Veteran actress Glenn Close has publicly responded to the scathing critical reception of her latest television series, All's Fair, while offering a staunch defence of her co-star, Kim Kardashian.
A Critical Mauling for Murphy's Legal Drama
The Ryan Murphy legal drama, in which Close stars, has been met with a wave of negative reviews, including a series of zero-star ratings. The Guardian's television critic, Lucy Mangan, described the show as "fascinatingly, incomprehensibly, existentially terrible." The series currently holds an overwhelmingly negative aggregate score of just 3% on Rotten Tomatoes, a popular review compilation site.
Close, however, believes the show's disastrous launch was due to a poor editorial decision. She revealed that the three weakest episodes were chosen to air first, creating an immediate negative impression. "I personally think that the first three episodes were the weakest," Close told Variety. "That was a tough way to start. I've seen all nine episodes, and I think it actually adds up to something."
Close's Unexpected Praise for Kardashian
In a surprising move for many industry observers, Glenn Close spoke warmly of her collaboration with reality star turned actress, Kim Kardashian. Kardashian plays one of the women who establishes a divorce law firm in California.
Close detailed their positive on-set dynamic, which even included a viewing of her iconic film Fatal Attraction, organised by Kardashian's mother, Kris Jenner. "What surprised me was Kim's seriousness of intent," Close stated. "She always knew her lines. She never was late. She always was prepared."
She further commended Kardashian's self-awareness, noting, "She had no pretensions that she was a great actress, but she was smart enough to have people around her who she could learn from." Close concluded that had Kardashian possessed a large ego, the experience would have been unpleasant, but found her to be the opposite.
The Kardashian Factor and Close's Final Verdict
The acclaimed actress also suggested that part of the show's negative backlash could be attributed to the polarising public image of the Kardashian family. "The Kardashians would say this themselves, but not everybody likes them. They have an image," she remarked.
Despite the universal panning from critics, Close's personal opinion of the show remains resolutely positive. In a previous interview with The Guardian, she passionately defended the project, stating, "I swear to God, I've seen all nine episodes and it's pretty fucking good. It is what it is: it's juicy and outrageous at times and touching."
