Admittedly, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. But I Do Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the season, 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 rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the series' initial installments to shreds. The general consensus held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Now, like a merry renegade master, she has returned for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a Christmas special). Yet now, it's different. The standard components audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, intense hospitality – persist, but framed of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – offering unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and supplying 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 looks content; she's causing a bit of damage.
She is aware her every micro expression, utterance and glance will be picked apart and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. Because, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is charming. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and over the top – but isn't that just what the holiday season is about? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the example she sets appears to be beautifully curated.
Whatever she attempts, she pulls off with panache. Her culinary efforts looks delicious, the holiday arrangement she creates is gorgeous, her presents are practically too exquisite to tear into. Nothing is average or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she fastens her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't toss a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she creases gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any cynical observer not be convinced, filled with holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is arranged in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, naturally, but nonetheless, after the intensity of scrutiny she has weathered since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this naturally. Her unwillingness to change or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so persistently, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our volatile world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will consistently know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a reminder that will certainly come as a relief: you aren't required to. There isn't national service in this country, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you choose to watch and are overcome with longing about her idyllic Christmas, all is not lost either. Be you a duchess or a office worker, few children truly appreciates the time and energy their mum does in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by picturing Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, rather than a sweet treat.
