Indeed, it's Packed with Gibberish, Extreme Hosting and Self-Help Jargon. Yet I Truly Love Meghan's Festive Episode.

No considering the season, it's perpetually open season for criticism on the Duchess of Sussex's TV show, With Love, Meghan. Reviewers, expert and amateur alike, have hardly ever agreed so completely as when enthusiastically shredding the series' first and second seasons apart. The prevailing view held that a more egregious regal scandal had seldom occurred than the notorious pretzel-bagging incident.

Presently, as a festive rebel, she makes a comeback for another round with a "Festive Special" (aka a holiday episode). But this time, things have shifted. The usual elements audiences anticipate – meaningless jargon salads, overzealous entertaining – are still present, but framed of a yuletide episode, suddenly it all makes sense. The elements have slid together; it's a perfect snow storm.

Now, Meghan is like the quirky relative at most festive family gatherings – dispensing unasked-for guidance, and supplying the periodic peculiar declaration. ("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 quite a personality, but her presence is familiar and strangely comforting. And she seems pleased; she's inflicting the slightest hurt.

She knows her every micro expression, word and look will be dissected and judged, but nonetheless looks unburdened and serenely untroubled.

It could be this is the initial instance in history where that old chestnut – "Ignore them, they're just jealous" – could actually be true. The reason is, let's face it, all aspects in Meghan's Holiday Celebration is lovely. Admittedly, it's all cringily ultra-extra, nonsense and extravagant – but doesn't that represent just what Christmas is for? And the words she speaks might be absurd, but the walk she's walking seems authentically shop-bought.

Anything she attempts, she executes with style. Her cooking looks tasty, the holiday arrangement she creates is stunning, her presents are practically too exquisite to unwrap. Not a single thing is average or ugly – even the way she ties her apron is creative and fashionable. She doesn't bung a dish in the oven, it "goes for a spin", and she wraps gift paper like an paper-folding expert. She also seems to be genuinely relishing herself from start to finish. How could any cynical observer not be won over, bursting with festive joy and left with a intense desire for personalized Christmas crackers or a vegetable display where broccoli is arranged in the form of a festive circle?

Meghan used to pretend for a living, obviously, but nonetheless, after the degree of scrutiny she has weathered ever since she met Prince Harry, even a hypothetical offspring of Meryl Streep and Judi Dench would have difficulty behaving this authentically. Her decision to change or even tone down her routine, despite it being so constantly, widely parodied, is weirdly comforting. In our unpredictable world, here is something we can depend on: Meghan will be like this, no matter what. We will consistently know where we are with her.

If you're remaining skeptical of what she's selling, a thought that will undoubtedly come as a reassurance: you don't have to. There isn't the draft these days, and if there were, it would be unlikely to include streaming With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration. If, conversely, you choose to watch and are gripped with jealousy about her picture-perfect Christmas, all is not lost either. Whether you're a royal or a office worker, few children fully understands the time and energy their parent expends in December. So you can console yourself by picturing the young royals' faces when they open a handwritten message that says, 'I love you because you are brave,' from a handcrafted holiday countdown, rather than a sweet treat.