Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Season 1 – Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City

Play trailer 1:47 Poster for Season 1 – Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City Jun 2019 Drama Romance LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
82% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Upon returning to San Francisco, Mary Ann is reunited with her daughter, Shawna, and ex-husband Brian 20 years after leaving them to pursue her career. As she flees the midlife crisis that arose from her seemingly perfect Connecticut life, Mary Ann returns to her home, where she is quickly drawn back in by Anna Madrigal and her chosen family, queer young residents of 28 Barbary Lane, a boardinghouse-turned-apartment complex that is owned by Anna. This limited series is a sequel to the 1993 miniseries and is inspired by the "Tales of the City" book series by Armistead Maupin. Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis reprise their roles from the original TV production.
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Like a pleasant visit to a place you used to live, Tales of the City provides ample nostalgic comforts, while maintaining the series' mission of celebrating the diversity of San Francisco on its own terms.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Annette Covrigaru Bitch Media 03/15/2021
It's [Anna's] flawed history - and the flawed history of our queer ancestors - that serve as portals to the past and lay a stable foundation beneath our forward-moving feet. Go to Full Review Dan Gentile San Francisco Chronicle 12/03/2020
It's all a little bit cheesy, with a soap opera plotline and some cringey parodies of social media influencers, but despite the flaws, it was one of the most satisfying shows I've watched all year. Go to Full Review Chris Mandle Empire Magazine 12/05/2019
4/5
This new Tales remains a love letter to the soul-binding embrace of otherness. Go to Full Review Robin Holabird KUNR (Reno, NV) Feb 27
The series explores the differences between ongoing basic truths versus simple, surface changes. Go to Full Review Brian T. Carney Washington Blade 12/07/2022
Like the botched release of New Coke in 1985, it’s best to stick with the classic version and pretend that the new version never existed. Go to Full Review Michael Cuby them. 11/02/2022
Tales is still defined by its moments of joyous love more so than its depictions of struggle. It’s a show about queer chosen family, and you’ll want to stick with these characters for much longer than the ten hours Netflix allows you to. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Ew I @EWMOVIE May 18 First off, I have to admit I only managed to get through a few episodes of this before being unable to continue. So I haven’t seen the whole thing, as least I don’t think so!! I can’t have! Secondly, I watched the original three seasons back in the day before I came out and read the first book around around the same time, quickly followed by the rest of the series. The original shows and books touched me very deeply. The fun and lack of fear was the opposite of what I was feeling. This new incarnation surely does not reflect real people in any way does it. Not in the world I see, for sure; although it could just have been the terrible acting, intensely awful script and lack of warmth. I’m woke But this show is just the sickliest version of woke I’ve ever seen. It’s fakeness does our world a huge disservice. The people are fake and irredeemable. Their lives are not real lives. The problems that come up are so contrived and see-through!! Avoid this. Watch the beautiful original. See more Mark S @RT40202855 06/28/2023 What a disappointment. Whoever wrote the screenplay has absolutely no understanding or appreciation for Maupin's characters, his style or his humor. I've read the books at least 3 times and loved the first three mini series... - but this? This was unwatchable and I barely made it to the end of episode 3. I can't imagine how Armistead Maupin must feel about the result. I would be devastated. See more em @RT55375835 10/20/2022 emotional and heartfelt, it feels like a nostalgic ride that celebrates queerness in all the right ways. See more 01/25/2020 With good stories and a soft development, the show goes to an necessary and emotional ending which makes it totally worth it watching. See more 01/13/2020 I think the season is great because they bring a lot of inclusion for the LGBTQIA+ people and that is so important. Altought it, all of the episodes are fluid and connected they make sense, that's not just an episode... I really think that the TV Show tell an amazing story that was necessary to tell. I loved it but unfortunately it is a limited series but they told us a story that they want to tell as the better they could tell. See more 12/30/2019 Couldn't finish it. 🤷🏼‍♀️ See more Read all reviews
Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City — Season 1

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Laura Linney

Mary Ann

Elliot Page

Shawna

Paul Gross

Brian

Olympia Dukakis

Anna Madrigal

Barbara Garrick

DeDe Halcyon Day

Murray Bartlett

Michael "Mouse" Tolliver

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jun 7, 2019 Coming Home After two decades away, Mary Ann returns to San Francisco for Anna Madrigal's 90th birthday party, but not everyone is happy to see her. Details Episode 2 Aired Jun 7, 2019 She Messy Mary Ann decides to stay in San Francisco and tell Shawna the truth; Jake and Margot face a crossroads in their relationship, and Anna meets a new man. Details Episode 3 Aired Jun 7, 2019 Happy, Now? Anna gets a threatening message; Mary Ann tries to make peace with Brian; Jake and Margot negotiate a family gender-reveal party and its aftermath. Details Episode 4 Aired Jun 7, 2019 The Price of Oil Mary Ann rallies the crew to save Barbary Lane and tries to connect with Shawna; a night with Michael's old buddies stirs up drama between him and Ben. Details Episode 5 Aired Jun 7, 2019 Not Today, Satan Mary Ann and Shawna team up to uncover what is going on with Anna; Michael searches for a new place to live; Shawna opens up to Claire. Details Episode 6 Aired Jun 7, 2019 A Touch O' Butch Everyone looks after Anna following a medical incident; the twins fill DeDe's house with social influencers; Mary Ann and Brian have a heart-to-heart chat. Details Episode 7 Aired Jun 7, 2019 Next Level S... Shawna digs into her history; Mary Ann helps Sam track down information on Anna's past; Ben has a change of heart regarding Michael's housing situation. Details Episode 8 Aired Jun 7, 2019 Days of Small Surrenders In a flashback to the 1960s, Anna arrives in San Francisco, befriends some trans women, and starts dating a man; she soon finds her loyalties tested. Details Episode 9 Aired Jun 7, 2019 Rainbow Warriors Racing against time, Mary Ann, Michael and Brian follow leads to discover who is threatening Barbary Lane; Anna seeks forgiveness from an old friend. Details Episode 10 Aired Jun 7, 2019 Three of Cups The conflict at Barbary Lane comes to a head; Jake and Margot clear the air; a night of celebrating leads to an unexpected discovery in the morning. Details

More Like This

View All
Soundtrack 44% 90% Soundtrack Watchlist TRAILER for Soundtrack She's Gotta Have It 78% 57% She's Gotta Have It Watchlist TRAILER for She's Gotta Have It Firefly Lane 57% 82% Firefly Lane Watchlist TRAILER for Firefly Lane Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein 40% 72% Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Watchlist A Girl and an Astronaut % 64% A Girl and an Astronaut Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City — Season 1

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City: Limited Series Trailer Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City: Limited Series Trailer 1:47 View more videos
View All

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City — Season 1

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City View more photos

Season Info

Executive Producer
Lauren Morelli, Alan Poul, Armistead Maupin, Laura Linney, Andrew M. Stearn, Liza Chasin, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama, Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jun 7, 2019