Indeed, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the season, it's perpetually hunting season for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have rarely been so united as when gleefully ripping the program's first and second seasons apart. The prevailing view seemed to be a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the much-discussed pretzel-bagging incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she is back once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a yuletide episode). Yet now, things have shifted. The usual elements audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – persist, but framed of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The puzzle has come together; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the eccentric aunt at the typical holiday get-together – offering random tips, and delivering 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 a bit of a character, but her company is customary and strangely comforting. And she seems content; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She knows her all subtle gestures, syllable and glance will be picked apart and scrutinized, but still appears relaxed and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the initial instance in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. Since, in all honesty, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, nonsense and extravagant – but isn't that precisely what Christmas is for? And the advice she gives might be laughable, but the life she leads seems authentically shop-bought.
Anything she attempts, she pulls off with panache. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she creates is breathtaking, her gifts are almost too pretty to open. Nothing is ordinary or visually unappealing – including the way she secures her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't bung a meal in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she creases gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, bursting with festive joy and left with a deep longing for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but even so, after the level of attention she has weathered since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her decision to modify or even moderate her persona, despite it being so persistently, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is something we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will forever know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a thought that will certainly come as a comfort: you aren't required to. We don't have national service anymore, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are overcome with jealousy about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a royal or a office worker, no kid truly appreciates the time and energy their mother puts in in December. So you can find comfort by envisioning her children's faces when they reveal a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a chocolate.
