Yes, it's Full of Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Adore Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the season, it's constantly open season for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's first and second seasons apart. The general consensus seemed to be a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Currently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a holiday episode). Yet now, things have shifted. The familiar ingredients audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but set of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The puzzle has come together; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
Now, Meghan resembles the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 appears happy enough; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, utterance and glance will be picked apart and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks relaxed and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. Because, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is charming. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, silliness and flamboyant – but is that not just what Christmas is all about? And the advice she gives might be laughable, but the life she leads genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Anything she sets her mind to, she pulls off with flair. Her culinary efforts looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she makes is stunning, her gifts are almost too pretty to open. Nothing is ordinary or visually unappealing – including the way she ties her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't throw a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she folds gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, bursting with festive joy and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where greens is positioned in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the intensity of scrutiny she has faced ever since she met Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this authentically. Her decision to alter or even moderate her persona, despite it being so persistently, widely parodied, is oddly heartening. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, whatever happens. We will always know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her brand, a point that will certainly come as a relief: you don't have to. There isn't the draft anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are overcome with jealousy about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. Be you a duchess or a data administrator, no kid fully understands the dedication and labor their mum does in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, instead of a candy.