By Romey Norton July 26, 2024
Think about dating shows, and now throw it back in time, with castles, corsets, and the plague and you have The Decameron. From creator and showrunner Kathleen Jordan (Teenage Bounty Hunters) — and loosely inspired by the iconic short story collection of the same name — this dark comedy series see’s single socialites trying to find marriage in the Italian countryside whilst surviving a pandemic.
Synopsis
Tony Hale, Zosia Mamet, Saoirse Monica-Jackson, Tanya Reynolds and more star as a bunch of misfits trying to outlast the bubonic plague (the black death) in 1348 Florence. And what happens when a bunch of people are stuck together with nothing much to do? They drink a lot and have sex. Slowly the social rules are broken down, leaving the nobles and their servants getting sloshed and shagging on the hills of Tuscany, trying not to die of an incurable illness.
Review
Across the eight one-hour long episodes The Decameron cleverly addresses themes of class struggle, relationships, friendships, and life in a pandemic. All things we can now relate to as an audience. The pandemic side is light-hearted - enough to keep everyone locked inside for drama to develop, but not strong enough to upset or bore anyone.
The characters are brilliant - well written, well acted (very expressive) and will keep you entertained and invested throughout. The comedy is dark, with a mix of slapstick humour. Saoirse Monica-Jackson and Tanya Renolds stand out with their expressive faces and distinct voices. There are a lot of characters to keep up with, but the show does well in giving each one a good amount of screen time and quirky story; maintaining a strong pace.
The costumes, makeup and set-design will take you back in time, and long for regalness and sunshine.
The only thing that lacks is the story development, the one overriding story-arc becomes weakened by the other smaller plots, whose characters are more charismatic and interesting to watch.
By the end I was left questioning if it warrants a second season. There’s only so much you can do with a bunch of people in one house. Maybe it would work if they keep the same cast but change locations and periods of history.
That being said, The Decameron is a funny, weird, comedy series taking audiences back in time, incorporating modern themes. Whilst there is sex, and snogging, the language isn’t inoffensive, and the plot easy to understand; making The Decameron a clear must-watch.
Star Rating
The Decameron is now streaming on Netflix
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