The Decameron

It is good. Looks great. Has great actors. Uses satire and the period of the black plague both as wrappings in which to serve some smart portrayals of human greed, selfishness, inequality (which is still terrible today) and position of women and lgbt persons (also current issues). It is hard to look at this mirror to humans evwn with the bows silly hats and bright colors that is served with.

I found it an easy watch. Amusing. And occasionally clever and funny. But mostly was glued to the actors who are all quite successfully playing not particulary likeable characters.

And the show really does look very good!

I am surprised it is on netflix. Feels like it would fit better with hbo.

I think many have a lack of understanding what satire is. If you need a laugh track to have fun, this is not for you. I found the storytelling to be pretty smart and every episode is filled with twists and turns that keep the story interesting.

Obviously, this isn't historically accurate. It doesn't need to be and doesn't try to be, if somehow soundtrack made of 80's electro pop and punk hasn't made it abundantly clear already.

It's a study of humanity and well - inhumanity. The setting is irrelevant. It could've just as easily been placed in modern time. It's not like we haven't gone through a pandemic recently...

Anyways, personally I've enjoyed it. And you may as well. That is if you don't find it infuriating that characters are wearing wrong gowns, or speak English with an accent that you don't like, or whatever the negative critics say.

There is no point in comparing this with Boccaccio's Decameron, as it has only really taken the idea and setting from Boccaccio. This is not setting out to be a serious adaption and is best not judged as such. The tone and humour may seem more in line with Boccaccio's contemporary Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales.

The humour is broad, but does hit the mark on occassions and the setting and costumes are certainly beautiful. The show features an international cast of well-known faces from some top comedy titles who cope well with the stye which is at times positively theatrical.

Just taken as a stand-alone production, separated from its illustrious literary predecessor, it has quite a lot to offer those just seeking entertaintainment who may have little interest in history or satire.

It's a very watchable show. Not great but not terrible. It would have been way better as a 30 min per episode comedy instead of the overly ambitious 45 min episode "dramedy" it apparently attempted. The funny moments are solid but lost between long periods are dullness and scenes that tend to last too long. The "drama" falls flat in the wake of silliness and yet it's the so called serious moments that fill most of the time. I really like the concept of this time period and how people might have reacted during the chaos but I think the execution is lacking in this one. That being said, there are some solid performances by the cast.

I am not sure why the show got such low grades. It has all it takes to make it interesting to watch: light humour, fast pace, caracter development, awkward situations... I mean yes, there is no end goal to it, as in there is no classic scenario, some things are bizzare and maybe illogical, but it all serves the atmosphere of a plague, and depicting the sense that the people must have had during those times - despair, hunger, pain, opportunism, but also sense of freedom, unimportance of social status, changing roles, and finally importance of love and friendship during difficult times.

The show depicts how in times of crisis people start behaving in different ways, and the results are sometimes bizzare, sometimes satisfactory.

Though not really a Decameron, it reminded me of Shakespeare's comedy plays, depicting quircky medival atmosphere. It definitely deserves higher grades.