Indeed, it's Brimming with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No considering the season, it's constantly open season for commentary on the Meghan Markle's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the series' initial installments to shreds. The prevailing view was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she is back with a new offering with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a holiday episode). Yet now, things have shifted. The standard components we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but framed of a yuletide episode, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen together; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
Now, Meghan is like the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and supplying 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 unexpectedly soothing. And she appears pleased; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, syllable and gaze will be analyzed and scrutinized, but still appears carefree and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. The reason is, in all honesty, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, nonsense and flamboyant – but doesn't that represent just what the holiday season is about? And the words she speaks might be absurd, but the walk she's walking appears to be shop-bought.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with style. Her culinary efforts looks delicious, the wreath she crafts is gorgeous, her presents are almost too pretty to unwrap. Not a single thing is mediocre or ugly – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but even so, after the degree of attention she has faced ever since she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her refusal to change or even soften her persona, even though it being so constantly, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will remain herself, come what may. We will always know what to expect with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a reminder that will surely come as a comfort: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished national service anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you choose to watch and are gripped with envy about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. If you are a royal or a everyday person, no kid fully understands the effort and hard work their parent does in December. So you can console yourself by envisioning her children's faces when they unfold a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a chocolate.
