Tell Me a Story (TV series)

Did You Know?

• Had it been renewed, the third season would have included adaptations of Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel.
• Musical performances in the second season were all performed by Natalie Alyn Lind.
• The official soundtrack for the second season was released by CBS All Access on February 11, 2020.

Cast and characters

James Wolk portrays Jordan Evans, a restaurateur in New York City seeking revenge for his fiancée's death, whose fairy-tale counterpart is the Big Bad Wolf from The Three Little Pigs. Billy Magnussen plays Joshua "Nick" Sullivan, a high school teacher in a relationship with a student, corresponding to the Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood. Dania Ramirez appears as Hannah Perez, an Army veteran returning to New York City with family issues, whose counterpart is Hansel from Hansel and Gretel. Danielle Campbell plays Kayla Powell, a high school senior processing her mother's death, representing Little Red Riding Hood. Dorian Crossmond Missick portrays Sam Reynolds, an NYPD detective leading a criminal group, as the third little pig. Sam Jaeger plays Tim Powell, a widowed father moving to New York City with his daughter, whose counterparts are Little Red Riding Hood's mother and the Woodcutter. Davi Santos appears as Gabe Perez, Hannah's brother with a drug addiction who accidentally kills someone, as Gretel. Michael Raymond-James plays Mitch Longo, a blue-collar worker pulling off crimes with his brother, as the second little pig. Zabryna Guevara portrays Renee Garcia, an NYPD detective. Paul Wesley plays Eddie Longo, a bartender and low-level drug dealer, as the first little pig. Kim Cattrall appears as Colleen Powell, a former chorus girl and Tim's mother, as Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother. In the second season, Paul Wesley plays Tucker Reed, an aspiring writer with a dark secret, as the Dark Fairy from Sleeping Beauty. Odette Annable portrays Madelyn "Maddie" Pruitt, the overachieving middle child in a broken family, as the Prince from Sleeping Beauty.

Production

On November 30, 2017, CBS All Access ordered the series, developed by Kevin Williamson based on the Spanish series Érase una vez by Marcos Osorio Vidal. Williamson wrote and executive produced alongside Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor, with Kapital Entertainment producing. Liz Friedlander directed and executive produced the first two episodes. The series was renewed for a second season on December 17, 2018, and canceled on May 11, 2020. Casting announcements began in May 2018 with Billy Magnussen and Kim Cattrall, followed by Danielle Campbell, Paul Wesley, James Wolk, Dania Ramirez, and Sam Jaeger in June. Davi Santos, Zabryna Guevara, and Dorian Missick joined in July, with Michael Raymond-James, Kurt Yaeger, Rarmian Newton, and Paulina Singer in recurring roles in August. Principal photography for season one ran from June 28, 2018, to early November 2018 in New York City. Season two filming took place from July 1, 2019, to December 18, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Release

The series premiere was announced on August 5, 2018, for October 31, 2018. The second season premiered on December 5, 2019. On the day of cancellation, The CW acquired broadcast rights to both seasons, airing the first from July 28, 2020, and the second from October 13, 2020. A panel at San Diego Comic-Con on July 19, 2018, featured an exclusive teaser trailer. A sneak peek trailer was released on August 5, 2018, and the official trailer premiered at New York Comic Con on October 5, 2018. The series held its official premiere at the Metrograph theater in New York City on October 23, 2018, with creator Kevin Williamson, executive producer Dana Honor, and cast members in attendance.

Reception

The series received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 60% approval rating from 15 reviews, with an average rating of 5.42 out of 10. The critical consensus states: "Despite an enticing cast and promising premise, Tell Me a Story's overly plotted, grim take on Grimm's Fairy Tales fails to enchant." Metacritic assigned a score of 45 out of 100 based on 7 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews." Refinery29's Sesali Bowen gave a positive review, noting the series captures viewers with its realism and interesting characters. Variety offered qualified praise, calling it "enthusiastically pulpy" with propulsive energy, though not operating on the level of The Good Fight or as a radical re-imagining. RogerEbert.com's Brian Tallerico criticized the series, stating that talented TV veterans fail to give good performances and that no single element works, including pacing, dialogue, visual language, and world building.