Yes, it's Packed with Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the season, it's perpetually fair game for commentary on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when gleefully ripping the program's initial installments to shreds. The prevailing view was that a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she is back for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a holiday episode). But this time, the dynamic has changed. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, intense hospitality – remain, but framed of a holiday show, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen together; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at most festive family gatherings – dispensing unasked-for guidance, 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 company is customary and unexpectedly soothing. And she looks pleased; she's not doing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her every micro expression, syllable and glance will be analyzed and judged, but still appears relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. Because, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and extravagant – but isn't that precisely what Yuletide is for? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the walk she's walking appears to be impeccably styled.
Anything she attempts, she pulls off with panache. Her recipes looks tasty, the wreath she makes is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is mediocre or visually unappealing – even the way she secures her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't throw a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she creases wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, filled with festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where greens is arranged in the shape of a Christmas ring?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the intensity of attention she has faced ever since she met Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would struggle to act this genuinely. Her refusal to change or even moderate her persona, even though it being so persistently, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our volatile world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, come what may. We will consistently know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a thought that will surely come as a relief: you are not obligated to. We don't have mandatory conscription in this country, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are overcome with envy about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a data administrator, hardly any child truly appreciates the effort and hard work their mum does in December. So you can take heart by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a candy.
