Ryan Murphy's latest legal drama, “All’s Fair,” featuring reality TV star Kim Kardashian, is facing severe backlash from critics and TV journalists alike. Many have labeled the show as “existentially terrible,” “tacky,” and a “disaster zone.” The first three episodes of this much-anticipated series are currently available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
The series centers around a group of female divorce attorneys who establish their own practice in Los Angeles. The show promises to deliver high-stakes drama as these fierce, brilliant, and emotionally complex women navigate tumultuous breakups, scandalous secrets, and shifting loyalties. The synopsis claims, “In a world where money talks and love is a battleground, these women don’t just play the game—they change it.” Alongside Kardashian, the 10-episode series includes notable stars such as Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor, Sarah Paulson, and Glenn Close.
The critical reception has been overwhelmingly negative. In a scathing zero-star review by Ben Dowell of The Times, titled “All’s Fair review: this may be the worst TV drama ever,” he states, “Well done, Kim. You must have quite a healthy ego yourself to star in what may well be the worst television drama ever made.” Dowell criticizes the show for pretending to be a feminist narrative while, in reality, it serves as a “tacky and revolting monument” to the greed and vanity it claims to critique.
Guardian TV critic Lucy Mangan echoed this sentiment in her own zero-star review, expressing disbelief that television could reach such lows. She described “All’s Fair” as “fascinatingly, incomprehensibly, existentially terrible.” Mangan highlights the absurdity of the premise, where Kardashian and her co-stars portray founders of an all-female law firm that delivers “divorce-y justice” to wealthy clients in sunny California.
Critics have also panned Kardashian's performance as divorce attorney Allura Grant. Ed Power from The Telegraph remarked, “Her participation is just one disaster among many,” while also noting her “stilted acting” and lack of screen presence. He emphasized that Kardashian's portrayal lacks the charisma needed to engage viewers, describing her performance as having a “Zzzzzz… quality.”
Critics have pointed out that the show's dialogue is filled with clunky clichés that undermine the entire production. Dowell quipped, “Does Kardashian (who plans to take bar exams, we are told) make a convincing lawyer? No, she does not.” He likened her acting skills to “Genghis Khan” in a peaceful democracy, implying that her performance is far from convincing.
“All’s Fair” represents Kardashian’s second collaboration with Ryan Murphy, following her role in the 12th season of “American Horror Story.” Kardashian also serves as an executive producer on this new legal drama. Glamour editor Emily Maddick pointed out the concerning trend, stating that the show feels like an episode of “The Kardashians.” She criticized Murphy for seemingly adopting the “aspirational” lifestyle that the Kardashians promote, which she claims translates to “behaving like a billionaire.”
Despite the overwhelmingly negative reviews, new episodes of “All’s Fair” are set to release every Tuesday on Hulu and Disney+. Whether the series will improve in quality or continue to face criticism remains to be seen.
