Indeed, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the season, it's constantly fair game for commentary on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when eagerly tearing the series' first and second seasons to pieces. The prevailing view seemed to be a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (or a holiday episode). However on this occasion, things have shifted. The usual elements audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – persist, but set of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen together; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
Now, Meghan is like the eccentric aunt at the typical holiday get-together – dispensing random tips, 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 quite a personality, but her company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she appears pleased; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She knows her all subtle gestures, syllable and gaze will be analyzed and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. Because, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels charming. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, nonsense and over the top – but isn't that exactly what Yuletide is all about? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the example she sets appears to be impeccably styled.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with style. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the holiday arrangement she makes is stunning, her presents are almost too pretty to tear into. Nothing is ordinary or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she secures her apron is stylish and elegant. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, filled with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is organized in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, naturally, but nonetheless, after the intensity of attention she has endured ever since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her decision to change or even moderate her shtick, even though it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will always know what to expect with her.
If you're still not buying her brand, a reminder that will surely come as a comfort: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished national service in this country, and if there were, it would be improbable to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you decide to tune in and are gripped with envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, you can take solace either. Whether you're a duchess or a data administrator, no kid completely grasps the dedication and labor their parent does in December. So you can find comfort by imagining her children's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a sweet treat.
