Indeed, it's Full of Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No considering the season, it's constantly hunting season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the series' initial installments apart. The general consensus seemed to be a more egregious regal scandal had never been witnessed than the notorious snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, as a festive rebel, she has returned once again with a "Festive Special" (aka a holiday episode). But this time, the dynamic has changed. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, extreme hosting – remain, but framed of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing unasked-for guidance, and contributing 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 company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she seems happy enough; she's inflicting any harm.
She understands her all subtle gestures, word and look will be dissected and criticised, but still appears carefree and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. The reason is, in all honesty, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Yes, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, silliness and extravagant – but is that not just what the holiday season is all about? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the life she leads appears to be impeccably styled.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she pulls off with panache. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the wreath she makes is gorgeous, her gifts are almost too pretty to open. Not a single thing is ordinary or visually unappealing – even the way she fastens her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't bung a dish in the microwave, it "has a moment", and she wraps wrapping paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, overcome by festive joy and left with a intense desire for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is arranged in the shape of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the degree of attention she has endured since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this authentically. Her unwillingness to alter or even moderate her persona, regardless of it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will stay true to form, no matter what. We will forever know where we are with her.
If you're still not buying her message, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a relief: you aren't required to. We don't have the draft anymore, 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 overcome with longing about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a royal or a everyday person, hardly any child truly appreciates the effort and hard work their mum puts in in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by imagining her children's faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a sweet treat.
