SummarySet in New York City, Kevin Williamson's psychological thriller based on fairy tales features 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... Read More
Created By:Kevin Williamson
Tell Me a Story
Season 1 Premiere:
Oct 30, 2018
Metascore
Mixed or Average
45
User score
Generally Favorable
6.2
My Score
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All Seasons
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
45
29% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
29% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
43% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Oct 31, 2018
80
It’s more like the Brothers Grimm meets “13 Reasons Why,” a perfect combination of childhood frightmares, teen angst and adult drama.
Jul 29, 2020
75
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.
Oct 30, 2018
60
For all its faults, the series is enthusiastically pulpy, moving with a propulsive energy that, to be frank, most streaming dramas lack.
Oct 31, 2018
40
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.
Oct 30, 2018
30
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.
Oct 31, 2018
25
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.
Oct 26, 2018
12
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
Generally Favorable
6.2
62% Positive
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
3% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
34% Negative
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
Aug 21, 2019
4
I gave it two episodes, mainly because the first episode was like one long introductory montage before the plot kicks in. While I like James Wolk (and feel sorry for him because the poor guy can't seem to find any sustainable work) and I really like his character, I simply could not go any further. For one reason: Kayla and the actress playing her, Danielle Campbell, were so grating and irritating I think I'd prefer having a finger flayed by Ramsey Bolton. Not good. On the bright side, Kevin Williamson is executive producing, which is good if you like gawking at hot male stars naked bodies - Wolk and Paul Wesley were both in next to nothing in the first episode. Williamson and Ryan Murphy are always good for some nice body appreciation.
Production Company:
- Kapital Entertainment
- Outerbanks Entertainment
- Resonant TV
Initial Release Date:Oct 30, 2018
Number of seasons:2 Seasons
Rating:TV-MA
Awards
SXSW Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
