Lead
Ryan Murphy’s new legal drama All’s Fair, which places Kim Kardashian at its center, opened to strong critical backlash in early reviews. Critics singled out Kardashian’s performance as the most frequent target while also faulting tone and writing. The show registered a 0 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes on Tuesday, rising to 6 percent by Wednesday, even as some audience responses remained more positive. Episodes arrive weekly on Hulu at midnight ET on Tuesdays through December 23.
Key Takeaways
- All’s Fair premiered on Hulu with its early reviews landing overwhelmingly negative, registering 0 percent on Rotten Tomatoes on Tuesday and 6 percent by Wednesday.
- Many critics described Kim Kardashian’s lead performance as stiff or expressionless, while others faulted the series writing and plotting.
- The series features an ensemble including Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Sarah Paulson, Teyana Taylor and Glenn Close, yet reviewers said star power did not lift the material.
- Audience measures differed: Rotten Tomatoes audience meter showed roughly 62 percent favorable as of Wednesday, indicating a split between critics and many viewers.
- Kardashian is an executive producer alongside Kris Jenner and has said her character drew inspiration from divorce attorney Laura Wasser.
- Ryan Murphy said the casting arose after a dinner arranged by Disney executive Dana Walden and Kris Jenner, and Kardashian had been prominent in promotional trailers.
- Despite critical reviews, the show has generated significant social media attention and streaming curiosity among viewers.
Background
All’s Fair is a Ryan Murphy production that follows a group of high powered female attorneys who seek retribution for clients harmed by wealthy men. The series continues Murphy’s trend of ensemble, star-studded television ventures and arrives on Hulu as part of the creator’s ongoing output. Kardashian, who built her public profile in reality television, serves as both lead actor and executive producer, a move that attracted early attention and debate.
Murphy has worked with Kardashian before in smaller capacities, including a brief role in American Horror Story and voice roles in animated PAW Patrol films. Kardashian’s turn as a fictional divorce attorney Allura Grant was framed in publicity as inspired by her real life experience with high profile clients and lawyers. The show targets adult streaming audiences with a mix of legal melodrama and campy, high-gloss production values.
Main Event
Reviews began appearing with the series rollout and several prominent outlets published negative takes within days of release. The Hollywood Reporter highlighted a perceived lack of authenticity in both writing and leading performance, while The Guardian and The Telegraph issued severe condemnations of tone and narrative coherence. Critics repeatedly flagged pacing, plot development and character motivation as weak spots.
At the Los Angeles premiere at the DGA Theater Complex, Murphy described how the casting conversation with Kris Jenner unfolded, saying Jenner suggested writing a role for Kardashian. Murphy also praised Kardashian publicly at the premiere and the marketing placed her prominently in trailers and promotional materials. Kardashian and Jenner are credited as executive producers on the series.
Despite the critical response, a notable portion of viewers embraced the show for its camp and spectacle. Social posts and audience reviews circulated rapidly, with some users celebrating the program’s over-the-top nature and others calling the backlash unfair or driven by bias. Hulu’s release schedule keeps new episodes arriving weekly, sustaining conversation across social platforms.
Analysis & Implications
The swift critical panning of All’s Fair raises questions about star casting as a ratings strategy versus traditional acting credentials. Kardashian’s public profile generates substantial visibility, which can drive initial viewership and social chatter, but critics’ emphasis on performance and writing suggests visibility does not guarantee critical acclaim. For streaming platforms, the calculus often balances immediate attention against longer term brand and subscriber impact.
For Murphy, whose name is associated with repeat hits and stylistic television, the reception may prompt debate among industry executives about creative risks and casting choices. Networks and studios increasingly weigh social media resonance and celebrity-driven marketing alongside reviews and traditional press reception when assessing a show’s value. If audience engagement and subscription metrics remain strong, a season may proceed despite negative press.
The split between critics and audiences on this title also underscores changing consumption habits, where some viewers embrace shows for irony, camp or communal viewing experiences. A show that provokes strong reactions, positive or negative, can still create cultural moments and licensed opportunities. However, sustained negative reviews from critics and influential publications could affect awards consideration and some viewers’ long tail interest.
Comparison & Data
| Measure | Tuesday | Wednesday |
|---|---|---|
| Rotten Tomatoes critics score | 0% | 6% |
| Rotten Tomatoes audience meter | — | 62% |
The table shows the rapid change in critics score reported on Rotten Tomatoes in the first 48 hours and the simultaneous audience meter figure. Critics’ numeric measures reflect professional reviews aggregated early, while the audience metric captures broad user sentiment and can lag or diverge from critical consensus. These snapshot numbers can evolve over the first weeks of streaming as more reviews and viewer ratings accumulate.
Reactions & Quotes
Critics from major outlets emphasized both performance and broader production issues, summarizing their concerns in strong terms. Below are representative brief excerpts set in context with source attribution.
The Hollywood Reporter critic argued that the lead performance and the script lacked emotional texture and authenticity, presenting this as a central flaw of the series.
‘stiff and affectless without a single authentic note’
The Hollywood Reporter
The Telegraph offered a harsh verdict on the series overall, framing it as a significant misfire for television rather than a minor misstep.
‘a crime against television’
The Telegraph
Not all reactions were dismissive. Social posts sampled by observers showed viewers leaning into the program’s excess, treating it as fun or intentionally camp. One viral response propelled curiosity and helped sustain early streaming numbers despite press coverage.
‘IT’S SO BAD GO WATCH IT RIGHT NOW’
Social user on X
Unconfirmed
- Reports that Kardashian is being officially cast as the villain in a Bratz movie adaptation remain unconfirmed by a studio announcement and should be treated as speculative.
- Claims that negative reviews are driven primarily by sexism are asserted on social media but lack comprehensive evidence tying critical language to bias rather than artistic judgment.
Bottom Line
All’s Fair opened to an unusually hostile critical reception despite an A list ensemble and a high profile creator. The immediate discourse centers on whether celebrity casting generated necessary visibility at the cost of perceived craft in performance and writing. Early audience responses show more tolerance for the show’s camp, suggesting viewers may still find entertainment value even as critics deride the series.
For Hulu and Murphy, the next weeks will show whether streaming metrics and social engagement can offset negative press. If viewership and conversation remain robust, the series may persist as a provocative cultural artifact rather than a critical success. Observers should watch for audience retention, subsequent critic reassessments, and any official commentary from the producers as the season unfolds.
Sources
- NBC News — (news media report)
- Rotten Tomatoes — (review aggregator)
- The Hollywood Reporter — (industry media)
- The Guardian — (news media)