As All’s Fair season 2 beckons, critical contempt for the hit Kim Kardashian show misses the point entirely

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The announcement of a second season for ‘All’s Fair’ is surprising, considering critics strongly disliked the first. This Disney legal drama cost a significant $69.7 million to produce, much of which went to Kim Kardashian, a law student making her acting debut.

Most of the budget went towards things like costumes, vehicles, and famous actors, but seemingly not the writing, which is why it received a rare 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was also unusually panned by critics, with both The Guardian and The Times giving it zero stars – a rating that even proved too kind when the Daily Mail gave it a negative three stars. That really hurt!

Why be so critical? There are several issues: the over-the-top performances, the excessive displays of wealth, and the confusing idea of women empowering themselves by exploiting their husbands financially. You could try to interpret the fight over jewelry as a symbol of independence, but it feels more like it’s simply about the jewelry itself. And frankly, after seeing similar themes in other shows, it’s hard to believe this offers anything new in terms of exploring women’s justified anger.

Following the release of “Robin Hood,” which The Guardian playfully labeled “the most gloriously bad TV of the year,” comes a new take on the classic tale. Like the opening crawl of a Star Wars film, it quickly summarizes the backstory instead of showing it. MGM+ invested in a well-known star, Sean Bean, to play the Sheriff of Nottingham, delivering a performance of medieval justice reminiscent of his role in Game of Thrones – and seemingly sporting a similar cloak.

This story gives Robin a difficult beginning, mirroring Batman’s own painful past, and each time he uses his bow, it reminds him of that trauma. There’s also a sweet, but probably ill-advised, romance brewing. While it’s not essential to the plot, the writing is so good, I found myself anticipating the lines – and it’s exactly the kind of escapism you need on a cold night.

Being overly critical doesn’t really get at what these shows are trying to do. They’re intentionally designed to be a lighthearted distraction, much like shows such as ‘And Just Like That,’ ‘Emily in Paris,’ and many reality TV programs we secretly enjoy – and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!

It seems the actors on Kimmy’s All’s Fair have started copying her style, leading to performances that feel similar to the over-the-top acting on Made in Chelsea or the dramatic challenges on RuPaul’s Drag Race – which is pretty much what viewers expect from this show. Surprisingly, negative reviews don’t hurt it; in fact, they seem to draw more attention. The show has gotten a lot of free publicity, particularly from the Daily Mail, that you just couldn’t pay for.

Nicole Kidman once described her relationship with Tom Cruise by saying it felt incredibly secure to be loved despite her imperfections. While their marriage didn’t last, I’ve always found that a touching idea, and it applies to many beloved classic TV shows. Shows like Blake’s 7 and Crossroads aren’t remembered in spite of their flaws – like shaky sets or unrealistic plot points – but actually because of them. Those imperfections are part of what made them special.

It feels good to share that the critic score for All’s Fair has increased to 3%, which is great news! Combined with the return of its talented cast, the show seems to have everything going for it.

All’s Fair is available to stream on Disney+. You can sign up to Disney+ from £5.99 a month now.

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2025-12-03 16:06