Indeed, it's Brimming with Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the time of year, it's always fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Critics, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when enthusiastically shredding the program's earlier episodes apart. The general consensus was that a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had never been witnessed than the notorious snack re-labeling incident.
Presently, like a merry renegade master, she is back with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (aka a yuletide episode). But this time, it's different. The usual elements audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – remain, but set of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid together; it's a perfect snow storm.
Now, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing random tips, and supplying the odd random outburst. ("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 presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems happy enough; she's causing a bit of damage.
She understands her every micro expression, utterance and look will be picked apart and judged, but manages to seem relaxed and too blessed to be stressed.
Perhaps this is the first occasion in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – might be true. The reason is, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is charming. Granted, it's all painfully excessive, nonsense and flamboyant – but is that not precisely what Yuletide is about? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the example she sets genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Whatever she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with flair. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the wreath she creates is breathtaking, her presents are practically too exquisite to open. Not a single thing is ordinary or visually unappealing – including the way she secures her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't throw a meal in the microwave, it "takes a twirl", and she folds gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be charmed, bursting with festive joy and left with a powerful yearning for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where greens is organized in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but despite that, after the level of examination she has faced ever since she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this naturally. Her refusal to modify or even moderate her shtick, even though it being so constantly, widely parodied, is strangely reassuring. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will forever know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a thought that will certainly come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished the draft in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be improbable to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you decide to tune in and are consumed by envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a office worker, hardly any child fully understands the effort and hard work their mother does in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by picturing the young royals' faces when they reveal a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, in place of a sweet treat.
