“The Worst TV Show of the Year”: Critics Slam Ryan Murphy’s All’s Fair Despite Star-Studded Cast
Ryan Murphy’s much-hyped legal drama All’s Fair premiered this week on Hulu — but instead of applause, it’s facing a torrent of brutal criticism. Despite a glittering ensemble that includes Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor, Sarah Paulson, and Glenn Close, critics are calling it one of the most disappointing TV shows of 2025.
With a zero percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of Tuesday, All’s Fair is being widely described as “soulless,” “unwatchable,” and even “existentially terrible.”
All’s Fair: The Premise
Created by Ryan Murphy, All’s Fair follows a group of female divorce lawyers who leave their prestigious firm to start an all-women practice in Los Angeles. The series attempts to blend empowerment, glamour, and satire — portraying powerful women fighting legal and emotional battles amid California’s elite.
However, despite its promising concept and A-list cast, critics argue that the show’s execution falls flat, weighed down by poor writing, shallow characters, and misguided tone.
The Hollywood Reporter: “Brain Dead and Reverse-Engineered for TikTok”
Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter delivered one of the harshest critiques, calling the show “brain dead” and devoid of real emotion.
“These characters are so thin, their storylines so flimsy and their motives so underbaked that there’s no recognizable emotion underlying any of it,” Han wrote.
Han specifically criticized Kim Kardashian’s performance, describing it as “stiff and affectless,” perfectly matching the show’s “soulless” writing. According to Han, All’s Fair feels like a project “designed not to be watched but mined for viral moments.”
The Guardian: “Fascinatingly, Incomprehensibly, Existentially Terrible”
In her review for The Guardian, Lucy Mangan expressed disbelief that a series this poorly made could still exist in 2025 television.
“I did not know it was still possible to make television this bad,” Mangan wrote. “All’s Fair is terrible. Fascinatingly, incomprehensibly, existentially terrible.”
Mangan mocked the show’s tone-deaf attempt at female empowerment, calling it a “divorce-y justice” fantasy that mistakes glitz for substance.
The Daily Telegraph: “A Show of Mind-Bending Horror”
Ed Power of The Daily Telegraph echoed similar sentiments, awarding All’s Fair one star and dubbing Ryan Murphy the “high priest of tacky, tasteless television.”
“This year he has outdone himself with a show of mind-bending horror sure to trigger nightmares in the unsuspecting viewer,” Power wrote.
His review underscores how Murphy’s once-celebrated blend of camp and drama has, in this case, descended into outright farce.
The Times: “Not Even Enjoyably Bad”
Ben Dowell of The Times went even further, suggesting All’s Fair may be “the worst television drama ever made.”
“It thinks it’s a feminist fable about spirited lawyers getting their own back on cruel rich men,” Dowell wrote. “But it’s in fact a tacky and revolting monument to the same greed, vanity, and avarice it supposedly targets.”
Dowell described Kardashian’s performance as emblematic of the show’s hollow core, writing that the series feels as though it were “scripted by a toddler who couldn’t write ‘bum’ on a wall.”
USA Today: “The Worst TV Show of the Year”
In a damning review, Kelly Lawler of USA Today labeled All’s Fair “an unmitigated disaster” and officially crowned it “the worst TV show of the year.”
“It’s an embarrassingly terrible show with scripts worse than what ChatGPT was spitting out two years ago and acting worse than your local Christmas pageant,” Lawler wrote.
She added that the series lacks even the ironic charm that makes bad television enjoyable: “It’s so stilted, artificial, and awkward that not even a glass of wine and leftover Halloween candy can make it fun.”
Why the Backlash Matters
The critical meltdown surrounding All’s Fair highlights a growing fatigue with celebrity-driven projects that rely on star power rather than strong storytelling. While Murphy’s collaborations with big names like Kardashian and Paulson once generated intrigue (American Horror Story, Impeachment), critics suggest All’s Fair exposes the limits of his formula.
Industry observers argue that the show’s failure reflects a broader challenge in streaming-era TV: the push for virality and star marketing often comes at the expense of creative authenticity.
What’s Next for All’s Fair?
Despite the fierce backlash, All’s Fair continues to trend across social media — perhaps proving Murphy’s knack for generating conversation, even if it’s not the kind he hoped for. Whether Hulu and Disney+ will proceed with future seasons remains uncertain, but given the avalanche of negative press, renewal prospects appear grim.
Fans and critics alike are now questioning whether All’s Fair marks a creative low point in Murphy’s storied career, or simply a high-profile misfire that will fade quickly from memory.
FAQs About All’s Fair
1. Where can I watch All’s Fair?
The series is available to stream on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.
2. Who stars in All’s Fair?
The cast includes Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Sarah Paulson, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor, and Glenn Close.
3. What is All’s Fair about?
It follows a group of female lawyers starting their own firm, exploring power, privilege, and justice in Los Angeles.
4. Why are critics calling it the worst show of the year?
Reviews cite poor writing, lifeless performances, and shallow characterization, calling it a “soulless attempt at empowerment.”
5. Will there be a Season 2?
No official word yet — but based on early reactions, a renewal seems unlikely.
Looking Ahead
With its disastrous debut, All’s Fair has become a cautionary tale of style over substance. As Murphy’s creative empire faces new scrutiny, fans can only hope his next project will return to the depth and daring that once defined his work.
What do you think of the reviews? Do you agree with critics or plan to watch for yourself? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on InvestRecords.com!
