Skip to main content

Tales of the City, a review



Tales of the City


There are more and more shows helping to demystify the LGBTQ+ world. This show was the first one to do it in the 90s, and now it returns with this fantastic miniseries. 

The backstory introduces us to different generations of the LGBTQ community, each facing their own problems and offering the public a wide range of perspectives.

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

Anna Madrigal


Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis) is a 90-year-old lady who built a haven for all in the middle of San Francisco. 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 reminder for all new generations of how the LGBTQ community has 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. Shows like It's a Sin are particularly focused on this topic, and Tales of the City couldn’t ignore it either.

Michael, or they call him, Mouse (Murray Bartlett) is HIV+, and through his character, one more subject is demystified. We follow him to a doctor's appointment, where we get many answers about this disease. 

The doctor's explanations are very enlightening about the current state of the illness and how everything has, fortunately, evolved in a positive way. 

Generational shock


As I mentioned before, the show offers an interesting perspective on the problems faced by different LGBTQ generations. Mouse and his young partner, Ben (Charlie Barnett), who are around 20 years apart, illustrate the huge gap between generations. 

At a dinner party with Mouse’s friends, Ben alerts the guests 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 (Elliot Page), 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 fully explored, or are mentioned only in passing. 

That made some scenes more superficial than they should be. This fact was probably the downside of the show.

“Tales” now, and then


Revolutionary when it first aired on TV in 1993, Tales of the City still has an impact on 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 improves the quality of the final result. 

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

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Raising Voices - Why Alma's Mom Had the Right Reaction

  In Netflix’s Raising Voices , there's a raw, emotionally charged moment when Alma confesses to her mom that something happened the night she disappeared — she was drunk, she had sex, and something didn’t feel right. It’s the kind of moment that many parents dread. But Alma’s mom handled it in a way that deserves attention. She didn’t panic. She didn’t judge. She didn’t lose control. Instead, she met her daughter halfway, which made all the difference. What Happened in the Scene? When Alma opened up to her mom, she wasn’t just confessing — she was testing the waters for safety. Could she trust her mom with the truth? Would she still be loved after saying something shameful, scary, or confusing? Her mom’s response wasn’t perfect — but it was real. She was concerned, but didn’t explode. She asked questions. She listened. She let the moment breathe. Why That Reaction Matters Technically, what Alma described can be considered sexual assault , given her level of intoxication. Bu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Zero Day (Netflix): When Power, Fear, and Truth Collide

  What happens when society’s most terrifying vulnerability—our digital infrastructure—suddenly collapses?  Netflix ’s political thriller Zero Day dares to explore exactly that. Starring Robert De Niro as former U.S. President George Mullen, alongside Angela Bassett , Lizzy Caplan , Jesse Plemons , and Dan Stevens , this six-part miniseries blends conspiracy, paranoia, and deeply human drama into a story that feels both timely and unsettling. A Premise That Feels Too Possible The series kicks off with a catastrophic cyberattack that leaves the nation in chaos. It’s not just thrilling entertainment—it’s frighteningly plausible. Watching events spiral out of control, you can’t help but ask yourself: could this actually happen? Twists That Keep You Guessing From backroom deals to sudden betrayals, Zero Day is packed with sharp turns. You might think you know where it’s going, but the finale delivers a conclusion that’s both surprising and thought-provoking. Jesse Plemo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story - review

  While I found the pacing of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story slow and, at times, even boring, the show shines in one particular area: its psychological depth.  What kept me engaged wasn’t the storytelling rhythm, but the way it explored two very distinct and haunting personalities under the same roof. Two Sides of the Same Violence The series captures the sharp contrast between Lyle and Erik brilliantly. On one side, we see the volatile, angry, and violent brother—unpredictable but outwardly dominant, always ready to explode. On the other side, there is the insecure, fragile “mouse” of the family—timid, hesitant, almost paralyzed by fear.  Yet, what makes Erik compelling is that under the right conditions, even he can lash out violently, especially when pulled into the orbit of his more aggressive brother. The dynamic between them feels like a nightmare recipe: one commanding, the other submissive, but both carrying destructive potential. The Many Shape...
Post a Comment
Read more