Yes, it's Full of Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No considering the season, it's constantly hunting season for commentary on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when gleefully ripping the lifestyle show's earlier episodes apart. The common opinion seemed to be a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she is back for another round with a "Christmas Special" (or a Christmas special). Yet now, things have shifted. The familiar ingredients audiences anticipate – psychobabble word salads, intense hospitality – remain, but set of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan has become the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing random tips, 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 quite a personality, but her presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she looks happy enough; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, word and glance will be analyzed and criticised, but still appears relaxed and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. Since, in all honesty, everything in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and over the top – but is that not just what Christmas is about? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Whatever she attempts, she executes with panache. Her recipes looks tasty, the festive decoration she crafts is breathtaking, her presents are almost too pretty to unwrap. Not a single thing is ordinary or visually unappealing – including the way she secures her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't bung a meal in the oven, it "has a moment", and she wraps wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, bursting with holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is organized in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the level of scrutiny she has faced ever since she met Prince Harry, the love child of acting royalty would struggle to act this genuinely. Her unwillingness to change or even tone down her shtick, regardless of it being so persistently, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will always know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a thought that will surely come as a reassurance: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished the draft 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 jealousy about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. Whether you're a royal or a office worker, few children truly appreciates the dedication and labor their parent puts in in December. So you can console yourself by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a candy.
