Admittedly, it's Full of Absurdity, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. But I Do Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No considering the season, it's constantly fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, both professional and armchair, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when eagerly tearing the series' first and second seasons to pieces. The prevailing view was that a greater royal outrage had hardly ever taken place than the now-infamous snack re-labeling incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she is back for another round with a "Festive Special" (also known as a yuletide episode). However on this occasion, things have shifted. The usual elements we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but within the context of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come into place; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
By this point, Meghan resembles the eccentric aunt at the typical holiday get-together – offering random tips, and delivering 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 a bit of a character, but her presence is familiar and unexpectedly soothing. And she seems happy enough; she's not doing the slightest hurt.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, word and gaze will be picked apart and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks unburdened and serenely untroubled.
Maybe this is the only time in history where that old chestnut – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. The reason is, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Admittedly, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, nonsense and flamboyant – but isn't that just what the holiday season is about? And the advice she gives might be ridiculous, but the walk she's walking appears to be shop-bought.
Anything she sets her mind to, she pulls off with panache. Her recipes looks scrumptious, the wreath she creates is gorgeous, her presents are nearly too beautiful to tear into. Not a single thing is average or ugly – even the way she ties her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she creases wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any cynical observer not be won over, overcome by festive joy and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where greens is arranged in the likeness of a wreath?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, naturally, but even so, after the degree of attention she has endured since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this naturally. Her refusal to change or even moderate her persona, regardless of it being so constantly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, no matter what. We will forever know our position with her.
If you're still not buying her message, a point that will certainly come as a reassurance: you aren't required to. We don't have the draft anymore, and if there were, it would be improbable to include watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are gripped with envy about her flawless Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a royal or a office worker, hardly any child fully understands the time and energy their mother expends in December. So you can find comfort by envisioning Archie and Lilibet's faces when they reveal a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, in place of a chocolate.
