Admittedly, it's Brimming with Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the season, it's perpetually fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when gleefully ripping the series' earlier episodes to pieces. The general consensus seemed to be a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a holiday episode). Yet now, it's different. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – persist, but within the context of a yuletide episode, it all clicks into place. The puzzle has come into place; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan has become the quirky relative at the typical holiday get-together – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 a bit of a character, but her presence is familiar and oddly reassuring. And she appears happy enough; she's not doing any harm.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, word and glance will be dissected and criticised, but manages to seem relaxed and remarkably at ease.
It could be this is the first occasion in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. The reason is, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Granted, it's all cringily ultra-extra, nonsense and over the top – but is that not just what Christmas is all about? And the talk she's talking might be laughable, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she accomplishes with style. Her culinary efforts looks scrumptious, the wreath she makes is breathtaking, her gifts are almost too pretty to tear into. 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 dish in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she creases gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, overcome by seasonal cheer and left with a intense desire for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is organized in the form of a wreath?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the intensity of examination she has endured from the moment she met Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her unwillingness to change or even soften her persona, regardless of it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will forever know our position with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her message, a reminder that will certainly come as a reassurance: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished national service in this country, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are overcome with jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a office worker, few children completely grasps the dedication and labor their parent does in December. So you can console yourself by picturing Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a chocolate.
