Admittedly, it's Full of Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. But I Do Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the time of year, it's constantly open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, expert and amateur alike, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when enthusiastically shredding the series' earlier episodes to pieces. The prevailing view was that a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the notorious snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a yuletide episode). However on this occasion, things have shifted. The standard components audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, extreme hosting – persist, but within the context of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at the typical holiday get-together – providing random tips, 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 oddly reassuring. And she seems content; she's causing any harm.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, syllable and glance will be picked apart and scrutinized, but still appears relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the only time in history where that clichéd phrase – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. Since, you know what?, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and flamboyant – but is that not precisely what the holiday season is all about? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the life she leads seems authentically impeccably styled.
Anything she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with flair. Her cooking looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she crafts is stunning, her gifts are practically too exquisite to tear into. Nothing is average or visually unappealing – even the way she ties her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't throw a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she wraps wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where greens is organized in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, of course, but nonetheless, after the level of attention she has weathered ever since she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her decision to change or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so constantly, widely parodied, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, no matter what. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're still not buying her message, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a relief: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription in this country, and were it to return, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are overcome with longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, you can take solace either. Whether you're a royal or a data administrator, few children fully understands the dedication and labor their parent puts in in December. So you can console yourself by picturing the young royals' faces when they open a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a chocolate.
