Admittedly, it's Brimming with Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No concerned with the season, it's always hunting season for scrutiny on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Critics, expert and amateur alike, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when eagerly tearing the program's initial installments apart. The common opinion was that a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Christmas Special" (aka a yuletide episode). However on this occasion, it's different. The usual elements audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, extreme hosting – remain, but within the context of a Christmas special, it all clicks into place. The puzzle has come into place; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
Now, Meghan is like the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering random tips, 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 oddly reassuring. And she appears pleased; she's inflicting any harm.
She understands her each tiny facial movement, syllable and look will be dissected and judged, but still appears relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the only time in history where that clichéd phrase – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. Because, let's face it, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is charming. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and extravagant – but isn't that just what the holiday season is about? And the words she speaks might be absurd, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Whatever she attempts, she executes with panache. Her cooking looks delicious, the holiday arrangement she creates is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Not a single thing is average or ugly – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't throw a meal in the oven, it "has a moment", and she creases gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, bursting with festive joy and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but nonetheless, after the level of attention she has weathered from the moment she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her decision to modify or even tone down her persona, even though it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her message, a point that will undoubtedly come as a reassurance: you aren't required to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are gripped with envy about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. Whether you're a royal or a office worker, few children fully understands the dedication and labor their mum puts in in the holiday season. So you can find comfort by envisioning the young royals' 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 chocolate.
