Admittedly, it's Packed with Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Love Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the time of year, it's always hunting season for criticism on the Meghan Markle's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Critics, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's earlier episodes to pieces. The prevailing view seemed to be a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the much-discussed pretzel-bagging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she has returned with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a holiday episode). Yet now, things have shifted. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but framed of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan is like the oddball family member at most festive family gatherings – providing random tips, and contributing the odd random outburst. ("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 aura is known and strangely comforting. And she seems pleased; she's not doing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her every micro expression, utterance and look will be dissected and judged, but still appears carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – might be true. Because, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, nonsense and extravagant – but doesn't that represent precisely what the holiday season is for? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the example she sets appears to be beautifully curated.
Anything she attempts, she accomplishes with flair. Her cooking looks delicious, the holiday arrangement she makes is gorgeous, her gifts are practically too exquisite to unwrap. Not a single thing is mediocre or visually unappealing – even the way she fastens her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't throw a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she folds gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be won over, bursting with holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but even so, after the degree of attention she has endured since she became involved with Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would struggle to act this genuinely. Her unwillingness to alter or even moderate her persona, despite it being so persistently, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will always know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a point that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you don't have to. There isn't mandatory conscription in this country, and were it to return, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you decide to tune in and are gripped with jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a royal or a office worker, hardly any child completely grasps the time and energy their mum does in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by picturing the young royals' faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a chocolate.
