‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration’ Netflix Review - A Cheerful, Chaotic, Surprisingly Self-Aware

Watching With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration feels a bit like opening a gift bag stuffed by a very enthusiastic friend: you get some delightful surprises, a few things you’re not sure you needed, and maybe one item that makes you pause and wonder what exactly the creative team was thinking. But overall, the show delivers enough charm, wit, and cozy holiday sparkle to keep you from regretting the journey. I came in expecting a standard seasonal special with glossy moments and predictable cheer; instead, I found something more self-aware, slightly chaotic, and often genuinely funny in a way that seems intentional—well, at least most of the time.

The series centers on Meghan attempting to pull together a holiday celebration that isn’t just a party but a statement. It blends public and private expectations, family and personal desires, and a long list of tasks that no normal person should attempt in a two-week window. The show frames her efforts with a tone that is playful but grounded by small emotional beats. Meghan’s character is written with a blend of confidence and mild panic, a combination that works surprisingly well. The opening episode sets this tone quickly: she wants the celebration to feel meaningful, but every time she tries to make things smooth, something tugs her in the opposite direction. When her family arrives—each member carrying their own blend of support, distraction, and holiday drama—the series shifts into a rhythm that is equal parts comedic timing and heartfelt conversations.

One of the strongest elements is the lead performance. The actress playing Meghan manages to balance warmth, humor, and exasperation without turning the character into a caricature. She grounds the show when it drifts into ridiculous territory, which happens more than once. Her reactions—small moments of eye-rolling, tiny sighs, or unexpected bursts of determination—carry scenes that could otherwise slip into overdone holiday mushiness. There is a sincerity in the performance that helps maintain the show’s tone, even when the writing stretches its holiday optimism a little too hard.

The supporting characters contribute a good deal of color. Meghan’s aunt, who arrives armed with unsolicited advice and strange craft supplies, steals scenes with her unpredictable commentary. Her younger brother, who attempts to document the entire holiday for what he claims is an innocent “creative project,” adds a layer of absurdity that feels intentional and not forced. And the neighbor, a person with a suspiciously perfect yard and increasingly absurd holiday decoration rivalry, may be the show’s funniest ongoing bit. Their interactions bring small sparks of laughter at just the right times, and their scenes keep the pacing energetic.

Speaking of pacing, the series generally moves well. The episodes don’t drag, and the structure feels like the writers understood how to keep holiday content engaging without loading every moment with sugary sentiment. There are some cleverly timed comedic beats, especially when the holiday plans go wrong. One of my favorite sequences happens when Meghan attempts to run a rehearsal dinner-style test for the final party, only to discover half the guests are missing, the catering is late, and her dog has eaten one of the centerpiece ribbons. It’s chaotic, but the show pulls it off with a tone that feels light rather than exhausting.

However, not everything lands perfectly. The writing occasionally tries too hard to make moments feel profound, dropping reflective lines that feel a bit heavy-handed for a series that otherwise thrives on casual charm. The show doesn’t need to spell out its themes; the performances and situations already communicate them. There are also a few scenes where the dialogue becomes overly polished in a way that clashes with the more relaxed tone the series usually embraces. These moments aren’t deal-breakers, but they do stand out. And while the show is clearly going for a festive warmth, a couple of emotional arcs wrap up too neatly, as if the writers were worried about leaving even a single thread unresolved. A little lingering ambiguity would have helped the show feel more mature.

Some production elements shine more than expected. The cinematography handles holiday lights beautifully without drowning everything in artificial sparkle. The sets look lived-in rather than assembled, which gives the family interactions a comfortable sense of place. The music choices lean on familiar seasonal sounds but blend them with upbeat modern cues that keep scenes from feeling stale. The directing maintains a steady rhythm, allowing actors enough space to make scenes breathe without letting things stall.

The final episode is both the strongest and slightly uneven. The actual holiday celebration—yes, the thing Meghan has been obsessively preparing—comes together satisfyingly, even if a bit idealized. The emotional beats are well-earned, especially when the family finally settles into a moment of shared calm. But the last ten minutes rush through a wrap-up montage that feels like the show is politely ushering the audience out the door. It’s not bad, just abrupt.

Still, for all its small missteps, the series holds together with a persistent charm. Meghan’s journey is enjoyable not because she’s flawless, but because she’s relatable. The show captures that familiar holiday pressure: wanting everything to be perfect while knowing that perfection is the fastest route to frustration. The comedic tone softens the edges, and the more heartfelt moments never drag the experience down. It’s festive, funny, occasionally absurd, and earnest enough to keep you invested without overwhelming you.

In the end, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration offers a cheerful and imperfect ride that understands the joy and chaos of the season. It brings humor, warmth, and a slightly mischievous spirit that prevents it from slipping into bland holiday territory. It’s a series that may stumble in a few spots but gets up quickly, dusts itself off, adjusts a holiday sweater, and keeps going with a wink. It’s entertaining, it’s flawed in manageable ways, and it delivers exactly the kind of seasonal lift you want when you settle in for a holiday binge.

Final Score- [6.5/10]
Reviewed by - Anjali Sharma
Follow @AnjaliS54769166 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times