Yes, it's Full of Absurdity, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Cherish Meghan's Holiday Special.
No considering the season, it's constantly open season for criticism on the Meghan Markle's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, expert and amateur alike, have rarely been so united as when gleefully ripping the series' first and second seasons to pieces. The common opinion held that a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the now-infamous pretzel-bagging incident.
Now, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned with a new offering with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a Christmas special). But this time, it's different. The standard components we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but framed of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid into place; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering unsolicited, unnecessary advice, and delivering 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 quite a personality, but her company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she looks content; she's causing the slightest hurt.
She knows her all subtle gestures, word and gaze will be picked apart and scrutinized, but still appears relaxed and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the only time in history where that clichéd phrase – "Pay no mind, it's only envy" – might be true. Because, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Yes, it's all cringily ultra-extra, silliness and over the top – but isn't that just what Yuletide is for? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the example she sets appears to be beautifully curated.
Anything she attempts, she executes with style. Her recipes looks tasty, the wreath she crafts is breathtaking, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is mediocre or ugly – even the way she secures her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a dish in the oven, it "takes a twirl", and she folds wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself from start to finish. How could any skeptical viewer not be convinced, filled with festive joy and left with a intense desire for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where broccoli is organized in the likeness of a Christmas ring?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but even so, after the level of examination she has weathered since she became involved with Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of acting royalty would find it hard to appear this naturally. Her unwillingness to alter or even tone down her routine, regardless of it being so persistently, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our volatile world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will remain herself, no matter what. We will always know what to expect with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her brand, a point that will surely come as a comfort: you don't have to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription in this country, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are overcome with jealousy about her flawless Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a royal or a everyday person, no kid completely grasps the dedication and labor their mum does in December. So you can console yourself by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they unfold a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a chocolate.
