Yes, it's Brimming with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. But I Do Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No considering the season, it's always fair game for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when gleefully ripping the series' initial installments apart. The general consensus seemed to be a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the notorious snack re-labeling incident.
Presently, as a festive rebel, she has returned for another round with a "Festive Special" (also known as a Christmas special). However on this occasion, it's different. The standard components we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – persist, but within the context of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
By this point, Meghan resembles the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – offering random tips, and supplying the periodic peculiar declaration. ("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 quite a personality, but her presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she looks happy enough; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, word and gaze will be dissected and judged, but manages to seem unburdened and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. The reason is, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is charming. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and extravagant – but isn't that precisely what Christmas is all about? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the walk she's walking seems authentically impeccably styled.
Anything she sets her mind to, she pulls off with style. Her recipes looks delicious, the festive decoration she creates is gorgeous, her gifts are almost too pretty to unwrap. Nothing is average or ugly – even the way she fastens her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "has a moment", and she folds wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be won over, filled with festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is arranged in the form of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but nonetheless, after the degree of attention she has faced ever since she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her unwillingness to modify or even soften her persona, even though it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, 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 what to expect with her.
If you're still not buying her brand, a reminder that will certainly come as a reassurance: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished national service these days, and were it to return, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are gripped with envy about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a duchess or a office worker, hardly any child fully understands the effort and hard work their mum puts in in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by envisioning the young royals' faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a chocolate.
