Six Emmys, four Tonys, five Golden Globes, ten Oscar nominations … and $1.9 billion dollars. From Glenn Close (“Fatal Attraction”) to Teyana Taylor (“Teyana and Iman”), the cast of Hulu’s “All’s Fair” is certainly a formidable cohort. Directed by Ryan Murphy (“Monster”), the highly-anticipated drama was launched on the streaming service in November 2025 and quickly became its most-streamed scripted series in over three years. But do the superstar ensemble, hit director and record numbers make for a good TV show?
“All’s Fair” follows the managing partners of Los Angeles law firm Grant, Ronson and Green: Allura Grant (Kim Kardashian, debut), Liberty Ronson (Naomi Watts, “Twin Peaks”) and Emerald Green (Niecy Nash, “Monster”). The series opens with Allura and Liberty leaving their male-dominated law firm to start their own practice, taking Emerald under the advice of mentor Dina Standish (Glenn Close, “Damages”). In the process, they exclude longtime coworker Carrington Lane (Sarah Paulson, “Ratched”), catalyzing her insatiable hatred toward them as a rival attorney.
Within the genre of legal dramas like “Suits” and “Law and Order,” Murphy’s latest work brings something truly unprecedented: Instead of murder trials or contract negotiations, this women-run law firm handles high-stakes divorces representing women in toxic marriages. Where other series highlight conflict and competition within a firm, “All’s Fair” showcases how the attorneys of Grant, Ronson and Green support one another, within the workplace and in daily life. Though their clients are eccentric and hard to believe, the lawyers bring a captivating sense of style, preparedness and confidence to each case. Overlooking the absurdities of the firm, from Allura’s courtroom attire to their team-bonding at New York Fashion Week, I couldn’t help but keep watching. Despite the absence of relatable characters, the series was dramatic, funny and increasingly tense with every weekly release, leaving me excited to see what came next.
By far, the most viral aspect of “All’s Fair” is Kim Kardashian’s acting debut. In any other context, her monotone cadence and tense facial expressions would be unbearable to watch. However, Allura Grant — a fashionable, emotionally-reserved, reputation-obsessed businesswoman — is effectively and (literally) effortlessly portrayed by Kardashian. The perfect casting comes as no surprise, as the series was specifically pitched to Kardashian and her mother, Kris Jenner, and later produced by the two alongside other lead cast members.
With a cast this impressive, one of the series’ biggest disappointments was Teyana Taylor and Naomi Watts’ lack of screentime. Though a key figure in the premiere episodes, Milan, Taylor’s character, is only used as an instrument to propel Allura’s development and abandoned thereafter. Following her rise to recognition after “One Battle After Another,” it’s unfortunate that Taylor wasn’t given enough space to perform in “All’s Fair.” Similarly, Naomi Watts’s Liberty, though a name partner of Grant, Ronson and Green, is entirely absent from multiple episodes and has less captivating plotlines than her counterparts. A well-respected actress for blockbuster films like “Mulholland Drive” and “King Kong,” Watts’ character was underwhelmingly reduced to a sidekick and a punchline because of her British background.
The show’s necessary redemption, arguably outweighing its shortcomings, was antagonist Carrington Lane. Simply known as Carr, the troubled, outrageously vulgar and heartless arch-rival of Grant, Ronson and Green stole the show from her first appearance. The series handles her storyline well, positioning her as a conniving, irredeemable villain with a relatable backstory that allows audiences to almost feel sympathy for her. Sarah Paulson masterfully embodies Carr’s insanity as she terrorizes those around her with unreasonable demands and elaborate revenge ploys. She’s unapologetically hilarious, with her humor teetering between comically crass and altogether inappropriate, with her intense monologues truly saving the show from otherwise insipid Kardashian acting and unrealistic court cases.
If the Kardashians have proven anything to the world, it’s that no press is bad press, and their most recent project is no exception. Despite its overwhelmingly negative feedback, “All’s Fair” was instantly renewed by Hulu for a second season, and I can’t see its success slowing down. The blunt truth is this series is poorly written and a wild misrepresentation of law, especially for women in the legal field. However, it’s also consistently amusing with performances (good and bad) that are hard to forget. The series is definitely not for everyone, but, in all fairness, it’s good enough for me.
Daily Arts Writer Julianna Laban can be reached at laban@umich.edu.
