Ryan Murphy's series All's Fair is set to return for a second season, but the show's debut season was met with significant criticism. Despite scathing reviews, the series garnered enough attention, with the first episode drawing 3.2 million viewers, to warrant a renewal.
The show features a star-studded cast including Kim Kardashian, Sarah Paulson, Glenn Close, Naomi Watts, and Niecy Nash, with guest appearances from Jessica Simpson, Elizabeth Berkley, Brooke Shields, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Judith Light. Kim Kardashian, who starred in her first scripted series, reportedly feared she had "ruined" the show due to the negative reception. Season one initially received overwhelmingly negative reviews, including a zero percent critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 19 out of 100 on Metacritic.
As the second season prepares to premiere, a look back at season one's most memorable and "bonkers" moments reveals some of the reasons the show generated considerable discussion.
Kim Kardashian's "Baby Trap" Scene
One of the more dramatic storylines involved Kim Kardashian's character, Allura, a divorce lawyer who discovers her husband Chase is having an affair with her secretary, Milan. Milan later reveals she is pregnant, and Chase attempts to claim their frozen embryos as marital property. In a move that breached legal and ethical boundaries, Allura forges Chase's signature, smuggles the embryos, and undergoes IVF without his consent, desperate to have biological children.
Kim Kardashian's Car Smash Scene
Kardashian also went viral for a scene where her character, dressed in a yellow strapless dress and black opera gloves, stood on top of a BMW and violently smashed its windows and windshield. This scene drew comparisons to Beyoncé's 2016 music video for "Hold Up."
Sarah Paulson's "Unhinged" Character and Dialogue
Sarah Paulson portrayed Carrington "Carr" Lane, who becomes obsessed with Allura after beginning an affair with her ex-husband, Chase. Carr's character descends into madness, mimicking Allura's appearance and even fantasizing about strangling rivals in therapy sessions. Paulson's delivery of the character's chaotic and vulgar dialogue, including lines like "Boy, do I love coming here. Walking down that hallway shaped like a clown cervix," and "Before you comment on my new appearance, please know that this look is nothing more than next Halloween’s costume where I will be dressing as a whore lawyer," contributed to the show's social media buzz.
Balcony Plunge
In a shocking turn of events in episode two, a client named Deandre Barber, played by Eddie Cibrian, plunges from the law firm's balcony to her death. Deandre was facing severe financial issues following her divorce, and after asking for a cigarette on the balcony, she jumps.
Jessica Simpson's Guest Role
Jessica Simpson made a return to acting after nearly two decades, playing Lee-Ann Hunt. Her character seeks legal help to get revenge on her rock star husband, Tommy Keith (Rick Springfield), who pressured her into botched plastic surgery. After winning her case, Lee-Ann pours sulfuric acid on her husband when she discovers he is with a younger woman. This storyline was speculated to be inspired by the relationship between Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson.