Tell Me a Story

Changes traditional fairy tales to fit modern ideas. The Hansel and Gretel story has a tough female war veteran protecting her weak gay brother. Cinderella's story focuses on a black woman fighting her stepfamily. The show also focuses on a gay man's lifestyle and relationship struggles.

Portrays traditional male authority and roles as bad. The male characters are often shown as weak, drug-addicted, corrupt, or dangerous stalkers. The female leads must act as independent protectors and survivors to save themselves and others.

Changes classic European fairy tales by changing the races, sexualities, and gender roles of the original characters. Hansel and Gretel become a Hispanic ex-soldier sister and her gay brother, while Cinderella and the Beast are played by black actors.

Backlash was very mild because the show was on a niche streaming service. A few viewers online complained about unlikable characters, like a drug-addicted gay lead who gets a pass for bad behavior, but there were no major campaigns against the show.

Showrunner Kevin Williamson has a score of 37 and often puts gay themes in his thrillers. The team also has diverse members like producer Michael Lohmann (65) and director Millicent Shelton (46), though many episodic writers have no activist history.