‘KUWTK’: When Did the Kardashians Get So Boring?
The Kardashian extended family has been a reality TV staple since Keeping Up with the Kardashians premiered in 2007. It was one of the first reality shows and shaped a whole new genre of television. The final season premiered early this spring, in March 2021.
It has run for 20 seasons and revolves around the lives of the Kardashian sisters: Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe. Half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner are also featured, as well as Kris Jenner and Caitlyn Jenner. Keeping Up with the Kardashians is the very definition of a guilty pleasure, but recently, some fans have been critical.
Keeping Up With the Kardashians rocketed the family into fame
The Kardashians have faced criticisms since their first episode debuted. Critics have panned the series almost from the moment it aired. The concept of being famous for simply being famous lacked intelligence, critics say. Fans love their guilty pleasures, though.
Ryan Seacrest developed the show, with Kris Jenner fully on board. Following the lives of the Kardashian-Jenner clan seemed to be the perfect recipe for drama. They were described as crazy and fun-loving together, and the series was bankrolled. Kim Kardashian was one of the biggest reasons why the show was greenlit.
Kim worked as a celebrity stylist and had a job with Paris Hilton. She was often featured on Hilton’s reality show, The Simple Life. She was in the public eye as a personal friend of Hilton’s and eventually started working with other celebrities, such as Lindsay Lohan. It was her sextape, though, that launched her into fame, and helped get Keeping Up With the Kardashians on the air.
Fans share opinions on why the show has become boring
Keeping Up With the Kardashians is somewhat formulaic. The show opens by showing off the wealthy lifestyle of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, then moves into family troubles that are quickly resolved. Most episodes end with a monologue about the importance of family. Fans loved the drama. Lately, though, some fans have found the show getting boring.
While formulaic in the earlier seasons, there was always drama. Whether it was Kim’s highly public divorce with Kris Humphries, or family fights, fans always had something to talk about. This last season, though, has fans talking for entirely different reasons.
There’s no drama anymore, according to fans on Reddit. Kim used to play with her kids, for example, but fans think that the need to keep a specific public image has kept them from showing more of their personalities. The Kardashian-Jenner girls have built careers and businesses based on their particular fashion and style.
Kim Kardashian West has built KKW, a beauty brand, and Skims, a shapewear brand. She was on Time’s 2015 list of 10 most influential people, thanks to her companies, her political lobbying, and Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Kylie Jenner has founded the beauty company Kylie, and sister Kendall is a model.
They depend almost solely on their reputation and appearance to stay famous, and fans think that may be why the series has gotten boring. They don’t feel like they have the freedom to be themselves like they were in earlier seasons. With brands that revolve around a specific look, fans think that the show has become more a commercial for their respective brands rather than a look into their lives.
With fashion and beauty being their main business, they have to look perfect every episode. Fans want something more personal.
What’s next for the Kardashian-Jenner family?
The last season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians premiered on March 18, 2021. It concluded on June 20. There have been numerous spin-offs before, and there’s no hint that the Kardashian-Jenner family is ready to leave television behind.
In the meantime, though, their social media accounts are active. The KKW brand will be relaunched later this year as a new brand, so look for that in the new future.
