Indeed, it's Full of Gibberish, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Psychobabble. However, I Honestly Adore Meghan's Christmas Special.
No matter the time of year, it's constantly fair game for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Critics, expert and amateur alike, have seldom found such common ground as when eagerly tearing the lifestyle show's initial installments apart. The general consensus held that a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the now-infamous pretzel re-packaging incident.
Currently, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback once again with a "Christmas Special" (also known as a Christmas special). However on this occasion, things have shifted. The familiar ingredients we've come to expect – psychobabble word salads, overzealous entertaining – remain, but framed of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The elements have slid perfectly; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
Now, Meghan is like the oddball family member at most festive family gatherings – providing unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 seems pleased; she's inflicting any harm.
She knows her all subtle gestures, utterance and glance will be analyzed and criticised, but still appears unburdened and too blessed to be stressed.
It could be this is the only time in history where that well-worn saying – "Don't listen, it's pure jealousy" – could actually be true. The reason is, let's face it, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels lovely. Yes, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and extravagant – but isn't that exactly what Yuletide is about? And the words she speaks might be absurd, but the life she leads appears to be shop-bought.
Anything she sets her mind to, she accomplishes with style. Her culinary efforts looks scrumptious, the holiday arrangement she makes is stunning, her presents are nearly too beautiful to open. Nothing is average or visually unappealing – including the way she ties her kitchen garment is creative and fashionable. She doesn't toss a dish in the oven, it "has a moment", and she wraps gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be completely savoring herself the entire time. How could any hate-watcher not be charmed, bursting with festive joy and left with a deep longing for personalized Christmas crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a Christmas ring?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, of course, but despite that, after the intensity of scrutiny she has weathered ever since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her refusal to change or even tone down her routine, even though it being so constantly, globally mocked, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will be like this, come what may. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a reminder that will surely come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. The UK has abolished mandatory conscription these days, and if there were, it would be improbable to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, however, you willingly check it out and are overcome with envy about her picture-perfect Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a duchess or a office worker, hardly any child completely grasps the effort and hard work their mum does in December. So you can find comfort by picturing her children's faces when they open a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, instead of a chocolate.