Yes, it's Packed with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the time of year, it's always fair game for commentary on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the series' earlier episodes to shreds. The general consensus held that a more egregious regal scandal had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback with a new offering with a "Festive Special" (also known as a holiday episode). But this time, things have shifted. The familiar ingredients viewers are accustomed to – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but set of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The pieces have fallen together; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan has become the quirky relative at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing 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 quite a personality, but her company is customary and strangely comforting. And she appears pleased; she's not doing any harm.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, syllable and look will be picked apart and judged, but nonetheless looks carefree and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. Since, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and over the top – 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 genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with flair. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the holiday arrangement she makes is stunning, her gifts are almost too pretty to tear into. Not a single thing is mediocre or visually unappealing – even the way she ties her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a dish in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she folds gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be charmed, filled with holiday spirit and left with a intense desire for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is arranged in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but even so, after the level of attention she has weathered since she became involved with Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this naturally. Her refusal to modify or even moderate her shtick, regardless of it being so constantly, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're still not buying her message, a thought that will surely come as a comfort: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished national service these days, and if there were, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you decide to tune in and are consumed by jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a royal or a office worker, no kid truly appreciates the dedication and labor their parent puts in in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by picturing her children's faces when they unfold a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, in place of a chocolate.
