Commentary: With ‘All’s Fair,’ Ryan Murphy gives us the ultimate Trump-era TV show

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Sarah Paulson seems to be enjoying her role in Ryan Murphy‘s new Hulu series, “All’s Fair,” but unfortunately, that’s the most positive thing to say about the show.

I just read a fascinating article in The New York Times about how they’re updating the power suit – apparently, even showing a thong is part of the look now! It’s definitely a bold move, and I guess one way to stand out. But honestly, what really grabbed me was watching Allison Paulson fully embrace playing a villain. Her character, Carrington Lane, was left behind at a really outdated, sexist law firm when some of her colleagues started their own all-female team, and she’s not letting that go. She holds a grudge, and Paulson plays it brilliantly!

Paulson is instantly likable, and she’s having a lot of fun playing a character who gets to be angry, intimidating, and hilariously foul-mouthed – much like Melissa McCarthy’s best roles when her characters are pushed to their limits.

The show, “All’s Fair,” perfectly reflects what American culture seems to want right now: a story filled with the superficial symbols of wealth – think perfect but cold houses, private planes, and over-the-top jewelry. It portrays friendship as solving problems with expensive procedures and lavish trips, and it measures success by how well people can scheme and get revenge, usually through financial gain.

Television

The actor hoped that portraying Marcia Clark would reshape public opinion of her, often labeled ‘the most hated woman in America.’ However, that outcome may not have happened.

Whether “All’s Fair” is the worst show of the year – or ever – is debatable. However, it’s the first program to really capture the spirit of the Trump presidency with its focus on wealth, personal conflicts, and getting even financially.

Despite featuring acclaimed actors like Sarah Paulson, Niecy Nash, Naomi Watts, and Glenn Close, the new show ‘All’s Fair’ surprisingly centers around Kim Kardashian, who plays Allura Grant, the leader of the law firm Grant, Ronson and Greene.

Okay, let’s be real. Watching Kim Kardashian attempt to act is… a choice. But what’s truly fascinating isn’t her performance, or lack thereof, it’s how she got such a big platform to showcase it. With her mom Kris Jenner producing, she’s managed to assemble a serious production, and honestly, it’s another example of her incredible business sense. It’s less about acting talent and more about sheer, unstoppable hustle – and it’s kind of impressive, even if it’s a bit much.

Compared to the disappointing last season of “And Just Like That,” “All’s Fair” seems like a masterpiece.

Look, I get why Disney and Hulu are betting big on Kim Kardashian. She has a seriously devoted fanbase! They’re counting on people being so captivated by her style – and honestly, there’s a lot of hats, capes, and gloves – that we won’t even realize she’s not really acting. It’s like her eyelash extensions are doing all the work! But I’m still excited to watch, even if it’s just for the fashion.

Television

Kim Kardashian recently celebrated completing a law school equivalent program at a private event. She has a strong interest in reforming the criminal justice system.

It’s understandable that Kardashian didn’t stand out – few amateur actors could compete with seasoned professionals like Close, Watts, and Nash. Plus, the show’s script was tonally inconsistent, hinting at over-the-top drama but never fully embracing it, which didn’t help anyone’s performance.

It’s been a long time since a show presented a ‘feminist fantasy’ while still focusing so much on how men see women. While ‘Charlie’s Angels’ was innovative for its time, this new show feels similarly focused on the male perspective.

Allura and Liberty Ronson (played by Watts) decide to start their own detective agency after feeling overlooked at their predominantly male law firm. Dina Standish (Close), the firm’s sole female partner, supports their decision, and they bring on skilled investigator Emerald Greene (Nash). The story jumps forward ten years, and we see Allura now mentoring Milan (Teyana Taylor), who eventually becomes involved in a somewhat expected plot development.

The character names hint at a comedic imitation, and the first episode shows moments of playful mockery. However, the show consistently opts for a bleak, pessimistic tone rather than offering insightful social commentary.

Rather than telling sexist jokes, the partners at Grant, Ronson and Greene often talk about how problematic men can be. They mostly make exceptions for Liberty’s boyfriend, Reggie (played by O-T Fagbenle from “The Handmaid’s Tale”), and Standish’s sick husband, Doug (Ed O’Neill).

The firm of Grant, Ronson and Greene essentially exists to shield wealthy women from unfavorable prenuptial agreements and ensure their partners pay up – sometimes by cleverly using legal loopholes (like pointing out gifts are always the recipient’s to keep, which is pretty basic knowledge), but more often through blackmail (if you’d prefer not to see extremely explicit images, you might want to look away when Emerald starts showing her slideshow).

L.A. Influential

Ryan Murphy is a hugely successful Hollywood producer known for creating captivating TV shows often centered around complex, flawed characters – from self-absorbed individuals to societal outcasts and even killers.

The show briefly mentions the firm’s charitable giving, but it feels like a forced formality. Really, it’s pure escapism – a glimpse into extreme wealth that’s so commonplace it’s not even something to dream about. Everything outside of Emerald’s work seems to consist of flaunting success and luxury, with quick cuts to fancy cars and, strangely, overspending on ugly jewelry at an auction hosted by one of the firm’s clients – which, frankly, feels a bit shady, but whatever.

The movie’s dialogue falls flat, lacking wit, humor, or even a sense of self-awareness. This is exemplified by lines like Dina’s harsh comment to Carrington – supposedly meant to demonstrate female strength – which feels forced and ultimately doesn’t land. It’s unclear what the scene is really trying to prove: that women can be tough, that older women can be sassy, or simply that Glenn Close will try her best with any material she’s given.

I’ve noticed the show touches on the women’s personal lives – Liberty’s hesitation about marriage because she’s a divorce lawyer, Dina dealing with Doug’s health issues, and Emerald balancing motherhood on her own. But it all feels a bit like they’re just checking off boxes. Then there’s Allura, whose marriage is falling apart, which quickly becomes a big deal. We all rallied around her to get revenge on the guy who hurt her, and it made her realize she needs to start thinking about having kids soon if that’s what she wants.

“All’s Fair” shares a lot of similarities with the British show “The Split.” Both center around a family of female lawyers who specialize in divorce. The story begins with one of the daughters (played by Nicola Walker) leaving her family’s firm and dedicating herself to helping women navigate divorces from wealthy and influential men. She’s also dealing with her own personal struggles – a failing marriage and the challenges of raising a family.

Calling it simply an “American version” doesn’t quite capture what’s happening. This is a style of politics defined by Donald Trump, where success at all costs – and making your rivals suffer the consequences – is the only thing that matters, overshadowing ethics, morality, and basic human decency.

Awards

The actor, nominated for an Emmy for his role in “Dahmer,” shared that experiencing the best relationship of his life is happening at the same time as the peak of his career, and he’s very aware of how lucky that is.

Given the obvious lack of acting skill from the Kardashians and the script’s oddly aggressive, almost shouting-style dialogue, it’s no surprise that the show has been heavily criticized. In fact, it almost feels like the negative reviews were expected.

It’s common for critics to be harshly dismissed, as Glenn Close famously illustrated by jokingly depicting them as ingredients in a stew after her film received reviews. However, reviews – whether positive or negative – aren’t reliable indicators of how audiences will react, a lesson learned from the initial reception of shows like “Wicked.” As Donald Trump has repeatedly demonstrated, even negative publicity can be spun as evidence that established critics are targeting someone.

Despite receiving poor reviews – with a 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – “All’s Fair” actually had the biggest premiere of any scripted series on Hulu in three years.

The creators of “All’s Fair” seemed more interested in attracting an audience than in earning critical acclaim. They understood the current cultural mood: in today’s world, quality isn’t always the priority. By including well-known names – like those from the Kardashian and Murphy families, alongside talented actors – they figured they could succeed even if the show itself wasn’t particularly good.

Honestly, seeing the news lately – the president building this extravagant ballroom while people are struggling to get enough food – it just makes you understand why audiences are so drawn to stories about those in power stumbling. It’s like we’re all waiting for a little bit of comeuppance, a little bit of ‘the cake falling,’ so to speak. It’s a dark impulse, maybe, but it feels…understandable, doesn’t it?

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2025-11-08 14:32