Yes, it's Packed with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. But I Do Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No considering the season, it's constantly hunting season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, expert and amateur alike, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the series' earlier episodes apart. The prevailing view was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a yuletide episode). Yet now, it's different. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but set of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering unasked-for guidance, and contributing 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 aura is known and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems happy enough; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She understands her all subtle gestures, utterance and glance will be analyzed and criticised, but nonetheless looks relaxed and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. The reason is, let's face it, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is delightful. Admittedly, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, nonsense and over the top – but is that not exactly what Christmas is for? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the walk she's walking appears to be impeccably styled.
Anything she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with style. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the wreath she creates is breathtaking, her presents are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is average or visually unappealing – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she creases wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, filled with holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is arranged in the form of a wreath?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, of course, but nonetheless, after the degree of examination she has faced from the moment she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her decision to change or even soften her routine, despite it being so constantly, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a thought that will surely come as a comfort: you aren't required to. We don't have national service these days, and if there were, it would be doubtful to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you decide to tune in and are consumed by envy about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. Be you a royal or a data administrator, few children completely grasps the time and energy their mother puts in in December. So you can find comfort by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, rather than a sweet treat.
