Tell Me a Story: Season 1

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 20 Ratings

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5.4

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5.4	Your Score
5.4	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 20 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

The CW | CBS All Access | Paramount+ | Season Premiere Date: October 31, 2018

Summary: Set in New York City, Kevin Williamson reimagines "Red Riding Hood," "The Three Little Pigs," and "Hansel and Gretel" as a modern, psychological thriller set in New York City that includes high school teacher Nick (Billy Magnussen), unconventional grandmother Colleen (Kim Cattrall), her son Tim (Sam Jaeger) and her grandaughtr KaylaSet in New York City, Kevin Williamson reimagines "Red Riding Hood," "The Three Little Pigs," and "Hansel and Gretel" as a modern, psychological thriller set in New York City that includes high school teacher Nick (Billy Magnussen), unconventional grandmother Colleen (Kim Cattrall), her son Tim (Sam Jaeger) and her grandaughtr Kayla (Danielle Campbell), restaurateur Jordan (James Wolk), part-time bartender, drug dealer and thief Eddie (Paul Wesley), war vet Hannah (Dania Ramirez), her brother Gabe (Davi Santos), Detective Renee Garcia (Zabryna Guevara), and crime ring leader Sam (Dorian Missick).

[Premiered originally on CBS All Access on 31 Oct 2018; began airing on The CW on 28 July 2020]… Expand

Genre(s): Drama, Horror, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. Chapter 10: Forgiveness
Air Date: September 29, 2020
tbd
S1:E10. Chapter 10: Forgiveness
Air Date: September 29, 2020
tbd
S1:E9. Chapter 9: Deception
Air Date: December 27, 2018

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Lorraine Ali

Oct 31, 2018

It’s more like the Brothers Grimm meets “13 Reasons Why,” a perfect combination of childhood frightmares, teen angst and adult drama. Read full review

Glenn Garvin

Jul 29, 2020

But the veteran Williamson—who's masterminded everything from the maniacal Scream franchise, to the terrifying murder-cult drama The Following, to more teenage vampire claptrap than can be listed on cyberspace—can really rattle your bones even when he's not necessarily engaging your intellect. Read full review

Caroline Framke

Oct 30, 2018

For all its faults, the series is enthusiastically pulpy, moving with a propulsive energy that, to be frank, most streaming dramas lack. Read full review

Dan Fienberg

Oct 31, 2018

The enticing logline and lovely, painterly opening credits of CBS All Access' new Kevin Williamson-created drama Tell Me a Story tease a show that, unfortunately, is much more clever, coherent and ultimately fun than what the first five episodes actually deliver. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Oct 30, 2018

It’s a stunningly boring character drama, intertwining characters in New York City, ostensibly with a fairy tale motif doing some of the storytelling. ... The pacing, the dialogue, the (complete lack of) visual language, the world building--it’s impossible to point to a single element that works. Read full review

IndieWire Ben Travers

Oct 31, 2018

The characters are lifeless composites with little or no reason to care about what they’re doing. The dialogue is blunt at best and painful at worst. The look of the series, with both episodes directed by Liz Friedlander, is so plain viewers will find themselves missing the animated credits sequence--that is, until it rolls around again at the start of Episode 2 and reminds you why it, too, is pretty gross. Read full review

Michael Starr

Oct 26, 2018

The first two episodes are so convoluted, long-winded and expository that the dramatic payoffs, when they finally do arrive, seem anti-climactic.

User Score

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5.4

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User Reviews

Tice

Nov 9, 2018

Refreshing series that takes place in the actual NYC showing its darkest sides and the evolution of our society constantly exposed to violence and crime. The first episodes may be a bit slow but the storyline looks promising. The performances of Paul Wesley, Billy Magnussen and Kim CattrallRefreshing series that takes place in the actual NYC showing its darkest sides and the evolution of our society constantly exposed to violence and crime. The first episodes may be a bit slow but the storyline looks promising. The performances of Paul Wesley, Billy Magnussen and Kim Cattrall are by themselves good enough a reason to start watching the show.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

wardakay

Nov 12, 2018

one of the best show on tv right now . full of mystery , thrill and suspense . a great cast and paul wesley is nailing his character .

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MhtnQtineViewer

Sep 27, 2020

It took 3 episodes to set up the stories, but once you get there, you don’t regret the time spent on setting things up. Each episode after that comes with an amazing twist and surprise. The show is not afraid of pushing the boundaries and keeps you on suspense all the way through. LovedIt took 3 episodes to set up the stories, but once you get there, you don’t regret the time spent on setting things up. Each episode after that comes with an amazing twist and surprise. The show is not afraid of pushing the boundaries and keeps you on suspense all the way through. Loved the final 5 episodes. Anyone that loves suspense-horror shows will love them too.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RiotsReviews

Nov 23, 2018

Substitutes gratuitous drug use, nudity, and vapid cookie cutter characters, for anything resembling decent plot or compelling dialogue. 40 minutes into the first episode I had to question why anyone would willingly choose to watch this show... Watching Kim Cattrell deliver these terribleSubstitutes gratuitous drug use, nudity, and vapid cookie cutter characters, for anything resembling decent plot or compelling dialogue. 40 minutes into the first episode I had to question why anyone would willingly choose to watch this show... Watching Kim Cattrell deliver these terrible lines made me all the more angry at whoever wrote and produced this terrible piece of television.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Rudyger

Dec 4, 2018

At the very least, i expected it to be a bootleg black mirror, about modernized fairy tale. I was wrong. This is just a boring soap opera with huge SJW content. There was barely a single thing related to fairy tale in the pilot. Don't watch it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Seasons & Episodes

45

Series Overview
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: October 13, 2020
Season 1

45
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: October 31, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E10. Chapter 10: Forgiveness
  Air Date: September 29, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E10. Chapter 10: Forgiveness
  Air Date: September 29, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E9. Chapter 9: Deception
  Air Date: December 27, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E8. Chapter 8: Truth
  Air Date: September 15, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E8. Chapter 8: Truth
  Air Date: September 15, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E7. Chapter 7: Betrayal
  Air Date: September 8, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E7. Chapter 7: Betrayal
  Air Date: September 8, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E6. Chapter 6: Guilt
  Air Date: September 1, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E6. Chapter 6: Guilt
  Air Date: September 1, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E5. Chapter 5: Madness
  Air Date: August 25, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E5. Chapter 5: Madness
  Air Date: August 25, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E4. Chapter 4: Rage
  Air Date: August 18, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E4. Chapter 4: Rage
  Air Date: August 18, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E3. Chapter 3: Greed
  Air Date: August 11, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E3. Chapter 3: Greed
  Air Date: August 11, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E2. Chapter 2: Loss
  Air Date: August 4, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E2. Chapter 2: Loss
  Air Date: August 4, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E1. Chapter 1: Hope
  Air Date: October 31, 2018