The Kardashians

It's not quite as unique stylistically as Keeping Up, but it's a good, captivating, and easy watch - which is only going to get more fascinating as we delve into the behind the scenes of some of the biggest headlines of the past 12 months.

The Kardashians have transcended the need for the show, and there’s nothing in the two episodes of the new series made available for review that convinces me otherwise. ... But while it may not offer anything new or especially revelatory, the new series will satisfy fans of the original show who are perfectly content watching the sisters sit in each other’s pristine kitchens in full glam, picking at comically large salads and gossiping about Scott Disick’s latest 21-year-old girlfriend.

Is it a radical departure from their previous show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians on E!, which ended last year? Least spoilery spoiler alert ever: It is not.

Forgive the dip into cynicism, but even Switzerland would roll its eyes after a few hours of curated Kardashian drama.

As a series about the contemporary lives of Kim Kardashian and family, this is about as well-made and incisive as one could expect; take that however it means to you. But as an argument for the continued dominance of the Kardashians in our culture, it finds itself with little novel to say.

Even if you’re a fan of the Kardashians, the whole more-of-the-same vibe of The Kardashians is just a crashing bore.

The new show is plagued by an aggressive ennui. ... For longtime fans of the Kardashians, or even the casual spectator, The Kardashians might be a disappointment. The family that is famous for being famous and for shamelessly sharing themselves has refined, toned and polished their brand to an uncanny degree. Nothing here shocks, surprises or titillates.