Kim Kardashian and Naomi Watts in a scene from "All's Fair." (Disney via CNN Newsource)
Ryan Murphy’s latest creation All’s Fair has landed on Hulu with plenty of hype — and a wave of scathing reviews. Starring Kim Kardashian, Niecy Nash, and Naomi Watts, the glossy legal drama promised power, glamour, and “girl-boss” energy. Instead, it’s finding itself at the center of a critical storm.
From Hype to Harsh Reality
The 10-episode series, released on November 4, has been widely panned by critics, earning a rare 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. What was expected to be Murphy’s next hit has instead become a talking point for all the wrong reasons.
The Times of London gave the show zero stars, describing it as “preening Insta boasts” stitched into a “clumsy, haphazard whole.” The Wrap dismissed it as “a caricature from a man’s idea of a woman’s drama,” while USA Today didn’t mince words either, calling it “the worst TV show of the year.”
The backlash, however, hasn’t stopped people from watching. In fact, the conversation around All’s Fair is fueling its visibility — echoing the “so bad it’s good” phenomenon that once surrounded cult classics like Showgirls.
Is It Bad on Purpose?
With social media flooded by memes and commentary, some viewers believe Murphy may have leaned into the camp. In today’s “hate-watch” era, over-the-top productions often find unexpected success. Flashy, melodramatic, and borderline absurd — All’s Fair might just be engineered for viral entertainment.
As one viewer wrote on Rotten Tomatoes, “It’s an ostentatious display of wealth and beauty and we love it. Goofy, like a soap opera — but entertaining.”
Kim Kardashian at the Center of It All
Unsurprisingly, Kardashian’s performance has become the focal point of much of the discussion. Though she made her acting debut in Murphy’s American Horror Story: Delicate last year, All’s Fair marks her first major scripted lead role.
Critics, however, have been unforgiving. Variety’s Alison Herman compared the series to The Kardashians, suggesting it feels like “another unscripted show set in Los Angeles.” She wrote that Kardashian “doesn’t embarrass herself because her role doesn’t ask much of her.”
Her character, Herman noted, “embodies the laziest stereotypes of what makes a strong woman” — complete with revenge makeovers and a fantasy sequence reminiscent of Beyoncé’s Lemonade.
Murphy’s Longtime Fascination with the Kardashians
Murphy’s interest in Kardashian isn’t new. His 2016 Emmy-winning series The People v. O.J. Simpson featured her father, attorney Robert Kardashian, as a key character. The show depicted Kim and her sisters as young girls witnessing the media frenzy around the case — a moment that foreshadowed their eventual rise as reality TV royalty.
That fascination may have inspired All’s Fair, but this time, it seems the formula didn’t quite land. The show’s blend of opulence, social media flair, and star power feels more spectacle than substance.
Viewers Will Have the Final Say
Despite the brutal reviews, audiences remain curious. Whether it becomes a guilty pleasure or fades into TV infamy, All’s Fair is already one of the most talked-about shows of the year.
And in the age of streaming, that kind of buzz — good or bad — might be the fairest outcome of all.
