The Kardashians: How Critics Feel About Season 1's First Episodes
As the Kardashian-Jenners promote the upcoming The Kardashians premiere, it's time to talk about reviews of the first two episodes. This feedback discusses the show’s vibe, how it compares to Keeping Up With the Kardashians, and what behind-the-scenes drama the first episodes cover. Since the KUWTK finale aired 10 months ago, many fans and critics are curious to see how the new series addresses the drastic changes that the family has been through since they were last on TV. Additionally, many fans are excited to see how the show may avoid some of the pitfalls KUWTK fell into in later seasons.
Since announcing The Kardashians, the family and Disney/Hulu have been teasing tidbits about the show, and promising an improved look into the lives of the famous Kardashian-Jenner family. In addition to discussing an apparent new feel and improved production level , versus KUWTK, the family has also expressed excitement over the fresh structure of the show. The Kardashian sisters have emphasized that The Kardashians will focus more on the sisters as individuals, and give the family a more sustainable filming schedule.
A lot of fans think that The Kardashians could not have been announced or filmed at a better time. Between Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s divorce and her relationship with Pete Davidson, Kourtney Kardashians’s "fake marriage" to Travis Barker, and Khloé Kardashian’s relationship with Tristan Thompson, the family has gone through a lot of captivating drama. While reviewers of the first two episodes have questioned what the new show really accomplishes, they've acknowledged that if you’re invested in the family, the show will answer some burning questions about them and their recent drama.
As a review from Variety explains, the first episodes set the stage for the drama that’s happened since September, and includes Kim preparing to host SNL, Kourtney introducing her relationship with Travis to the cameras, and Khloé peacefully co-parenting with Tristan. Although the initial episodes do contextually reintroduce the family to TV, critics believe that the promise of a faster turnaround time between filming and airing is somewhat overstated. Since so much has happened regarding all their plot points since filming commenced in September, reviewers argue that the premiere falls a bit flat. Fans already know how Kim’s SNL hosting gig went, and that Travis and Kourtney get engaged.
Critics also questioned why the show needed to exist in the first place. In a review from The Cut, Emily Kirkpatrick wrote, "The family cultivated a lot of goodwill and fond retrospectives with the finale of their show last June, but by shooting again so quickly, their Hulu series comes off as just another cynical cash grab rather than an authentic reinvention." Although early reviews, such as those in The Hollywood Reporter, do frame the show as being a bit hollow, many critics emphasized that viewers will enjoy the show if they enjoy behind-the-scenes discussions about headlines from several months ago, including Kim and Kanye's divorce drama.
Many points that critics touch on will have to be examined over time. As The Kardashians settles into the season, will viewers feel more caught up and in the loop, as the family promised? Another scenario is that the show will become a PR machine like Keeping Up With the Kardashians, rather than authentically addressing heavier plot lines. The cast of The Kardashians may avoid discussing tough topics, such as Astroworld and Kanye’s mental health. No matter what the answers are, fans and critics will get them when The Kardashians streams soon.
Source: The Cut