Admittedly, it's Brimming with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. But I Do Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the time of year, it's always fair game for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the series' earlier episodes apart. The prevailing view seemed to be a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she is back for another round with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a Christmas special). Yet now, it's different. The usual elements viewers are accustomed to – psychobabble word salads, extreme hosting – are still present, but within the context of a yuletide episode, it all clicks into place. The puzzle has come perfectly; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
By this point, Meghan is like the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 oddly reassuring. And she seems pleased; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She understands her all subtle gestures, utterance and glance will be dissected and scrutinized, but still appears unburdened and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. The reason is, let's face it, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and over the top – but isn't that precisely what Christmas is all about? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the walk she's walking appears to be impeccably styled.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with panache. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the festive decoration she makes is gorgeous, her presents are nearly too beautiful to unwrap. Not a single thing is average or ugly – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't throw a meal in the oven, it "takes a twirl", and she creases wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, filled with festive joy and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is arranged in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the intensity of examination she has weathered from the moment she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this authentically. Her unwillingness to change or even tone down her persona, even though it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can rely on: Meghan will remain herself, whatever happens. We will forever know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a reminder that will surely come as a reassurance: you don't have to. The UK has abolished the draft these days, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you choose to watch and are consumed by longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a royal or a data administrator, hardly any child completely grasps the time and energy their parent expends in December. So you can find comfort by envisioning the young royals' faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a chocolate.
