The new series starring Kim Kardashian is so bad that it’s good

When it was announced that Kim Kardashian would star in a new legal drama by Ryan Murphy, the creator of American Horror Story, I imagine quite a few eyebrows around the world were raised in a mix of surprise and skepticism. I wasn’t shocked by the decision, simply because I believe that in Hollywood, sooner or later, everyone tries their hand at acting or singing. After all, people like Kim can hire private tutors in any field they want, so it’s not unusual when they end up being not nearly as bad as we expect. However, when the premiere of All’s Fair finally arrived, the audience ratings were so dreadful they crushed any hope I had in Kim’s years of preparation. Yet amid a sea of harsh criticism and claims that it’s one of the worst shows ever made, I was intrigued by reviews saying that while the series may not be great, it’s surprisingly entertaining to watch. Since I can’t resist anything labeled “so bad it’s good,” I decided to give All’s Fair a try, or at least the episodes released so far and see whether it leans closer to one star or five.

All’s Fair has an interesting premise, following the personal and professional lives of three lawyers whose main mission is representing wealthy women during divorces. You know, in case you’ve cheated on your husband and now he wants to leave you, you’d probably want to make sure you don’t lose all the diamonds he bought you while you were madly in love. In a way, that concept really appeals to me, because I want to see female lawyers and women who come out on top in divorce battles against extremely powerful husbands but I’m not entirely convinced this show pulls it off.

Courtesy of Hulu

Watching Kim Kardashian in a lavish mansion, dressed in designer outfits, including a pair of pants with a cutout in the back that I’m convinced could only be worn in the Skims office, and covered in diamonds that shine brighter than my future, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t really acting at all. This was simply her life. Considering that Kim recently retook the bar exam (which, as she announced yesterday, she failed again), even the fact that she’s playing a lawyer feels like an odd way of manifesting a new career path. And none of that would be so bad if her performance hadn’t evoked the same emotions in me as her ultra-minimalist Balenciaga-furnished mansion. In other words, I felt nothing. I kept waiting for her to move me somehow, to see traces of effort or the hours she must have spent practicing acting, but it seems Kimberly has perfected her media persona too well to behave on camera as anyone other than Kim Kardashian. Honestly, the Maison Margiela couture gown she wore earlier this year at the Academy Museum Gala interested me more than her role did.

Courtesy of Hulu

What frustrated me even more was that the cast of this series is actually quite impressive with Glenn Close and Sarah Paulson in major roles, yet they never get the chance to show their talent because of the tragically written dialogue. The show is full of clichés but highly dramatic, to the point that you become almost addicted to the adrenaline rush, because truly, anything can happen and all’s fair. In a single episode, you’ll witness the start of a case, its investigation (since these lawyers often play detectives), and its resolution, all within forty minutes, which is admittedly perfect for an era when few things can hold our attention. Still, I can’t help but feel I’d rather watch a tighter, better-developed plot than an episode where the characters somehow manage to take off, land, solve a case across the country, and return to California in time for dinner. Then again, their superhuman efficiency does fit neatly into the narrative that ambitious women can achieve absolutely anything they set their minds to.

That said, I can understand why many people enjoy the show. The premise is engaging, the allure of diamonds, wealth, and family drama is timeless, and while it clearly lacks artistic depth, it’s not without entertainment value. It reminded me of those poorly written shows I used to watch on TV around midnight, when I couldn’t fall asleep and found myself completely mesmerized by the melodramatic dialogue and, I must admit, the creatively outrageous insults you’d never hear in real life.

Courtesy of Hulu

Unfortunately, despite all its appeal and intrigue, All’s Fair won’t become my guilty pleasure for the simple reason that I’m not currently in the mood to listen to cringe-worthy lines and laugh at them wholeheartedly. But if you’re in the mood for something that feels like Keeping Up With the Kardashians, if the Kardashian family suddenly decided to practice law, this series might actually entertain you. After all, it gives us a glimpse of what Kim’s life might look like once she finally gets her license. Since it’s unlikely we’ll ever again see her diving for a diamond earring at the bottom of the ocean, a show where she’s insuring them for her clients during their divorces feels like the next best thing.