OR

Email Address

Password

Forgot password?

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

See All

63

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

See All

7.1

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.1	Your Score
7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City

Series Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: June 7, 2019

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.

Genre(s): Drama, Movie/Mini-Series

Recent Episodes

No episode information is currently available for this season

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

63

Positive:

9

Mixed:

6

Negative:

0

Critic Reviews

83

IndieWire Jude Dry

Jun 10, 2019

Season 1 Review: It’s this wide variety of perspectives assembled that allows the series to be as ambitious as it is. Read full review

80

Salon

Melanie McFarland

Jun 7, 2019

Season 1 Review: 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. Read full review

80

The Telegraph Isabel Mohan

Jan 3, 2020

Season 1 Review: Sexy, funny, touching and somehow as bright and relevant now as it was 25 years ago, if this is the last hurrah for the Tales of The City franchise – and with so many stories wrapped it, it certainly feels that way – it’s a good one. Read full review

67

The A.V. Club

Pilot Viruet

May 30, 2019

Season 1 Review: 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. Read full review

65

Vanity Fair

Richard Lawson

Jun 6, 2019

Season 1 Review: A noble effort, a friendly burst of “we are family” sentiment arriving at a scary time. Read full review

60

The Guardian Chitra Ramaswamy

Dec 4, 2019

Season 1 Review: Flawed, narcissistic and doing its best. Sometimes it’s doing its best a bit too hard. Read full review

40

The New York Times

Mike Hale

Jun 5, 2019

Season 1 Review: 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. Read full review

SEE ALL 15 REVIEWS

Write a Review

7.1

User Reviews

10

carldamnit

Jul 5, 2019

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 gay self-indulgent I say! It's so true to the spirit of the original. I recommend it! Witty, great pacing. Oh joy!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

10

fra92

Aug 18, 2019

A wonderful show, full of heart... and open to any diversity. You can feel the love and the sense of family that these characters portray. Truly wonderful

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

8

setheelen

Jun 18, 2019

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 gay shows such as Queer as Folk and The L Word, which focused on the gay community. It seems like we haven't really gotten a show that is able to tellWith 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 gay shows such as Queer as Folk and The L Word, which focused on the gay community. It seems like we haven't really gotten a show that is able to tell more nuanced gay 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 queer 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 queer culture and exploring multiple generations of LGBTQ+ people.

Review by Seth Eelen for novastreamnetwork.com… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

7

All_ButTrU4

Apr 2, 2022

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 butWhen 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

6

dmc1001

Jun 26, 2019

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. ItI 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

More From Metacritic

What to Watch Right Now on Paramount+

Find a list of the best recent and upcoming film and TV titles added to...

What to Watch Right Now on Amazon's Prime Video

Get a list of the best movie and TV titles recently added (and coming...

What to Watch Right Now on Netflix

Get a list of the best movie and TV titles recently added (and coming...

What to Watch Right Now on Hulu

Get a list of the best movie and TV titles recently added (and coming...

Current TV Shows

By MetascoreBy User Score

1 92 The Pitt: Season 2

2 87 Hacks: Season 5

3 87 Industry: Season 4

5 87 Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal:...

6 85 The Beatles Anthology

7 85 The Traitors [UK]: Season 4

8 85 Bait: Season 1

9 84 Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!

10 83 Lord of the Flies

11 83 Riot Women: Season 1

12 83 For All Mankind: Season 5

13 81 The Muppet Show (2026)

14 80 Outlander (2014): Season 8

15 80 The Other Bennet Sister: Season 1

16 80 The Comeback: Season 3

17 80 One Piece (2023): Season 2

18 80 Dark Winds: Season 4

19 79 How to Get to Heaven From...

SEE ALL

Seasons & Episodes

63

Series Overview
Season 1

63
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: June 7, 2019
- No episode information is currently available for this season