Indeed, it's Packed with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Love Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the season, it's perpetually fair game for scrutiny on the Meghan Markle's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when eagerly tearing the series' initial installments apart. The general consensus was that a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the much-discussed pretzel-bagging incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she makes a comeback once again with a "Festive Special" (aka a holiday episode). But this time, things have shifted. The usual elements we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, intense hospitality – remain, but within the context of a Christmas special, the purpose becomes clear. The puzzle has come perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at the typical holiday get-together – offering random tips, and delivering 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 a bit of a character, but her aura is known and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems pleased; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her every micro expression, syllable and gaze will be dissected and criticised, but still appears unburdened and remarkably at ease.
Perhaps this is the first occasion in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – could actually be true. Since, in all honesty, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and extravagant – but isn't that just what Yuletide is for? And the advice she gives might be absurd, but the life she leads genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Anything she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with panache. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the wreath she crafts is breathtaking, her presents are almost too pretty to tear into. Nothing is mediocre or visually unappealing – including the way she secures her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't throw a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she creases gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is arranged in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, naturally, but even so, after the level of scrutiny she has weathered ever since she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this genuinely. Her unwillingness to alter or even moderate her shtick, despite it being so persistently, widely parodied, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her message, a point that will surely come as a comfort: you aren't required to. We don't have national service anymore, and if there were, it would be improbable to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are overcome with longing about her picture-perfect Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a royal or a everyday person, no kid completely grasps the effort and hard work their parent puts in in December. So you can find comfort by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a candy.
