Yes, it's Brimming with Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Holiday Special.
No matter the time of year, it's constantly fair game for criticism on the Meghan Markle's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Critics, from seasoned journalists to online pundits, have seldom found such common ground as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's first and second seasons apart. The common opinion seemed to be a bigger monarchy-related faux pas had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel re-packaging incident.
Now, as a festive rebel, she has returned once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (or a Christmas special). However on this occasion, things have shifted. The standard components audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – remain, but framed of a yuletide episode, the purpose becomes clear. The pieces have fallen together; it's a ideal seasonal storm.
By this point, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at most festive family gatherings – providing unasked-for guidance, and contributing 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 aura is known and strangely comforting. And she appears content; she's inflicting a bit of damage.
She is aware her each tiny facial movement, utterance and glance will be picked apart and criticised, but still appears carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
Perhaps this is the initial instance in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – may well be true. The reason is, in all honesty, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is lovely. Yes, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and over the top – but is that not precisely what the holiday season is for? And the words she speaks might be laughable, but the life she leads seems authentically impeccably styled.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she executes with style. Her cooking looks scrumptious, the festive decoration she creates is breathtaking, her gifts are nearly too beautiful to unwrap. Nothing is ordinary or ugly – even the way she ties her kitchen garment is artful and chic. She doesn't throw a meal in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she folds gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself the entire time. How could any skeptical viewer not be won over, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where greens is organized in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, obviously, but despite that, after the intensity of scrutiny she has faced ever since she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of two legendary actresses would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her decision to modify or even moderate her routine, regardless of it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our uncertain world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will stay true to form, no matter what. We will always know our position with her.
If you're still not buying her brand, a reminder that will surely come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. There isn't national service in this country, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are consumed by envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, you can take solace either. If you are a duchess or a office worker, no kid fully understands the effort and hard work their parent puts in in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by picturing the young royals' faces when they reveal a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, rather than a candy.
