The Decameron (2024) Review: Dark Comedy Series Set in the Middle Ages

The Decameron is a 2024 Netflix black comedy series set in the Middle Ages. It is set in Italy in 1348 during the Black Death pandemic. A group of noble people are invited together with their servants to escape it at Villa Santa in Tuscany, but soon things get out of control.

PLOT

As many people die of the plague in Florence, many young nobles are accepting the invitation of Leonardo to stay at Villa Santa in Tuscany. Pampinea, who is engaged to Leonardo and has lied about her age, arrives with her servant Misia first. Neifile and her husband Panfilo, who are both very pious, especially Neifile, join them later. Another guest is well educated and hypochondriac Tindaro. He always brings with him his doctor Dioneo. At the same time, Filomena feels the need to accept the invitation to Villa Santa and abandon her sick father. She and her servant Licisca fight over this matter, and after an accident on the road, Licisca ends up impersonating Filomena. What nobody knows though, is that Leonardo is dead from the plague. Sirisco, the steward, and Stratilia, the housekeeper, will do everything to keep this secret, with Pampinea constantly asking where is her future husband…

The series started in a promising way. The first episode was engaging. It was to the point, without useless introductions or stalls. I never realized how quickly time passed. What I enjoyed most was the satire. There are two dark scenes, but as a whole it is a series you can easily watch to pass your time. Licisca and Filomena was my favorite duo, with the most interesting storyline, while Dioneo and Misia were characters that gave a lot in the show…

After the fourth episode I was gradually losing my enthusiasm. Actually, if you expect to see something historically accurate or see much about the Black Death, this series will not deliver. It is weird, because the series is set during the plague, and fear is at the center of everything during the early parts, but towards the end people die because of conflict and backstabbing. It feels that after a point plague does not get its justice as a pandemic anymore. Another drawback is watching some of the most interesting characters die much sooner than expected. Still, we are bombarded by Pampinea’s character, which becomes unbearable. After a while, it is all about acting, this is why you continue watching.

CHARACTERS

• Leonardo is the owner of Villa Santa. We do not learn much information about him, except for being Muslim and a philanderer. He was never really interested in Pampinea. All he cared about was the dowry and having an heir.

• Pampinea is a self absorbed and delusional woman. At start she gives the impression of a very needy woman that is desperate for love. In fact she is starving for power, and even when she learns Leonardo is dead, she comes up with many lies so as not to lose her powerful position in Villa Santa. Meanwhile, she is stuck in this ideal image of Leonardo and their potential marriage in a disturbing extent. Sometimes she acts like Leonardo is still alive and believes her own lies.

• Misia is Pampinea’s servant. She is loyal to a fault, since she actually thinks that she is friends with Pampinea and would do everything for her. Misia is a lesbian and her girlfriend Parmena has the plague. She hid her in a barrel and brought her secretly in Villa Santa.

• Neifile is a very religious and sexually repressed young woman. She is married to Panfilo, but is burdened and ashamed by her need to be sexually intimate. She often fantasizes of Dioneo. Her lust grows stronger when Dioneo one day saves her from a well she fell.

• Panfilo is Neifile’s husband. He is also very religious, with the difference that he may occasionally deviate from his values, if needed so. He is witty and good at flattery. Panfilo is a closet homosexual, still he shares a very close bond with Neifile, since they both come from a religious background and their marriage feels more like a friendship. He also fantasizes of Dioneo.

• Tindaro is a hypochondriac nobleman who is well educated because he was “always sick as a kid”. He knows many interesting things about history, which with every occasion flaunts. Tindaro is terrible with women, as he is scared of them and believes they are mean. Maybe in Villa Santa something will change…

• Dioneo is Tindaro’s doctor. Tindaro always counts on him as he helps him with his health problems. Dioneo on the other hand loves women a little too much. We learn that he had been with many women in the past and we see him flirt with many of the ladies in Villa Santa. For the first time he falls in love and this happens with Licisca. Nevertheless, there is another man who loves her too and wants her for himself…

• Filomena is a selfish noble woman who sees her sick from plague father as a burden. When she receives the invitation at Villa Santa, she asks immediately for her servant Licisca to come with her. When heartbroken Licisca gives her own bread to a homeless man, Filomena gets mad at her because it was initially hers and they fight. Filomena falls from a bridge and her future is unknown…

• Licisca is Filomena’s servant and an orphan. She loved Filomena’s father as if he were her own. When she tells her he is dead, they both head for Villa Santa, but after an accident Licisca ends up impersonating Filomena. She has nowhere to go and believes the death is near, so it feels like an adventure for her. Licisca is kind, practical, and down on earth and doesn’t get impressed by wealth.

• Sirisco, the steward, and Stratilia, the housekeeper, were working for Leonardo years. Their position in Villa Santa is threatened since he is dead. They try their best that nobody finds the truth, while Sirisco tries to get on well with Pampinea. Stratilia, however, has the biggest secret…

ACTING

Performances are definitely the best part of the show. Everyone did an amazing job and the chemistry of the characters is worth mentioning.
My top 5 is:

1. Tanya Reynolds in the role of Licisca
2. Saoirse-Monica Jackson as Misia
3. Tony Hale in the role of Sirisco
4. Amar Chadha-Patel playing Dioneo
5. Douggie McMeekin as Tindaro

It was one of these cases where every actor, especially the five mentioned above, were well tailored to the role they played. The casting was impressive.

DIRECTION/CINEMATOGRAPHY

Direction was vivid, with a lot of suspense and vigor, creating an engaging show you wish to continue watching. Cinematography was enchanting with the maze like gardens of Castello Ruspoli and the interior that was filmed at studios, but still feels like an Italian villa.

THE ENDING

The ending had nothing memorable and it was open, giving us the impression that there could be a potential season two…

The Decameron is currently streaming in its entirety on Netflix

• Rating Certificate: TV-MA
• Show Creator: Kathleen Jordan
• Studios & Distributors: Netflix | Tilted Productions
• Number of Episodes: 8
• Streaming Service: Netflix
• Original Release Date: 25 July 2024