Admittedly, it's Full of Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Christmas Special.
No considering the season, it's perpetually fair game for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the program's earlier episodes apart. The general consensus seemed to be a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had hardly ever taken place than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (aka a holiday episode). Yet now, it's different. The usual elements audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but framed of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan is like the oddball family member at the typical holiday get-together – dispensing random tips, and contributing 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 aura is known and unexpectedly soothing. And she appears happy enough; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, word and glance will be dissected and criticised, but manages to seem carefree and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. Because, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and over the top – but isn't that just what Christmas is all about? And the advice she gives might be laughable, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks shop-bought.
Whatever she attempts, she accomplishes with flair. Her cooking looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she makes is breathtaking, her presents are almost too pretty to tear into. Nothing is mediocre or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she secures her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't throw a dish in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she creases wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, bursting with festive joy and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where greens is organized in the likeness of a Christmas ring?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but even so, after the intensity of examination she has weathered ever since she became involved with Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her decision to change or even soften her persona, even though it being so relentlessly, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a point that will undoubtedly come as a relief: you aren't required to. We don't have national service in this country, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you choose to watch and are gripped with longing about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a duchess or a data administrator, hardly any child completely grasps the dedication and labor their mother does in the holiday season. So you can take heart by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a sweet treat.
