Admittedly, it's Full of Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the time of year, it's perpetually fair game for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the series' initial installments to shreds. The common opinion held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a yuletide episode). Yet now, the dynamic has changed. The familiar ingredients audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but framed of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan resembles the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and delivering 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 an interesting figure, but her company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she appears happy enough; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She knows her every micro expression, syllable and gaze will be analyzed and judged, but nonetheless looks unburdened and serenely untroubled.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. Since, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels charming. Yes, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and over the top – but is that not exactly what the holiday season is about? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the example she sets appears to be impeccably styled.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she pulls off with panache. Her recipes looks delicious, the festive decoration she makes is stunning, her gifts are practically too exquisite to tear into. Nothing is mediocre or ugly – including the way she fastens her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, bursting with festive joy and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is arranged in the shape of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, of course, but despite that, after the degree of scrutiny she has faced ever since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would struggle to act this genuinely. Her unwillingness to alter or even tone down her shtick, regardless of it being so constantly, widely parodied, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a reminder that will certainly come as a reassurance: you aren't required to. We don't have mandatory conscription in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you decide to tune in and are overcome with envy about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a duchess or a everyday person, hardly any child fully understands the effort and hard work their parent expends in the holiday season. So you can take heart by envisioning the young royals' faces when they reveal a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a candy.