Indeed, it's Brimming with Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the season, it's constantly open season for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the program's initial installments to pieces. The common opinion seemed to be a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she is back once again with a "Christmas Special" (or a holiday episode). But this time, the dynamic has changed. The standard components audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, intense hospitality – are still present, but within the context of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at the typical holiday get-together – offering unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 a bit of a character, but her company is customary and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems content; she's causing a bit of damage.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, utterance and glance will be picked apart and criticised, but still appears relaxed and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. Because, in all honesty, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and over the top – but doesn't that represent precisely what Yuletide is about? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the life she leads genuinely looks shop-bought.
Anything she attempts, she accomplishes with flair. Her cooking looks delicious, the festive decoration she creates is breathtaking, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to open. Not a single thing is average or visually unappealing – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't toss a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she folds 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 won over, filled with holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is organized in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the degree of examination she has endured ever since she met Prince Harry, the love child of two legendary actresses would struggle to act this authentically. Her unwillingness to alter or even soften her shtick, despite it being so relentlessly, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is something we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, come what may. We will forever know our position with her.
If you're still not buying what she's selling, a reminder that will certainly come as a reassurance: you don't have to. The UK has abolished the draft in this country, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you decide to tune in and are gripped with jealousy about her idyllic Christmas, you can take solace either. Be you a duchess or a office worker, hardly any child completely grasps the dedication and labor their mother does in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by picturing her children's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, in place of a sweet treat.
