Admittedly, it's Full of Nonsense, Over-the-Top Hospitality and Self-Help Jargon. However, I Honestly Love Meghan's Festive Episode.
No matter the time of year, it's always open season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, both professional and armchair, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when gleefully ripping the series' first and second seasons to shreds. The general consensus seemed to be a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the much-discussed pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, like a merry renegade master, she is back once again with a "Holiday Celebration" (also known as a holiday episode). But this time, it's different. The usual elements audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – persist, but within the context of a holiday show, it all clicks into place. The puzzle has come together; it's a flawless festive blizzard.
At this stage, Meghan resembles the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – dispensing random tips, and delivering the occasional strange exclamation. ("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 strangely comforting. And she seems content; she's not doing a bit of damage.
She understands her all subtle gestures, utterance and glance will be analyzed and criticised, but nonetheless looks carefree and too blessed to be stressed.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – may well be true. Because, you know what?, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration truly is charming. Granted, it's all awkwardly over-the-top, foolishness and over the top – but is that not exactly what Christmas is for? And the words she speaks might be ridiculous, but the life she leads appears to be shop-bought.
Anything she sets her mind to, she pulls off with panache. Her cooking looks delicious, the festive decoration she crafts is gorgeous, her presents are almost too pretty to open. Nothing is ordinary or ugly – including the way she fastens her apron is artful and chic. She doesn't toss a meal in the oven, it "has a moment", and she wraps gift paper like an craft master. She also seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself throughout. How could any hate-watcher not be convinced, overcome by holiday spirit and left with a powerful yearning for handmade crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is positioned in the shape of a wreath?
Meghan had a career in acting for a living, of course, but even so, after the degree of scrutiny she has weathered since she started dating Prince Harry, a theoretical combination of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would struggle to act this genuinely. Her refusal to alter or even moderate her shtick, despite it being so constantly, globally mocked, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can count on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're remaining skeptical of her message, a point that will undoubtedly come as a comfort: you are not obligated to. We don't have national service anymore, and were it to return, it would be doubtful to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you willingly check it out and are consumed by jealousy about her idyllic Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a royal or a data administrator, hardly any child fully understands the effort and hard work their mother puts in in the holiday season. So you can take heart by picturing the young royals' faces when they reveal a beautifully scripted letter that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a candy.
