Tell Me a Story

The world's most beloved fairy tales reimagined as a dark and twisted psychological thriller.

Tell Me a Story (2018-2020) is an American psychological thriller series created by Kevin Williamson for CBS All Access. Across two seasons and twenty fifty-minute episodes, it takes the world's most beloved fairy tales and reshapes them into dark, twisted modern narratives. James Wolk plays Jordan Evans, a central figure whose world bends under pressure, alongside Billy Magnussen as Nick Sullivan, Dania Ramirez as Hannah Perez, and Paul Wesley as Tucker Reed. Each story pulls its characters toward hidden motives and buried secrets, with familiar tales turned into something unsettling and personal. The show is built as a serialized puzzle in which recognizable story beats carry new menace, and its tone is tense, shadowy and unsettling, with a cold sense of dread running beneath the glossy surface. Viewers who enjoy Once Upon a Time, Grimm and Hannibal will find a similar blend of mythic storytelling and psychological unease. The series was canceled after its second season, leaving the story open.

Audience reception is mixed, with the first season rated above the second; the anthology-style fairy tale reinvention is appreciated for its dark twists but uneven across its run.

• Once Upon a Timedark reimagined fairy tale structure, psychological thriller tone
• Grimmanthology of twisted fairy tale retellings with dark psychological edge
• Hannibalserialized psychological thriller with mythic storytelling and moral ambiguity

Created by

Kevin Williamson

Release Date

2018-10-31

Episode runtime

50 min

Rating

7.1 / 10 (286)

What is Tell Me a Story about?

A psychological thriller that reimagines beloved fairy tales as dark, twisted modern stories.

What is Tell Me a Story like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Tell Me a Story as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.

Is Tell Me a Story violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Tell Me a Story as moderate.

What did critics think of Tell Me a Story?

Audience reception is mixed, with the first season rated above the second; the anthology-style fairy tale reinvention is appreciated for its dark twists but uneven across its run.

Which shows are like Tell Me a Story?

Shows with a similar feel include Once Upon a Time, Grimm, and Hannibal.

How long is Tell Me a Story?

Tell Me a Story: 2 seasons, 20 episodes.

Is Tell Me a Story still running?

No, Tell Me a Story was canceled.

Where can I watch Tell Me a Story?

In United States, Tell Me a Story is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home.