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Tales of the City, a review





There are more and more shows helping to demystify the LGBTQ+ world. This show was the first one doing it in the 90s, and now it returns with this fantastic miniseries. The background story introduces us to different generations of the LGBTQ community, each one facing their own problems, and giving the public a wide range of perspectives.

I had zero knowledge, the story concerned, of the book and previous adaptations, other than know they exist. You definitely don’t need to know them to get into the story and love it.

Anna Madrigal


Anna Madrigal is a 90 years old lady that built a haven for all, in the middle of San Francisco city. Anna takes care of everybody, as if they were her children, “because they are,” she says in one of the episodes. That alone makes her an amazing character, impossible not to like, but that’s not all.

Throughout the show, you’ll know the real and sad story of Anna Madrigal. It is a reminding for all new generations of how the LGBTQ community had suffered over the years. I, personally, loved the flashback episode set in 1966.

HIV


You can’t ignore the significant part that HIV and AIDS had in LGBTQ+ community history, especially in the 80s. The show couldn’t ignore it either.

Michael (Mouse) is HIV+, and through his character, one more subject demystified. We follow him to a doctor's appointment, where we have many answers about this disease. The doctor's explanations are very enlightening of the state of the illness nowadays and how everything had evolved, fortunately, in a positive way. 

Generational shock


As I mentioned before, the show gives an interesting perspective concerning the problems faced by the different LGBTQ generations. Mouse and his young partner, Ben, with around 20 years of difference, illustrate the huge gap between generations. 

At a dinner party with Mouse’s friends, Ben alerts the presents to some pejorative vocabulary used by the older men. The criticism wasn’t well received. For them, Ben and his generation had an easy life because of their fight and their sacrifices. I believe the answer one of those men gave to Ben says it all: “When I was 28, I wasn’t going to dinner parties, I was going to funerals.”

With no doubt, the best scene of the show.


Shawna


Shawna, on the other hand, wasn’t very interesting. I believed, from the beginning, that she was supposed to be the main character, so I built up some expectations. However, I found her a spoiled young lady, and many of her attitudes annoyed me.

“Light” Dramas


Many problems are not entirely explored, or they are mentioned without great depth. That made some scenes more superficial that they should be. This fact was probably the downside of the show.

“Tales” now, and then


Revolutionary when it first came out on the TV in 1993, Tales of the City still creates an impact on the new generations.

In a more open-minded world, they were able to have a real transgender person acting on screen without it being a problem. It’s a step forward and gave more quality to the final result. 

Obviously, the show is not perfect, but it is a beautiful story.

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