel, she is back once again with a "Festive Special" (or a holiday episode). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The usual elements audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but set of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The puzzle has come together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at the typical holiday get-together – providing random tips, 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 an interesting figure, but her presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she seems happy enough; she's inflicting any harm.
She knows her every micro expression, word and look will be picked apart and scrutinized, but still appears relaxed and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that clichéd phrase – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. Since, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels charming. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and over the top – but is that not precisely what Christmas is about? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the life she leads seems authentically shop-bought.
Anything she attempts, she executes with panache. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the holiday arrangement she creates is breathtaking, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to unwrap. Not a single thing is mediocre or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she fastens her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a meal in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she creases gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, overcome by seasonal cheer and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the form of a Christmas ring?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, naturally, but even so, after the level of scrutiny she has endured from the moment she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would struggle to act this genuinely. Her refusal to modify or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a point that will certainly come as a relief: you don't have to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription anymore, and should it be reinstated, 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 picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a royal or a office worker, few children fully understands the effort and hard work their mother does in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by imagining the young royals' faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a candy.
