Ep 1. Further Tales of the City (1)
- May 6, 2001
As Mary Ann Singleton returns to San Francisco, she has to navigate a city that is rapidly changing due to the tech boom. In Further Tales of the City (1), the first episode of season 3 of Tales of the City, we are reintroduced to the characters we have come to know and love. Among them are Anna Madrigal, Shawna Hawkins, DeDe Halcyon-Day, and Brian Hawkins.
As the episode begins, Mary Ann arrives back in San Francisco, having been away for twenty years. She is eager to reconnect with her old friends, but she finds that things have changed. Her best friend, Michael Tolliver, now lives with his husband, Ben, and they have adopted a son named Jake. Mary Ann, who is struggling with her own identity, finds it difficult to relate to Michael's new life.
Meanwhile, Anna Madrigal, the matriarch of 28 Barbary Lane, is struggling to keep up as the city changes around her. She is dealing with health issues and is worried about what will happen to her home if she passes away. Shawna, her daughter, is trying to help her, but she has her own problems. She is dealing with drug addiction and is estranged from her partner, Claire.
DeDe Halcyon-Day has also returned to San Francisco, but she is keeping a low profile. She has recently become engaged to a wealthy tech entrepreneur, but she is haunted by a dark secret from her past. When she runs into Mary Ann, they rekindle their friendship, but DeDe is afraid to tell her about her engagement.
Brian Hawkins, a transgender man, is also struggling to find his place in the new San Francisco. He is working at a tech startup, but he feels like he is selling out his ideals by doing so. He reconnects with Shawna, who he has not seen in years, and they commiserate about the changes in the city.
As the episode progresses, we see how the characters are affected by the changing landscape of the city. Silicon Valley is encroaching on their community, and they are not sure how to react. They are afraid of losing their identity and their homes.
Further Tales of the City (1) sets up the season as a whole. It introduces the themes of identity, gentrification, and aging, which will be explored throughout the rest of the episodes. The episode also features a number of new characters, such as Margot Park, a wealthy tech executive, and Ben Cunningham, Michael's husband, who will play an important role in the season.
Overall, the episode is a strong reintroduction to the characters and the world of Tales of the City. It is well-written, well-acted, and features a number of powerful scenes that will leave viewers eager to see what happens next.
