No concerned with the time of year, it's constantly hunting season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's televisual offering, With Love, Meghan. Commentators, both professional and armchair, have rarely been so united as when enthusiastically shredding the lifestyle show's first and second seasons apart. The prevailing view held that a more egregious regal scandal had never been witnessed than the much-discussed pretzel re-packaging incident.
Presently, in the spirit of a holiday maverick, she has returned once again with a "Festive Special" (or a Christmas special). Yet now, it's different. The familiar ingredients audiences anticipate – vague self-help platitudes, intense hospitality – remain, but set of a holiday show, the purpose becomes clear. The pieces have fallen perfectly; it's a perfect snow storm.
At this stage, Meghan has become the eccentric aunt at Christmas celebrations everywhere – offering unsolicited, unnecessary advice, 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 company is customary and oddly reassuring. And she seems happy enough; she's inflicting any harm.
She knows her each tiny facial movement, syllable and look will be analyzed and scrutinized, but nonetheless looks relaxed and remarkably at ease.
Maybe this is the initial instance in history where that clichéd phrase – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. Since, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration honestly feels lovely. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, foolishness and flamboyant – but is that not precisely what the holiday season is for? And the talk she's talking might be laughable, but the example she sets appears to be shop-bought.
Anything she turns her beautifully manicured, diamond-adorned hand to, she pulls off with panache. Her recipes looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she makes is stunning, her gifts are practically too exquisite to open. Nothing is average or visually unappealing – even the way she fastens her kitchen garment is stylish and elegant. She doesn't toss a meal in the microwave, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps wrapping paper like an origami guru. She also seems to be completely savoring herself throughout. How could any skeptical viewer not be won over, filled with festive joy and left with a deep longing for handmade crackers or a crudites platter where broccoli is organized in the form of a festive circle?
Meghan was once an actress for a living, of course, but nonetheless, after the intensity of attention she has weathered ever since she started dating Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would find it hard to appear this authentically. Her unwillingness to modify or even soften her routine, even though it being so relentlessly, internationally ridiculed, is oddly heartening. In our uncertain world, here is something we can rely on: Meghan will be like this, whatever happens. We will consistently know our position with her.
If you're not yet convinced by her message, a reminder that will certainly come as a reassurance: you don't have 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, on the other hand, you willingly check it out and are consumed by envy about her idyllic Christmas, there is hope either. Be you a duchess or a data administrator, no kid truly appreciates the effort and hard work their mother expends in the holiday season. So you can take heart by picturing the young royals' faces when they reveal a calligraphy note that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a homemade Advent calendar, instead of a sweet treat.
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