Indeed, it's Full of Nonsense, Extreme Hosting and Psychobabble. Yet I Truly Adore Meghan's Christmas Special.
No concerned with the season, it's constantly open season for commentary on the Duchess of Sussex's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, both professional and armchair, have seldom found such common ground as when gleefully ripping the series' first and second seasons to pieces. The general consensus held that a greater royal outrage had never been witnessed than the much-discussed pretzel-bagging incident.
Presently, like a merry renegade master, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Holiday Celebration" (aka a Christmas special). Yet now, things have shifted. The usual elements audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but framed of a Christmas special, suddenly it all makes sense. The puzzle has come together; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan has become the oddball family member at Christmas celebrations everywhere – providing 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 oddly reassuring. And she looks happy enough; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.
She knows her every micro expression, word and glance will be picked apart and judged, but nonetheless looks carefree 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" – may well be true. Since, let's face it, each element in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is delightful. Admittedly, it's all painfully excessive, silliness and extravagant – but is that not precisely what Christmas is for? And the talk she's talking might be absurd, but the example she sets genuinely looks beautifully curated.
Whatever she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she pulls off with style. Her culinary efforts looks delicious, the wreath she creates is stunning, her gifts are almost too pretty to tear into. Nothing is average or aesthetically displeasing – including the way she fastens her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't throw a dish in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she creases wrapping paper like an craft master. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself throughout. How could any cynical observer not be won over, filled with seasonal cheer and left with a powerful yearning for crafted festive snaps or a crudites platter where broccoli is arranged in the likeness of a festive circle?
Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but even so, after the degree of examination she has faced since she started dating Prince Harry, the love child of two legendary actresses would struggle to act this authentically. Her unwillingness to alter or even tone down her routine, even though it being so constantly, internationally ridiculed, is strangely reassuring. In our unpredictable world, here is one thing we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will consistently know where we are with her.
If you're not yet convinced by what she's selling, a thought that will surely come as a reassurance: you are not obligated to. We don't have national service in this country, and should it be reinstated, it would be doubtful to include viewing With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, on the other hand, you choose to watch and are gripped with longing about her idyllic Christmas, all is not lost either. If you are a duchess or a office worker, no kid completely grasps the time and energy their mum expends in the holiday season. So you can console yourself by imagining Archie and Lilibet's faces when they open a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a DIY festive calendar, rather than a chocolate.