X
- 2019
- TV-MA
- Netflix
- 2019
- TV-MA
- Netflix
Summary Escaping life in Connecticut, Mary Ann (Laura Linney) returns to San Francisco where her daughter Shawna (Elliot Page) and ex-husband Brian (Paul Gross) still live. She moves back to 28 Barbary Lane where Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis) still rules the roost in this 10-part limited series inspired by the on books by Armistead Maupin.
- 2019
- TV-MA
- Netflix
- 2019
- TV-MA
- Netflix
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City
Season 1 Premiere: Jun 7, 2019
63
7.1
Where to Watch
Summary Escaping life in Connecticut, Mary Ann (Laura Linney) returns to San Francisco where her daughter Shawna (Elliot Page) and ex-husband Brian (Paul Gross) still live. She moves back to 28 Barbary Lane where Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis) still rules the roost in this 10-part limited series inspired by the on books by Armistead Maupin.
Where to Watch
All Seasons
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
63
60% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
40% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
63
60% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
40% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
It’s this wide variety of perspectives assembled that allows the series to be as ambitious as it is.
Linney and Dukakis shoulder the weight of these new hours, although Morelli writes an edged selfishness into Mary Ann that would be irritating if not for Linney’s lithe, comedic handling of her self-absorption. ... The fact that this new San Francisco doesn’t invade “Tales of the City” is one of the show’s greatest attractions. That inevitability lurks around the periphery, but the timeless nature of Barbary Lane and the city’s loyalty to its mother figure somehow defeats its incursion. That in itself makes this series worth savoring.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 27 User Ratings
7.1
67% Positive
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
11% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
22% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 27 User Ratings
7.1
67% Positive
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
11% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
22% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
Ahhhh! How did a whole pride month go by without me knowing this existed? The original series helped raise me, so I was a little afraid going into this. I'm so happy! Keep **** self-indulgent I say! It's so true to the spirit of the original. I recommend it! Witty, great pacing. Oh joy!
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But even as I rolled my eyes or scratched my head at various developments, the performances and the optimistic (and very Maupin) spirit buoyed me through the whole thing. Turning Mary Ann into everyone’s most exhausting friend allows Linney to deploy her underrated comic chops. ... The new Tales is imperfect, but it’s beautiful enough in spots to qualify.
The series has many faults, often gets lost in its own self-indulgence, but it’s easy to admire how much effort they’re putting into making something for a queer audience—both new and old.
Flawed, narcissistic and doing its best. Sometimes it’s doing its best a bit too hard.
There are a handful of scenes where the writing, acting, and gutsiness of the underlying story cohere into something raw and striking and well made. In other moments, though, Tales of the City feels like a rough draft, both bloated and aimless.
There’s no energy or conviction in the storytelling, and while Linney, Gross, Bartlett and Page occasionally strike some sparks when they’re onscreen together, scene after scene goes by free of any real dramatic or emotional payoff. ... The story lines involving the younger characters consistently default to flat, safe conversations about gender and queerness. ... Draggy, preachy and a little morbid.
With tv-shows progressing into more inclusive territory (which we applaud, duh), there's still a bit of work to do. Over a decade ago, we had **** shows such as Queer as Folk and The L Word, which focused on the **** community. It seems like we haven't really gotten a show that is able to tell more nuanced **** stories balanced with its straight counterpart. Tales of the City is here to change that.
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City, picks up 20 years after its last mini-series and knows how to keep you intrigued. The previous instalments caused a lot of controversy when it aired on television back then, Netflix doesn't seem to shy away from it and knows how to handle its progressiveness. The 10-episode counting series begins with our optimistic female lead Mary Ann Singleton (Laura Linney) returning to 28 Barbary Lane, after living in Connecticut for the past 20 years. Now hosting infomercials for a ripoff snuggie, she's clearly given up on her dreams of becoming a world renowned journalist. She's returning to celebrate her mysterious former landlady, Anna Madrigal's (Olympia Dukakis) 90th birthday. Once there some old and new faces welcome her, but not everyone is as happy to see her. Two of those unhappy individuals are ex-husband Brian (Paul Gross) and estranged daughter Shawna (Ellen Page), who she left a long time ago, to pursue her career. Shawna acting all tough when first meeting her long lost mother, later shares a joint with her on top of the roof and sarcastically laughs at Mary Ann when confronting her with the fact she left her daughter behind. But is that really what happened?
The main emotional driving point this season, is that question and the fact no one who raised Shawna ever really told her the truth. Aside of that compelling storyline, these main characters still have their own stories to tell. But the real shocker is one that involves Anna's sudden decision to sell Barbary Lane, after receiving cryptic letters and strange individuals coming over for a visit. It's up to Shawna and Mary Ann to solve the mystery and fight for their home and mutual love for it - Barbary Lane.
Besides the compelling main characters, we also meet some interesting friends that join the fun. Michael Tolliver (Murray Bartlett) and his younger boyfriend Ben (Charlie Barnett) deal with Michael's positive status, the challenges of their age difference and seemingly threatening ex-partners; Margot (May Hong) and Jake (Garcia) have trouble adjusting to Jake's newfound desires after transitioning; and over the top millennial jokes that involve too much Instagram from the twins (played by Christopher Larkin and Ashley Park) that live on Barbary Lane.
Creator Lauren Morelli (Orange is the New Black) and executive producer Alan Poul (Six Feet Under) found a way to honour the spirit of the original series and start this revival/sequel so that new audiences can still follow what exactly goes on. Having never seen a single episode of the original mini-series, I had no trouble understanding the story. It's not easy to show something that connects with everyone in some way without excluding genders and/or sexualities, but they were also able to do it in a way that educates without coming across preachy. Her team of all **** writers and directors should be applauded for their outstanding work. Not only does it show they have put extensive thought into this, the range of perspectives splashes from the screen. There's different episodes that are recognisable and will make you think. It's all about showing your true colours and not shying away from who you really are. Times have changed and Tales of the City has evolved for a new era of fans.
Tales of the City shows us just how important it is to live one's truth, choosing our own family and how we connect with one another, while celebrating **** culture and exploring multiple generations of LGBTQ+ people.
Review by Seth Eelen for ****
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When I was recommended this I hadn't been expecting much. The cinematography felt washed out and I felt like it would be the same tired stories all over again but this show proved me wrong. It's a vividly detailed amalgamation of painfully sourced true story's about survival and growth but it takes it's time telling it's story's. It's so inexplicably heartbreaking.that season finally was awful.
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I watched the original mini series' when they came out on PBS way back in the early 90s. I was really looking forward to it. I was disappointed. I know I was supposed to like Shauna but I really disliked her. Can't think of a single likable thing about her. Some things were nice. It was great to see the old characters back but not enthralled with the new. The originals were a slice of San Francisco in its heyday. Things feel a little "today" in a way the original didn't. No sense of nostalgia because it's now. There was also a bit where there was trying too hard recapture young Mary Ann when she first showed up in SF. There were also just plain too many people at Mrs. Madrigals party. It was never so packed in the old days. The charm was gone. It wasn't all bad. These are just the sticking points for me. I just wasn't feeling the connections between the characters. Replacing Mona with Mary Ann in the relationship with Mouse didn't really work for me. I know it was unavoidable but it was off for me.
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Production Company:
- Netflix
- Sweetpants Productions
- Working Title Television
- Universal Television
Initial Release Date: Jun 7, 2019
Number of seasons: 1 Season
Rating: TV-MA
Genres:
Awards
The Queerties
• 3 Nominations
Ruderman Family Foundation Seal of Authentic Representation
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
GLAAD Media Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
