Imagine a TV show so bad, it makes you question the very existence of quality entertainment. That’s the sentiment surrounding Ryan Murphy’s latest legal drama, All’s Fair, which premiered on Hulu this week. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite a star-studded cast featuring Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor, Matthew Noszka, Sarah Paulson, and Glenn Close, the series has been slammed by critics as one of the worst shows of the year. Could it be that even A-list talent can’t save a flawed concept? Or is there something deeper at play here? Let’s dive in.
The show follows a group of female divorce lawyers who break away from their former firm to start their own all-women practice. On paper, it sounds like a compelling premise—a feminist take on the legal drama genre. And this is the part most people miss: while the idea is intriguing, critics argue that the execution falls flat. As of its debut, All’s Fair held a staggering zero percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, leaving many to wonder how such a high-profile project could go so wrong.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Angie Han didn’t hold back, labeling the series “brain dead” and criticizing its inability to deliver genuine, emotionally resonant moments. She pointed out that the characters feel one-dimensional, their storylines flimsy, and their motives underdeveloped. Bold claim alert: Han even went so far as to say that Kim Kardashian’s stiff performance perfectly mirrors the show’s equally stiff and inauthentic writing. Ouch. But is this a fair assessment, or are critics being too harsh on a show that’s simply trying to entertain?
Lucy Mangan of The Guardian took it a step further, calling All’s Fair “fascinatingly, incomprehensibly, existentially terrible.” She questioned whether there’s even a baseline for quality in television anymore, given how poorly the show was received. Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph’s Ed Power dubbed Ryan Murphy the “high priest of tacky, tasteless television,” suggesting that All’s Fair is a new low in his career. But here’s a thought-provoking question: Is Murphy’s penchant for over-the-top drama the problem, or is it the audience’s expectations that are out of touch?
The Times’ Ben Dowell didn’t mince words either, stating that Kardashian’s involvement in what could be “the worst television drama ever made” must require a hefty dose of ego. He criticized the show for failing to deliver on its feminist aspirations, instead coming across as a tacky monument to the very flaws it aims to critique. USA Today’s Kelly Lawler crowned All’s Fair “the worst TV show of the year,” describing it as an unmitigated disaster with scripts worse than AI-generated content and acting that falls short of even amateur theater.
But here’s the real question: Is All’s Fair so bad it’s good, or is it just plain bad? Critics seem to agree it’s the latter, with Lawler noting that not even wine and Halloween candy could make it enjoyable. Yet, the show’s viral potential—thanks to its star power and controversial reception—might just keep it in the public eye, for better or worse.
What do you think? Is All’s Fair unfairly maligned, or does it deserve every bit of criticism it’s gotten? Let us know in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to spark some heated discussions.
