Indeed, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the season, it's constantly open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when enthusiastically shredding the program's earlier episodes to pieces. The prevailing view seemed to be a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Festive Special" (aka a holiday episode). However on this occasion, the dynamic has changed. The familiar ingredients audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but set of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen together; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan has become the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing unasked-for guidance, 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 a bit of a character, but her presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she looks happy enough; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, word and gaze will be picked apart and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks carefree and serenely untroubled.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – may well be true. The reason is, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and extravagant – but isn't that precisely what the holiday season is about? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the walk she's walking appears to be beautifully curated.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with style. Her culinary efforts looks scrumptious, the wreath she creates is stunning, her presents are almost too pretty to open. Nothing is average or aesthetically displeasing – even the way she secures her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't throw a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be won over, bursting with seasonal cheer 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 was once an actress for a living, naturally, but nonetheless, after the level of examination she has endured from the moment she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of two legendary actresses would struggle to act this authentically. Her decision to alter or even tone down her persona, even though it being so constantly, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will stay true to form, no matter what. We will forever know our position with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a reminder that will certainly come as a relief: you don't have to. We don't have mandatory conscription in this country, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are consumed by longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, you can take solace either. Whether you're a royal or a office worker, hardly any child fully understands the time and energy their mum puts in in December. So you can take heart by imagining the young royals' faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a sweet treat.
