Indeed, it's Brimming with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the time of year, it's constantly hunting season for criticism on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the series' earlier episodes to pieces. The common opinion held that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had hardly ever taken place than the much-discussed snack re-labeling incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she is back for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a holiday episode). But this time, things have shifted. The standard components audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, extreme hosting – persist, but within the context of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
By this point, Meghan is like the quirky relative at the typical holiday get-together – offering 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 an interesting figure, but her company is customary and strangely comforting. And she appears pleased; she's not doing the slightest hurt.
She understands her every micro expression, utterance and glance will be analyzed and scrutinized, but still appears unburdened and remarkably at ease.
Perhaps this is the initial instance in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. The reason is, in all honesty, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels delightful. Granted, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and extravagant – but is that not precisely what Christmas is about? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the example she sets genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Anything she attempts, she executes with style. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the holiday arrangement she makes is breathtaking, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Not a single thing is mediocre 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 creases gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, filled with festive joy and left with a intense desire for crafted festive snaps or a vegetable display where greens is organized in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the intensity of examination she has weathered ever since she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of two legendary actresses would struggle to act this genuinely. Her decision to change or even moderate her routine, despite it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our volatile world, here is something we can rely on: Meghan will stay true to form, no matter what. We will always know our position with her.
If you're still not buying her brand, a reminder that will certainly come as a reassurance: you don't have to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription these days, and should it be reinstated, it would be doubtful to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you decide to tune in and are gripped with envy about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. Be you a royal or a office worker, few children fully understands the time and energy their mum puts in in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by picturing Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, rather than a chocolate.
