The second season of All’s Fair has received a wave of harsh reviews, with critics describing the Kim Kardashian and Glenn Close-led legal drama as one of the worst television productions of the century.
The Ryan Murphy-created series has been handed several one-star ratings, with reviewers criticising its storyline, performances and overall execution.
One particularly scathing assessment described the programme as “unspeakably atrocious”, while another suggested it could rank among the worst television series of the 21st century.
Critics Deliver Damning Verdicts on Second Season
The Telegraph’s Ed Power awarded the new season one star, questioning why acclaimed actresses such as Glenn Close and Naomi Watts agreed to appear in the production.
In his review, he described the programme as a surrealistic Los Angeles drama that could qualify as the worst television series of the century.
The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan also gave the series a critical assessment, although she acknowledged some improvement compared with its first season.
Writing about the latest episodes, she said the drama remained “absolutely ludicrous”, referencing everything from Close’s wardrobe to rumours involving singer Bruno Mars.
However, Mangan suggested viewers might find themselves enjoying the programme despite its shortcomings, describing it as gradually entering the territory of being “so bad it’s good”.
All’s Fair Abandons Serious Legal Drama Approach
Jonathon Wilson of Ready Steady Cut also criticised the second season, maintaining that the series had failed to overcome the problems that affected its debut.
He described the first season as exceptionally poor television and said the latest instalment had continued in the same direction.
However, Wilson noted that the programme appeared to have abandoned any attempt to present itself as a serious drama about divorce lawyers in California.
Despite his criticism, he described the new episodes as entertainingly unpredictable and thoroughly unconventional.
An early viewer review published on Rotten Tomatoes was similarly dismissive, with one audience member simply describing the programme as “Horrible”.
Kim Kardashian’s Acting Remains a Point of Contention
Kardashian’s performance was one of the major talking points during the first season, which attracted widespread criticism from television reviewers.
The Times’ Ben Dowell previously questioned whether the reality television star was convincing in her portrayal of a lawyer.
He wrote: “Does Kardashian make a convincing lawyer? No, she does not.
She is to acting what Genghis Khan is to a peaceful liberal democracy.”
The Daily Mail’s Christopher Stevens was equally critical of the first season, describing it as the most unpleasant television production he had ever watched.
Meanwhile, The Guardian’s original review opened with a statement expressing disbelief that television of such poor quality could still be produced.
The Telegraph also criticised the programme, describing Murphy as the leading figure in tasteless television and suggesting he had outdone himself with the drama.
Series Continues Despite Poor First-Season Reception
Despite the negative response to its debut season, All’s Fair achieved considerable viewing figures following its release last year.
The programme became Hulu’s most-watched scripted series debut in three years, prompting the streaming platform to renew it for a second season.
The drama follows an all-female team of divorce lawyers navigating their professional and personal lives.
Its cast includes Kardashian, Close, Sarah Paulson, Naomi Watts and Niecy Nash-Betts.
The first season initially received a zero per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes before its score increased to three per cent later in the month.
Glenn Close Previously Defended Kardashian’s Performance
Close previously spoke in support of Kardashian’s acting abilities in November last year, addressing the criticism surrounding her performance.
The veteran actress said she had been impressed by Kardashian’s commitment to the role and her willingness to learn from experienced people around her.
“What surprised me was Kim’s seriousness of intent,” Close said.
She acknowledged that Kardashian did not consider herself a great actress but praised her for surrounding herself with people from whom she could learn.
Close also suggested that the negative reaction to Kardashian’s performance might partly be connected to public perceptions of the Kardashian family.
She noted that not everyone liked the family and that their existing public image could influence how audiences responded to the series.
Disney+ Releases First Episodes of Season Two
The second season consists of eight episodes, with the first three made available on Disney+ on Wednesday.
The remaining episodes are scheduled to arrive weekly, with new instalments released every Wednesday.
Despite the strong criticism directed at its latest season, the programme has continued its run following the commercial success of its initial release.
