Admittedly, it's Packed with Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Cherish Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the time of year, it's always fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when eagerly tearing the program's earlier episodes to shreds. The general consensus held that a greater royal outrage had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she has returned for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a yuletide episode). However on this occasion, it's different. The standard components we've come to expect – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but framed of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
Now, Meghan is like the quirky relative at most festive family gatherings – 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 an interesting figure, but her aura is known and strangely comforting. And she seems pleased; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She understands her all subtle gestures, utterance and glance will be dissected and criticised, but still appears unburdened and serenely untroubled.
Perhaps this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. The reason is, you know what?, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and extravagant – but is that not exactly what Yuletide is for? And the words she speaks might be absurd, but the walk she's walking genuinely looks impeccably styled.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she executes with panache. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the wreath she creates is gorgeous, her presents are practically too exquisite to tear into. Nothing is mediocre or visually unappealing – even the way she secures her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't throw a meal in the oven, it "takes a twirl", and she wraps gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any cynical observer not be charmed, overcome by festive joy and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is organized in the shape of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but despite that, after the intensity of attention she has endured since she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of two legendary actresses would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her unwillingness to modify or even moderate her routine, even though it being so relentlessly, globally mocked, is oddly heartening. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can count on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will forever know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her message, a point that will surely come as a reassurance: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription anymore, and should it be reinstated, it would be unlikely to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you choose to watch and are consumed by jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. Whether you're a royal or a data administrator, hardly any child truly appreciates the dedication and labor their mother does in December. So you can take heart by picturing Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, in place of a sweet treat.
