Meghan's Christmas show on Netflix sparkles, but lacks festive magic

Dressed in a black sweater, Meghan moves among a line of undecorated Christmas trees, carefully selecting the perfect one for her home. She insists that only a large, vibrant tree will do before its adorned with sparkling ornaments. Laughing, she remarks, Once a year, you can do the tree thing, before decorating the chosen fir in the next scene. This marks a very classic beginning for the series hosted by Prince Harrys wife.

The nearly one-hour program, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, is now available on Netflix. According to the platform, Meghan welcomes viewers into a festive wonderland filled with warmth, traditions, and plenty of joy. Notable guests include chefs Will Guidara and Tom Colicchio, as well as tennis star Naomi Osaka.

Despite the promising lineup, critics suggest the show may still face challenges in attracting a wide audience. Previous seasons of Meghans series were heavily criticized for seeming artificial, with reviewers calling them contrived and insincere. The question remains whether she can bring more authenticity this time around.

Cooking, Crafting, and Holiday Cheer

In this special, Meghan shares recipes, creates Advent calendars for her children Archie and Lilibet, mixes festive drinks, and works with cookie dough and beetrootall set to Christmas music. She also reflects on childhood memories and praises her mothers holiday meals. Playfully dressed in red pajamas, she introduces her next guests, maintaining a cheerful energy throughout.

Yet, some critics remain unconvinced. Early media reactions in the UK were notably harsh. The Guardian described Meghans playful antics among the Christmas trees as almost a deliberate provocation, while The Telegraph criticized the special for presenting a sterile imitation of holiday cheer, calling it as joyless as coal in a Christmas stocking. The Times derided the crafts and conversations as implausible, describing the show as a fever dream.

Prince Harry Joins the Festivities

The series also features Prince Harry, who praises his mother-in-laws Christmas meals as Meghan prepares them. The couple even shares a rare on-screen kiss. Since stepping back from royal duties more than five years ago, Harry and Meghan now live in the United States with their children. Despite past tensions with his father, there have been recent signs of reconciliation.

After leaving royal life, the couple signed a Netflix deal, producing several projects together. This summer, they extended their collaboration with a multi-year first-look agreement, signaling Netflixs continued interest in their productions.

Meghans Longtime Holiday Enthusiasm

Meghans passion for Christmas is well-known. She has previously been photographed decorating towering trees and has celebrated holidays with the royal family at Sandringham. I love the holiday season, she says in the shows trailer. Whether viewers will embrace her festive spirit remains to be seen.

Author: Noah Whitman