Admittedly, it's Packed with Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the season, it's constantly hunting season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Critics, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when gleefully ripping the program's earlier episodes to shreds. The general consensus was that a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a Christmas special). However on this occasion, things have shifted. The usual elements viewers are accustomed to – meaningless jargon salads, extreme hosting – are still present, but within the context of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The pieces have fallen together; it's a perfect snow storm.
Now, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing random tips, and supplying the periodic peculiar declaration. ("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 appears pleased; she's not doing the slightest hurt.
She is aware her all subtle gestures, word and look will be picked apart and judged, but manages to seem relaxed and serenely untroubled.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that well-worn saying – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – may well be true. The reason is, let's face it, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is charming. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, foolishness and flamboyant – but doesn't that represent just what Christmas is for? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the example she sets appears to be impeccably styled.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she pulls off with style. Her culinary efforts looks tasty, the festive decoration she creates is breathtaking, her presents are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Nothing is mediocre or ugly – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't bung a dish in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps gift paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself from start to finish. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, filled with seasonal cheer and left with a deep longing for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where greens is positioned in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, naturally, but even so, after the intensity of attention she has endured from the moment she met Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this authentically. Her unwillingness to change or even tone down her routine, even though it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our volatile world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will always know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her message, a reminder that will certainly come as a relief: you don't have to. The UK has abolished national service anymore, and were it to return, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are consumed by longing about her flawless Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a data administrator, few children truly appreciates the time and energy their parent puts in in December. So you can console yourself by picturing her children's faces when they open a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a sweet treat.
