Kim Kardashian stars in the lead role in the new television series “All’s Fair,” produced by acclaimed producer Ryan Murphy of Glee and American Horror Story fame. The show transports you to the high-stakes world of a female-led California law firm. Here, the team hotly brings “divorce-y justice” to rich gals facing their marital woes. Alongside Kardashian, notable talents such as Naomi Watts and Niecy Nash join the cast, portraying a diverse array of characters dealing with their own personal and legal dilemmas.
Kardashian also portrays her mother-in-law, a character named Allura, who is married to an NFL star. This envy towards her success drives a huge wedge into their marriage. Those themes of female empowerment is what make the series so compelling as it unravels. Though admirably ambitious in its thematic scope, critics have pointed out many failures of execution. Even if the overall idea is appealing to viewers, many are disappointed by how shallow and surface level the portrayal really is.
Niecy Nash is brilliant in her role, adding a jolt of dynamic comic zing. It’s no wonder many think that her humor—as good as it is—distracts from a shallow script. Critics have not held back in their assessments, labeling the writing as embarrassing, with one critic noting, “The performances in the show are embarrassing.” This sentiment is illustrative of a bigger complaint with the script and story overall.
Even with such an ambitious premise in mind, most trakt.tv reviews indicate the show’s storylines end up being a stretch. Critics have drawn unfavourable comparisons of “All’s Fair” to other series created by Ryan Murphy. They have the faint praise of claiming it as one of his weaker efforts. If you read over some of the reviews, they make it sound like the show is almost contemptuous of its audience.
Kardashian’s performance has been characterized as “expressionless and inoffensively useless,” raising questions about her suitability for such a central role. This disappointing characterization of Allura threatens to overshadow the otherwise compelling mystery of the law firm.
Among the show’s creators, Jon Robin Baitz and Joe Baken contribute to the series’ direction alongside Murphy, yet many viewers and critics remain unimpressed. Despite having a star-studded cast, some audiences are left unsatisfied with the lackluster television show. The project’s creative team boasts impressive credentials, but it didn’t help others get the picture.
Naomi Watts’s character Liberty expresses her moodiness with the line, “My flight was turbulent and so is my mood.” These remarks might sum up the deeper nuggets of turbulence that run through the characters’ lives and the experience of consuming the show itself.
In a world that’s very much rooting for the empowered women, “All’s Fair” has an uphill battle. Ultimately it fails in its mission to reach audiences by delivering its story. The series’ devotion to showcasing female lawyers in a strong, complex way is eclipsed by its assumed failures.
A very unhappy customer of Allura’s husband describes him as “wolf-like in his possessiveness.” This innocuous statement suggests something much darker beneath the surface about the show, especially with respect to sexual politics. These themes are repeatedly buried under clunky lines and flat performances.
Even the humor can’t save the show from a dull execution. One character jests, “Take us straight to Goyard for the travel cases and start packing! This moment has an attempt at comic relief that falls through and fails to lift the grim tone of the series overall.