Kim Kardashian’s All’s Fair performance is indeed shocking – but the show’s biggest problem lies elsewhere

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Be aware that this article reveals key plot points from the first three episodes of the Disney Plus series, All’s Fair. If you haven’t watched them yet, you may want to do so before reading on.

You might be asking yourself if the bad reviews, the hype, and all the jokes you’ve seen are actually justified.

Let’s be upfront: All’s Fair isn’t good. But it’s not just bad – it’s surprisingly awful, and many viewers will likely feel embarrassed for the actresses involved.

Honestly, a lot of the conversation lately has centered on Kim Kardashian – and rightly so, she’s been a huge part of our culture for ages. While she’s popped up in little roles here and there in films nobody really remembers, 2023 finally gave her a proper acting opportunity thanks to Ryan Murphy and his show, American Horror Story. It was a big moment for her, after years of smaller appearances.

When the show first came out, opinions on Kardashian’s acting were all over the place. Some found her performance unconvincing, while others felt she intentionally leaned into the show’s over-the-top style. Many thought this feedback might discourage anyone from casting her as a leading actress – but not Ryan Murphy!

Instead, he’s put her front and centre in All’s Fair as successful legal partner Allura Grant.

Okay, so the show starts by throwing us right into Allura’s incredibly lavish lifestyle – think a blend of ‘The Kardashians’ and ‘MTV Cribs.’ We’re talking a stunning wardrobe, a full staff, and a house most of us can only dream of. But don’t get too comfortable with the glamour, because things take a sharp turn pretty quickly. By the end of the first episode, we learn that beneath the surface, Allura’s life isn’t perfect at all. Her much younger husband, Chase (played by Matthew Noszka), confesses to an affair and drops the bombshell that he wants a divorce. Talk about a dramatic start!

It’s genuinely a really sad moment, but you’d almost miss it! The scene cuts to the girls chatting, and Kardashian, even then, looks completely composed. It’s so strange – she changes into a fur coat and heels, like that’s how she processes things! It’s a really interesting, and slightly jarring, detail.

You might expect her to be relaxing in a tracksuit with a tub of ice cream, but that just doesn’t fit with the tone of ‘All’s Fair’. The story avoids those tired, stereotypical images.

Even though the show is truly terrible in almost every way, it at least fully commits to being over-the-top. The main actor is supposed to carry a series and deliver a performance that’s captivating, even if it’s bad. That’s why people are criticizing Kardashian’s acting – they expect more from the lead.

It’s easy to blame your tools when you’re not doing a good job, and while some might point to Kim Kardashian as the issue, I believe the real problem with ‘All’s Fair’ lies with the show’s writers: Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken.

It’s truly disappointing how the writers have come up with such bad dialogue, making even talented actors like Sarah Paulson, Teyana Taylor, and Glenn Close seem awkward and uncomfortable. It’s a complete failure.

Look, Ryan Murphy has a pretty impressive resume – he’s given us shows like Pose and American Horror Story, even the film adaptation of Eat, Pray, Love. But honestly, it seems like people who work with him often end up…forgetting the details. And after watching his latest, Monster on Netflix, it became clear why. While he can tell a story, creating truly complex and believable characters? That’s not really where his strengths lie.

It’s hard to fully enjoy the performances from the talented cast without noticing how the writers – Murphy, Baitz, and Baken – created these characters. While it’s possible for men to write a show about women, the dialogue sometimes feels unnatural, like it’s based on stereotypes or things people read online. It makes you wonder why the writers didn’t get some input from women themselves.

Okay, as a fan, I have to say, some of the dialogue in this show is rough. Seriously, it’s jarring – like a constant series of awkward bumps. It honestly feels like the writers have never actually talked to a woman before, because the way they write female characters is just…off. It’s really noticeable and pulls me out of the story.

In the first episode, Niecy Nash-Betts reflects that ten years ago, she and her partner chose to define their relationship on their own terms, moving away from traditional expectations. It’s a line that feels like a clear nod to female empowerment.

Nash-Betts delivers another standout line with, “Pin your wig down Allura, because this might blow it back.” Meanwhile, Paulson’s character has become a furious antagonist, resorting to harsh insults about things like Ozempic, unpleasant imagery involving lawn chairs, and shockingly offensive name-calling.

Even though Paulson and Taylor don’t have huge parts at the beginning of the series, they still clearly try to showcase their talents. Both are naturally captivating performers, which makes it a little sad to see Taylor go from a leading role in the acclaimed 2025 film One Battle After Another to something much smaller.

The dialogue is awkward and difficult to get through, and unfortunately, none of the actresses managed to deliver it convincingly.

The show’s legal storylines feel rushed and uninspired. One character, Sheila Baskin, offers a dramatically overwrought explanation for her actions, claiming she was drawn to someone resembling her husband. Meanwhile, the plot throws in increasingly outlandish events – a suicide by jumping from the office building, and a surprisingly dark turn for Jessica Simpson’s character, who ends up involved in an acid attack. It all feels haphazard and lacks genuine emotional weight.

Beyond a confusing and messy story with unlikeable characters, the plot feels overloaded and can be difficult to follow. It was also disappointing to see Nash-Betts’s character fall into a predictable stereotype.

Becoming a partner is a major accomplishment for Emerald Greene at Nash-Betts. However, Murphy could have benefited from observing how shows like Shonda Rhimes’ Scandal or How to Get Away with Murder develop complex Black female characters. He seems to have fallen into the trap of portraying Black women solely as single mothers who are either overly aggressive or simply ‘sassy’.

It’s obvious I’m not expecting too much from the show, “All’s Fair,” or from the writers. If they focused on writing the scripts as much as they did on the fantastic costumes, the show might not be getting so much negative feedback. Right now, many viewers feel it’s the worst show on television.

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The first three episodes of the show All’s Fair are now streaming on Disney Plus in the UK, with new episodes added each week. You can subscribe to Disney Plus for as little as £4.99 per month.

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2025-11-05 19:35