With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration | Official Trailer | Netflix
And right away: this feels like being invited over to someone's very stylish, very curated holiday. Meghan plays the genial host - warm, composed, and clearly at ease in her Montecito kitchen - while a parade of friends and pros help turn the episode into a grab-bag of recipes, little crafts, and entertaining tips.
But don't expect a gritty behind-the-scenes doc or a hard-hitting personal confessional. This is an hour of polished lifestyle television. Think cozy table settings, step-by-step cooking moments led by a seasoned chef, easy gift ideas you could copy, and a few quiet family touches that aim for sweetness. Here's what I mean: there's a scene of a child's mug and a handwritten letter to Santa that tugs at the heartstrings, followed by a quick, practical lesson in throwing a holiday dinner without losing your mind.
Tom Colicchio (movies and tv series) and Will Guidara (movies and tv series) bring real, usable know-how to the cooking and hosting bits. Naomi Osaka (movies and tv series) shows up and adds a friendly, slightly unexpected note - not a stunt, just another voice at the table. And yes, there's a very brief appearance from Prince Harry; it's small, understated, and mostly serves to underline the family (movies and tv series)-at-home vibe rather than steal the spotlight.
Warm. Polished. Intentional. The production values are high. Director Michael Steed and the team deliver clean cuts, soft lighting, and that glossy finish that makes everything look both aspirational and attainable. Maybe it's just me, but sometimes it feels like style slightly outruns substance - the segments are pleasant and beautifully framed, but they rarely linger long enough to feel truly lived-in.
Still - there are real takeaways. Recipes that actually seem doable on a weeknight. Decorating tricks that won't require a second mortgage. And moments of genuine charm: a shared laugh over a holiday mishap, a quick parenting anecdote, a quiet exchange that reads as authentic rather than staged. Think about it this way: if you want ideas you can borrow for your own holiday host duties, you'll leave with a handful of useful things.
What works
- Practical tips: Clear cooking and entertaining advice you can replicate.
- Guest mix: Experts and friends create variety without feeling gimmicky.
- Cozy visuals: The Montecito setting is comforting and well-shot.
Where it falters
- Surface-level moments: A few segments end before they deepen.
- Polish over grit: If you want rawness or hard truth, this isn't it.
- Short runtime: At about an hour, some ideas feel rushed.
I'm not sure everyone will love it. If you're tuned into Meghan's lifestyle vibe - the As Ever aesthetic, the approachable-but-elevated hosting - you'll probably enjoy this. If you're looking for investigative honesty or a radically new take on holiday specials, you'll walk away wanting more.
Overall, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration | Official Trailer | Netflix lands as a pleasant, well-made hour of holiday inspiration. It's not revolutionary. It is, however, exactly the kind of cozy, pretty, how-to holiday TV that will make you bookmark a recipe and smile at a family moment. Perfect for sipping cocoa and stealing a few ideas for your own table.
