Kim Kardashian's 'All's Fair' Unleashes a Wild Divide Between Critics and Audiences

A new legal drama from super-producer Ryan Murphy, featuring Kim Kardashian in her first lead role, has hit streaming services, baffling professional critics while simultaneously charming a massive global audience. It's truly a tale of two shows!

TL;DR: The Lowdown on 'All's Fair'

• Critical Catastrophe: The show debuted with a rare 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, with many calling it "the worst TV drama ever."
• Audience Obsession: Despite critical scorn, it became Hulu Originals' biggest scripted series premiere in three years, racking up 3.2 million global views in just three days.
• Where to Watch: Catch the nine-part series now streaming on Hulu in the US and Disney+ internationally.

From Zero-Star Reviews to Chart-Topping Streaming Success: What's Happening with 'All's Fair'?

Imagine a show so universally panned by professional critics that it earns a mind-boggling zero percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Then, imagine that very same show rocketing to the top of streaming charts, becoming one of the most-watched series globally. This isn't a hypothetical thought experiment; it's the bizarre reality of All's Fair, the latest legal drama from prolific creator Ryan Murphy, starring none other than Kim Kardashian.

The series, which premiered on November 4, has sparked an unprecedented debate about what makes a show "good" and who ultimately decides its fate. Is it the critical consensus, or the sheer volume of eyeballs tuning in, even if out of sheer curiosity or ironic enjoyment?

Critics Unleash a Torrent of Scathing Reviews for 'All's Fair'

When the embargo for All's Fair dropped, critics didn't hold back. Phrases like "fascinatingly, existentially terrible" from The Guardian and "may be the worst TV drama ever" from The Times became common refrains. Source: [The Guardian, "Is Kim Kardashian’s legal drama All’s Fair really the worst TV show of all time?", November 7, 2025 (note on date discrepancy: other articles refer to it as recently released and current, so the year '2025' in The Guardian article is likely a typo given the context of current viewership numbers)].

Lucy Mangan of The Guardian famously kicked off her zero-star review by declaring, "I did not know it was still possible to make television this bad." Ben Dowell, Deputy TV Editor for The Times, wasn't much kinder, observing the show felt "written by a toddler who couldn’t write ‘bum’ on a wall." He highlighted that the series, intended as a "feminist fable," instead felt like a "tacky and revolting monument to the same greed, vanity and avarice it supposedly targets." Source: [The Times, "All’s Fair review: this may be the worst TV drama ever", November 4, 2025]. Even a one-star review from The Telegraph's Ed Power, calling it a "disaster zone of soapy plotting and reeking dialogue," felt "comparatively a rave" amid the critical onslaught.

The Rotten Tomatoes score, which initially sat at a flat 0%, eventually crept up to a still-anemic 5-6%, thanks to a "vaguely positive review" from Decider, which seemed to be the lone dissenting voice among the professional critics, suggesting it was "all over the place – but somehow, we’re already hooked." This score is notably lower than even Milf Manor, a reality show that managed to secure 14% from reviewers. Clearly, something about All's Fair struck a particularly sour note with those whose job it is to critique television.

Why Critics Found the Legal Drama So Unwatchable

The criticisms leveled against All's Fair were multifaceted. Reviewers pointed to excruciatingly "stilted, artificial and awkward" dialogue, inconsistent performances from its star-studded cast, and a plot that felt both "far bigger and far flatter" than necessary. Many felt that despite the presence of revered actors like Glenn Close and Naomi Watts, their efforts were swallowed by what was perceived as "ineptitude and misplaced aspiration."

Kim Kardashian's performance, in particular, drew sharp comments. She was described as a "curiously inert presence" with "mesmerising anti-charisma," and someone who "is to acting what Genghis Khan is to a peaceful liberal democracy." Critics also slammed the show's "grotesque demonstrations of wealth porn," where characters are hyper-rich, live in lavish mansions, and fawn over multi-million dollar jewelry and experimental age-defying treatments. This constant display of unattainable luxury in a world struggling with economic realities struck many as "deathly dull" and "noxiously dumb."

Audiences Flock to 'All's Fair' Despite the Critical Onslaught

While critics sharpened their knives, a curious phenomenon unfolded: viewers, seemingly undeterred, began tuning in by the millions. All's Fair quickly became a social media sensation, with fans embracing its "gloriously silly" and "camp" nature. Source: [BBC, "Is All's Fair really the 'worst TV drama ever'?", November 6, 2025 (date discrepancy noted)]. It was dubbed "my type of nonsense camp show" and praised for "isn't afraid to be bad."

The numbers speak volumes: the show debuted at #1 on Hulu's Top 15 and remained there for its first three days. It garnered 3.2 million global views in that short span, marking Hulu Originals' biggest scripted series premiere in three years. Source: [Deadline, "'All's Fair' Logs Biggest Hulu Originals Scripted Debut In 3 Years As Star Kim Kardashian Claps Back At Negative Reviews", November 7, 2025]. Kim Kardashian even gleefully posted on Instagram, "Have you tuned in to the most critically acclaimed show of the year!?!?!? All's Fair streaming now on @hulu and @disneyplus," leaning into the "so bad it's good" narrative.

This massive discrepancy is underscored by the Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 66%, a staggering 61% higher than the critics' score. Social listening data from Netbase further solidified this, showing 81% positive social sentiment. The overwhelming negative reviews, rather than deterring viewers, seemed to pique their curiosity, proving the old adage that "there is no such thing as bad publicity."

The Power of Star Power and "Hate-Watching" in the Streaming Era

Part of All's Fair's undeniable draw lies in its high-profile cast. Kim Kardashian, with her immense social media reach (354 million Instagram followers alone), brought an immediate, built-in audience. Co-stars like Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Sarah Paulson, Glenn Close, and Teyana Taylor further fueled interest, even if their performances were described as "rarely complementary" or "ferociously over-the-top."

The show also taps into the growing trend of "hate-watching." Like a car crash you can't look away from, many viewers found a perverse pleasure in the show's perceived flaws. The grotesque fashion, the outrageous plot points (like a character asking about birth control in "shockingly vulgar terms" or rings so comically oversized they had to "hoopla" them on), and the sheer audacity of its existence created viral moments perfect for social media sharing. This camp appeal, often unintentional from the creators' side according to some critics, resonated deeply with an audience looking for entertainment that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Kim Kardashian on the show's reception: "Have you tuned in to the most critically acclaimed show of the year!?!?!? All's Fair streaming now on @hulu and @disneyplus."

— Instagram post by Kim Kardashian, November 6

A Mini Story: The Water Cooler Conversation Starter

For example, imagine Sarah, an office worker, who usually prides herself on her refined taste in prestige TV. She'd initially scoffed at the zero-star reviews of All's Fair. But then, during a coffee break, she overheard colleagues giggling about a particularly ridiculous scene involving an alligator-infested sex dungeon (a hypothetical scenario mirroring the show's perceived absurdity, as referenced by one critic's childhood writings). Intrigued, and with nothing else compelling to watch, Sarah decided to stream the first episode, fully expecting to mock it. To her surprise, by the third episode, she was genuinely invested, finding a strange comfort in its over-the-top antics, which served as perfect escapism from her daily grind. She couldn't call it "good," but she definitely couldn't stop watching.

The Future of Television: Intentional Camp or Misplaced Aspirations?

This begs the question: was All's Fair deliberately crafted as a camp classic, or did its creators genuinely aim for prestige and simply miss the mark? Ryan Murphy has a history of creating both critically acclaimed dramas (like The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story) and shows known for their high-camp, like Nip/Tuck. Some critics argue that the show's obvious flaws point to "ineptitude and misplaced aspiration," suggesting that somewhere along the line, the vision for All's Fair got lost in translation, or perhaps no one involved had "the ability to discern just how bad a thing this actually is."

However, others speculate that at some point in production, Murphy and his team might have realized All's Fair wasn't going to be the next Succession and consciously "remodelled it into a future camp classic," primed to fill the "hate-watching hole" left by shows like And Just Like That. The show's rollout, with the first three episodes dropping together and the rest weekly, seems strategically designed to capitalize on this social media-driven, meme-generating appeal. It appears that in the highly competitive streaming world, sometimes being "noticeably worse than the rest" can indeed help a show rise to the top.

Practical Takeaways for Viewers Navigating the 'All's Fair' Phenomenon

• Form Your Own Opinion: Don't let critical reviews dictate your viewing. If you're curious, give it a watch; you might find yourself surprisingly entertained.
• Embrace the Camp: If you enjoy over-the-top fashion, dramatic storylines, and dialogue that borders on parody, All's Fair might be your next guilty pleasure.
• Social Media Amplifier: The show is a prime candidate for live-tweeting or discussing with friends. Its wild moments are tailor-made for viral shares.
• Streaming Wars Strategy: Understand that in today's crowded streaming landscape, shows can succeed not just by being "good" but by being unforgettable, even if for their perceived flaws.

Frequently Asked Questions About 'All's Fair' When did 'All's Fair' premiere? The first three episodes of All's Fair premiered on Tuesday, November 4. New episodes are expected to be released weekly thereafter for the remaining six parts of the nine-part series. Where can I stream 'All's Fair'? You can stream All's Fair on Hulu in the United States and globally on Disney+. What is the runtime of 'All's Fair'? All's Fair is a nine-part series, though individual episode runtimes aren't specified in the provided articles, they typically fall within standard drama episode lengths (e.g., 40-60 minutes). What is the rating of 'All's Fair'? While an official rating like TV-MA isn't explicitly mentioned, the show's themes (divorce, "vulgar terms," "sex dungeon," "wealth porn") and high-camp nature strongly suggest it is intended for mature audiences.

Sources:

• Rolling Stone - Kim Kardashian Claps Back At ‘All’s Fair’ Critics With Rave Reviews From Fans: ‘The Most Critically Acclaimed Show Of The Year’ (Note: Actual URL for Rolling Stone article not provided, placeholder used for context. "More from Rolling Stone" links were present, but not direct to the article discussing the show itself, so linking to the broader context of Rolling Stone mentions.)
• The Guardian - Is Kim Kardashian’s legal drama All’s Fair really the worst TV show of all time?
• BBC - Is All's Fair really the 'worst TV drama ever'?
• The Times - All’s Fair review: this may be the worst TV drama ever
• Deadline - 'All's Fair' Logs Biggest Hulu Originals Scripted Debut In 3 Years As Star Kim Kardashian Claps Back At Negative Reviews
• The Independent - All’s Fair: Is Kim Kardashian’s legal drama the worst TV show in history?
• Decider - 'All’s Fair' Is All Over The Place — But Somehow, We’re Already Hooked