The Decameron - Season 1

When you think of the Black Death, creating a comedy out of it is probably the last thing that comes to mind. Yet, The Decameron reminds us that nothing is off-limits for humor.

Contrary to the initial wave of negative reviews, I found myself thoroughly enjoying this series that covers a few riveting weeks in the lives of Italian aristocrats and their servants. It’s rare for my views to diverge so sharply from popular opinion, but here we are. This show apparently is a divisive one—you'll either love it or hate it.

The plague is hardly a laughing matter. Yet, we laugh

The Decameron takes us to 1348, where a group of Italian nobles retreats to a secluded, luxurious villa to escape the Black Death, history's deadliest pandemic. The plague wiped out an estimated 30% to 60% of Europe — hardly a laughing matter. Yet, laugh we do, as the series presents an array of bizarre antics from the nobility and their servants, spiraling into one chaotic situation after another.

The show explores themes like social inequality, female ambition and desire, survival, love, naivety, and wisdom, all wrapped in a satirical package. It pokes fun at the nobility, blind religiosity, and even the conventions of historical dramas. This irreverent tone seems to have disappointed some viewers, particularly those expecting a faithful adaptation of Boccaccio's renowned work. The title The Decameron nods to Boccaccio's 14th-century masterpiece, where ten people escape to a villa near Florence to avoid the plague, sharing a hundred stories over ten nights. The series borrows the premise of a villa refuge and some thematic elements, but that’s where the similarities end. Those hoping for a more faithful rendition of the original tales are left disappointed.



But, if you can set aside expectations of a true-to-source adaptation, you might find yourself enjoying this dark comedy. But be forewarned: the humor is as merciless as the plague itself. If you’re easily offended, this might not be the show for you. Nothing is sacred, not death, not religion, not illness, and not the genre of historical dramas. The series also doesn’t shy away from explicit content, with plenty of sex scenes. In short, the show is as godless as its characters.

The humor is as merciless as the plague itself

And godless the characters are. Most are easy to hate, especially the nobility. Some will make you want to pull your hair out. But they are portrayed amazingly well by the cast. And this is something almost all reviewers can at least agree on: the cast is great. We are in the experienced hands of Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education), Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Derry Girls), Tony Hale (Arrested Development), Amer Chadha-Patel (Willow), Leila Farzad (I Hate Suzie), Lou Gala (Secrets d’histoire), Karan Gill (I May Destroy You), Zosia Mamet (Girls), Douggie McMeekin (Harlots), and Jessica Plummer (EastEnders).



This varied cast also means that there is quite the diversity in English accents, which has ruffled some feathers among reviewers. Personally, I do not really see the issue. It's not like anyone in 14th-century Italy was speaking modern English anyway. This eclectic mix feels like a deliberate choice, perhaps to satirize the genre’s penchant for "posh" (British Queen’s English) accents. The soundtrack, blending medieval chants with 80s punk rock, further enhances the show’s quirky old-meets-new vibe. Surprisingly, it works quite well.

All eight episodes are a whirlwind. Just when you think things can't get worse for our characters, they plummet further into absurdity and waste no time getting there. This rapid pacing is mostly great, though the middle episodes veer a bit too much into soap opera territory with their tangled love stories. Fortunately, the final episodes steer back to more gripping material, ending with a spectacular finish. Be warned though: the show isn’t shy about axing its main characters—don't get too attached.

In conclusion, The Decameron is worth a watch. Don’t go in expecting a faithful retelling of Boccaccio’s work—it’s a different beast entirely. But if you're up for a dark, irreverent comedy that pulls no punches, give it a try. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s not as dire as some critics would have you believe.