What happens when your favorite childhood fables turn into psychological thrillers?
In short: Imagine Little Red Riding Hood as a high school senior processing her mother's death, or the Three Little Pigs reimagined as a revenge plot in modern New York City. Tell Me a Story strips away the magic of Grimm's Fairy Tales to expose a darker, more visceral reality.
Kevin Williamson developed 'Tell Me a Story' for CBS All Access, a US psychological thriller anthology portraying famous fairy tales as contemporary dramas. The series is based on the Spanish television show Cuéntame un cuento (also known as Érase una vez). Unlike traditional adaptations, this version interweaves fables like Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and The Three Little Pigs into subversive narratives involving themes of love, loss, greed, revenge, and murder.
The first season took place in New York City, featuring characters such as Jordan Evans—a restaurateur seeking revenge who serves as the 'Big Bad Wolf' counterpart—and Hannah Perez, an Army veteran linked to Hansel. The second season shifted the setting to Nashville, Tennessee, focusing on princess-themed tales like Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. While a third season was planned to include Snow White and Rapunzel, the series was canceled in May 2020 after two seasons of 10 episodes each.
The show received mixed critical reception. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 60% approval rating based on 15 reviews, with critics describing it as 'overly plotted' and 'grim.' While some reviewers praised its realism and 'wicked bite,' others criticized the pacing and dialogue. Despite its cancellation by CBS All Access, The CW eventually picked up the broadcast rights in July 2020, airing both seasons through December of that year.
The production involved a high-profile cast including Danielle Campbell and Paul Wesley, who appeared in both seasons. Principal photography for the first season occurred in New York City from June to November 2018, while the second season was filmed in Nashville from July to December 2019.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Tell Me a Story (TV series)
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