The new Hulu legal drama ‘All’s Fair,’ created by super-producer Ryan Murphy and starring Kim Kardashian in her first lead role alongside an all-star cast including Glenn Close and Naomi Watts, has been universally panned by critics as potentially the worst television show ever made, yet it is attracting viewers for its high-camp style and social media virality. Since its debut on Tuesday, the series has drawn zero-star reviews and near-zero ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, but fans are celebrating its absurdity and meme-worthy moments.
Set in a fictional Los Angeles law firm that specializes in securing hefty divorce settlements for wealthy women, ‘All’s Fair’ centers on the power dynamics among its founders—Kim Kardashian’s Allura Grant, Naomi Watts’ Liberty Ronson, and Niecy Nash-Betts’ Emerald Greene—and their rivalry with Sarah Paulson’s character, Carrington Lane. The show blends procedural elements with soapy melodrama, featuring extravagant fashion, spotless interiors, and vulgar dialogue that critics have described as painfully leaden and disjointed. With an ensemble that also includes Teyana Taylor and Glenn Close, the series aims for alpha female energy reminiscent of 1980s primetime soaps like ‘Dynasty,’ but often falls flat in execution.
Critics from major outlets such as The Guardian, The Times, and USA Today have slammed the show with some of the most scathing reviews in recent memory. The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan called it ‘fascinatingly, existentially terrible,’ while The Times’ Ben Dowell suggested it felt ‘written by a toddler.’ Reviewers highlighted terrible scripts, over-the-top performances, and grotesque displays of wealth porn, with many awarding zero stars out of five. The Rotten Tomatoes score initially hit 0% before creeping up to 6%, still among the lowest for any show, underscoring the unanimous negative reception from professional critics.
Despite the critical panning, ‘All’s Fair’ has generated significant buzz on social media platforms like X, where fans have labeled it ‘gloriously silly’ and ‘my type of nonsense camp show.’ Viral clips of jaw-dropping scenes, such as Glenn Close delivering vulgar lines or characters in outrageous outfits, have turned the series into a meme factory. This divide between critics and viewers suggests the show may be succeeding as a hate-watch phenomenon, appealing to audiences who find entertainment in its so-bad-it’s-good quality and intentional or unintentional camp.
The involvement of Ryan Murphy, known for Emmy-winning series like ‘Glee’ and ‘American Horror Story,’ adds context to the show’s polarizing nature. Some speculate that the campiness is a deliberate strategy to stand out in the crowded streaming market, while others attribute the flaws to production missteps. With 17 executive producers, including the main cast and Kris Jenner, the series may suffer from too many creative voices, leading to discordant performances and a lack of cohesive direction. Naomi Watts and Glenn Close, both revered actresses, are seen wrestling with material that fails to showcase their talents.
Hulu’s release strategy—dropping the first three episodes at once and scheduling the remaining six weekly—appears designed to capitalize on social media engagement and sustained interest. This approach mirrors other hate-watched shows like ‘And Just Like That,’ indicating that the platform may be leveraging controversy to drive viewership in the competitive streaming wars. The show’s rollout ensures a steady supply of content for meme-makers and discussions, potentially turning it into a future cult classic despite its critical failure.
In the broader context of television, ‘All’s Fair’ highlights how bad press and social media can translate into popularity, challenging traditional metrics of success. Whether it fades quickly or endures as a camp artifact, the series exemplifies the evolving dynamics of entertainment consumption, where polarizing content can capture public attention and redefine what it means to be a ‘hit’ in the digital age.