Critics Call Meghan’s Special ‘Insane,’ ‘Unfathomable,’ and ‘A Bit Sad’ — Merry Christmas, er, Holiday!

0:03 Caloroga Shark Media. Hey, and welcome to Palace Intrigue Game you host. Mark mor answers it's going to take us days, if not weeks, to unpack the madness of Meghan's holiday special, especially in a busy week with a state visit and Kate's Christmas concert, as well as starting tomorrow afternoon, we'll be bringing you the top twenty five royal moments of twenty twenty five. But let's begin to pick away at it. The Independent called it not fun, enjoyable or even aspirational, giving it one star. They write, did you know that you're supposed to wrap Christmas lights around your tree twice, once further in and then again on the outside. I suppose I didn't, but it makes logical sense. I've never thought to make my own Christmas plates, or considered writing little love notes to my family and refillable felt advent calendars either. But Meghan Marco has mused on many aspects of Christmas for her predictably insipid festive special Sadly, this most markily of Netflix content tests the limit of my holiday cheer. Before any guests a ria for her Christmas party, she perhaps by writing tis the seasoning in chalk on her kitchen chalkboard, and smashes some chocolate, biscuits and sugar together in a sloppy bowl to make reindeer chow. When she brings in her first visitor, the New York restauranteur Will Gadara, the energy shifts. Is this sexual tension between them or just the feeling of Netflix having to put

1:33 a gun to its head. Michael tells him how Christmas crackers are a big deal in the UK. Christmases no way, he smiles back. Solo, Michael tackles wrapping Christmas gifts. One technique that's really fun is just a different way in which you're folding the paper, she says, in her hypnotic tone, Layering the folds of paper outwardly instead of inwardly, so the finished product looks like a braid that you can tuck in a little Christmas tree branch or candy cane or something, or a bow right here. Could be really darling. Wait, that's actually really nice. Okay. Now she shows you how to wrap a bottle of wine beautifully with a silk scarf Japanese style. The wrapping section has its merits. The standard went with I think Meghan Marko's team were trolling her with this insane holiday special. They write, absolutely, do not try any of these crafts or recipes at home unless you also want to have a nervous breakdown. Netflix has really hit its stride with this special episode of With Love Meghan. They're really leaning into the frantic energy of its star trying to crack puns without splashing hot oil or butter down her pristine cashmere sweaters. Honestly, the production team must be trolling Meghan here with increasingly bizarre and elaborate setups for her to impact hosting hacks. In fact, are they really hacks? They would make anyone else actually hosting Christmas for a big group have a nervous breakdown before the canopies were served. Don't feel like you have to do it all. Just embrace the special touches that bring you joy. Megan trills before embarking on a series of increasingly insane scenarios. The ke to being a good host in Megan's world is have your production team researched

3:05 the guests they booked and give you a flavor profile of what they enjoy eating. The Daily Mail's Annabel Fenwick Elliott issued the bluntest verdict, awarding the program zero stars out of five. She wrote, it's the syrupy hypocrisy and our hostess is deep lack of self awareness that continued to make her and this show so unlikable. If only she could lean into her waspish type a personality, poke a little fun at herself, even she could just about be endearing in a Monica from friends sort of way. In The Times, columnists Hillary Rose labeled the Special unfathomable, suggesting the production amounts to four pointless crafts, three random friends, two unseen kids, one English print and the duchess in the bear tree, or at least making peer syrup. She described guests who queue up to say implausible things, running the gamut from moronic to trite, and then emote joy.

3:59 Adding the portions of the dialogue left her feeling as though the English language had been fed through Google Translate and found wanting more Pallas in just a moment. The telegraphs Anna Seeing called the Special quite mad and a little bit sad one star out of five. Anita writes, you'll be reaching for the Christmas spirits make minor double within the first five minutes As Megan talks us through the basics, once a year you get to do the tree thing. Advent calendars are about having a surprise every day for twenty four days until you get to Christmas. Tis the season to wrap gifts you don't say. This is reminiscent of the advice given by Pipper Middleton and celebrate that seminal work of nonfiction produced by the Princess of Wales's sister, which recommended serving turkey on Christmas Day and going stargazing at nighttime because that's when it's dark.

4:51 Megan's tips are imparted in an easy, breezy manner as she waxes lyrical about family traditions and spending the holiday with loved ones, determinedly ignoring the elephants in the room. Christmas trees are able to really encapsulate your family story, she says, you really feel the passage of time in the different chapters of your life through the ornaments. But I'm not sure how going non contact with your father, moving five thousand miles away from Britain because your husband hates his entire family, and then giving a bombshell interview accusing your in laws of being racists can be conveyed in baubles, perhaps an angel tree topper in the shape of Oprah Winfrey, wearing a Cartier tank watch and a humdinger of a diamond. Megan busies around the kitchen, laughing merrily at her own jokes. This feels like fun. Do you've never heard anyone say fun? Don't wary of being seen as Marie Antoinette. She mentions no fewer than four times that she's going to do her own tidying up.

5:48 Guy the beagle pads around at her feet. Hang on, didn't he die in January? It's a Christmas miracle. Two of Meghan's friends come over for a pajama party, which I did not realize was a thing past the age of twelve. This is the most insufferable section. Osaka is press ganged decorating a play for her daughter, and when she mentions, in a moment of honesty, that she has no time to relax at home because she has a young child to run after, Meghan says, but that's the good kind of non relaxation, right, the stuff that is so soul filling and amazing, Yeahsaka, her soul visibly draining from her body. Meghan makes one allusion to her former life when she recalls pulling crackers while living in the UK. Other than that, there is no mention of Christmas at Sandringham or Hotel Grannie, as Harry referred to it in his memoir. At least dear Old Harry makes an appearance.

6:34 He turns up five minutes from the end let out of the pantry where he has been locked since the end of series one. The Daily Styles recap starts with a healthy chuckle. Prince Harry's first speaking part on Meghan Michael's shows used to slag off a salad. Harry joins Meghan in the kitchen and she prepares at Christmas Eve gumbo traditionally made by her mother Doria Ragland. This time, Meghanov's for a spicy and dewey sausage rather than the turkey sausage. Dorria usually sets a side for Harry, telling viewers with a smile that he's going to sweat. Harry's reaction is immediate, wonderful, he replies with a grimace, before admitting that the spice level made him feel it puncturing through the top of my head. Megan looks genuinely taken aback when he offers his final verdict, I'm not so sure it's as good as your mum's, but it's certainly close.

7:21 Megan notes that the accompanying salad includes the top things my husband hates to eat, listing fennel, black olives, pickled vegetables, and beetroot as they say in England. Harry approaches the dish cautiously. Oh wow, that's likely anti salad, he says, later, remarking, there are not many things in the world that I don't like, and they're all in that one bowl. But perhaps we spent all much time following Meghan's career that we can't be objective. In Vogue, Daisy Jones is a newcomer to the Duchess's adventures and writes, I'm going to admit something. I don't know anything about Meghan Markel or her Netflix show. I've managed to avoid any chatter about With Love Meghan, but maybe I'm missing out. Yeah, or to open my mind and heart to With Love Meghan, which may not be aimed towards audiences like me. After finishing With Love Megan holiday celebration, I'm left with a few takeaways. On the one hand, I can see why the show was critically panned. Sometimes people are given a platform because of who they are, rather than what they can bring. And with love Megan gives me the same feeling as when I am around very wealthy people who think that making a salad with friends makes them grounded and relatable. On the other there's something soothing, enjoyable even about the show's glossy in aimless. Not everything has to be cerebral or even enlightening. Sometimes it's enough to be comforting.

8:38 And if we can't watch comforting, temperate, nothing but in a good way TV at Christmas, then when can we? And there you have it. I'd like to email us that addresses the Palace intrig at gmail dot com. Please follo us on Spotify, Apple, the app of your choice. And it's a nice review I from enjoying the show my friends. It's my thanks to John McDermott. This is Palace Intrigue and good times