All's Fair 2 reviews: One-star ratings as Kim K doubles down on her acting

Kim Kardashian has revealed she feared her acting career was over following the brutal reception of the first season of All's Fair, according to the Independent ^[3]. The reality star, who stars alongside Glenn Close in the Ryan Murphy legal drama, admitted that the harsh criticism made her question her future in Hollywood before the controversy ironically drove massive audiences to the show.

Season two of All's Fair, which follows an all-female team of divorce lawyers, has been labelled the "worst show of the century" by critics, the Daily Mail reported ^[1]. The Telegraph’s Ed Power awarded the series one star, branding it "unspeakably atrocious" in a review that captured the general disdain for the Hulu-to-Disney+ production. Despite the savaged reviews, the first season became Hulu's most-watched scripted series debut in three years and was immediately renewed.

Kardashian acknowledged that the public's desire to witness the spectacle of the show's failure helped it dominate charts. "It was so funny that people came in and wanted to hate on it so much that the hate turned into viewers wanting to see how bad it was," she told the Independent ^[3]. She noted that critics do not decide a show's fate, highlighting that Sarah Paulson sent her a supportive voicemail that gave her the confidence to "double down" on her performance.

The Guardian's Lucy Mangan offered a slightly warmer take on the new season, noting that while it remains "ludicrous," it has improved toward "so bad it's good" territory ^[1]. Ready Steady Cut's Jonathon Wilson agreed, describing the series as a "thoroughly demented and entertainingly unpredictable affair" that has abandoned any pretence of seriousness.

In the new episodes, Kardashian's character Allura Grant admits to failing the bar exam, a meta-joke referencing the star's real-life struggle with the California bar. "Ryan Murphy knows I'm always game," Kardashian said of the gag ^[3]. Glenn Close had previously defended Kardashian's "stiff" acting, attributing the backlash to the Kardashian family's polarising image rather than a lack of intent ^[1].

The first three episodes of the eight-part season are available on Disney+, with new instalments arriving weekly. While the critical consensus remains largely negative, the show's ability to generate conversation suggests that for Kim Kardashian, hate-watch television is here to stay.