All’s Fair Recap: Revenge

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There’s been a lot of discussion about Kim Kardashian being the main attraction in this show, but I think the real stars are the hats. The actresses are talented, but the costumes—specifically the hats—are what truly stand out. The plot and characters seem designed to showcase these incredible hats, and they definitely deliver. Emerald Greene, played by Niecy Nash-Betts, is a prime example, sporting what seems like a huge collection of stylish fedoras throughout the episode.

Emerald is the main focus of this week’s story. She’s perfectly happy being single and enjoys her luxurious nights alone – think caviar and vibrators, which feels like a reality TV song title! Everyone around her, from her sons to her colleagues, constantly tries to set her up on dates. Even her coworkers at the firm try to get her to attend a singles event instead of their usual lunch breaks, held in a strange, windowless room that oddly resembles a turret designed by Nate Berkus.

Allura even brings Kim along when she goes shopping, and that’s when I realized how good Kim is as an actress – she can convincingly fake a laugh. Kim has a somewhat unusual, honking laugh, which we’ve noticed from watching her on TV for years. But what’s really striking on this show is her skill at producing a real laugh whenever Allura laughs, making Allura seem more genuine in those moments – it’s one of the few times she feels like a real person.

Emerald, encouraged by her friends, goes to a social event looking stunning – so much so that her teenage sons make an awkward comment. However, the night quickly takes a frightening turn. She meets someone she connects with, but then someone slips a drug into her drink. She begins to lose consciousness, and we see, through fragmented flashbacks, her struggling with an attacker. The show depicts a terrifying attempted rape, and shockingly, continues to play the upbeat song “Everybody Dance Now” throughout the scene – even using it as the episode title. It’s unbelievable that this is actually happening on television.

While piecing her life back together, she relies on friends and colleagues for help and to pursue justice. However, even with her own struggles, they still have their work to do. This week’s case involves Cheryl Goodfader (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a tech entrepreneur facing a difficult divorce where her husband is demanding a large settlement because she wouldn’t have a child with him. The name “Goodfader” is a clever touch, but the show’s weekly cases often feel like an afterthought. They’re either unengaging, or, when potentially interesting, they’re rushed and don’t allow viewers to connect with the story. It’s disappointing to see Jennifer Jason Leigh – an actress whose own divorce inspired the film Marriage Story – given such a lackluster storyline. The dispute between Cheryl and her husband about having children seems designed to reflect the main character’s own past decision to become pregnant without her ex-partner’s knowledge. Although this isn’t directly addressed, a moment where she touches her stomach subtly hints at a possible pregnancy.

Honestly, even with all the drama, I was a little relieved to see Carrington Lane representing Mr. Goodfader – she’s so good at what she does! It was… a choice, watching her greet Allura and Emerald with those nicknames, though. She quickly laid out her plan, though – using the fact that Cheryl had an abortion ten years ago as leverage. But things took a really unexpected turn! Mr. Goodfader found out he’s going to be a dad again, with a new girlfriend, and suddenly dropped the case against his ex. It’s a bit of a tidy ending, I guess. It makes me wonder if we’ll ever actually see any of these disputes play out in a courtroom, or if the show spent all its money on those elaborate fireplaces and can’t afford a set!

Emerald is working with other women to find the person who attacked her, but they haven’t had any luck. Then, she receives a disturbing text message from an unknown number containing photos of her tied up. After cleaning up the images, they notice an address on an envelope in one of the photos, which leads them to identify a suspect. It turns out the suspect’s father died by suicide after Dina pursued him for running a Ponzi scheme, suggesting this attack could be the start of a revenge plot.

Armed with this new information, Emerald arranges a meeting with her former police partner, just like in the old days – in an empty parking lot with both cars facing each other. The best part? Her old partner is played by Cedric Yarbrough, who many will recognize as Deputy Sven Jones from Reno 911!, alongside Nash-Betts as Deputy Raineesha Williams. It’s a shame they didn’t recreate Raineesha’s iconic sideburns! Sadly, he delivers some disappointing news: there’s not enough proof for them to pursue the case, and he seems to be playing another ineffective officer, just like on Reno.

Later in the episode, a new piece of information surfaces at the law firm: the person who attacked Emerald was found dead, seemingly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. However, he cautions Emerald that the death is still being investigated as a potential homicide, meaning she might be contacted by investigators. This raises the question: if it was murder, who was responsible?

So far, the show’s plot twists have been very predictable, relying heavily on clichés. Based on the latest events – Emerald telling her sons about the attack – it seems likely one of them will take revenge. However, that would be too obvious, and even Emerald realizes this. She immediately confronts her sons, and while they all deny involvement, their explanations vary in strength.

I find Dina Standish a much more compelling suspect. She probably feels accountable since the attack stemmed from her case – and Emerald’s reaction at the episode’s end suggests she feels the same way. But will the show take a bold step and give Glenn Close’s character a motive for revenge? Or will it go with the predictable choice – the triplet who was alone that night? Even worse, could it turn out to be a simple suicide, playing into the show’s tendency for underwhelming resolutions? Whatever happens, I’d love to see a team of detectives – played by Kerri Kenney-Silver, Thomas Lennon, and Wendi McLendon-Covey – involved in the investigation.

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2025-11-11 21:55