The Decameron

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.

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.

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.

Just finished watching all the episodes, and here's my review:

Positives: A super crazy, binge-worthy historical drama. When I saw that the first episode was about an hour long, I almost wanted to quit. But not a single scene was boring, and the same goes for the rest of the episodes. The show is highly entertaining with very few slow scenes that won't ruin your experience. After the first episode, I stopped checking the duration because I was enjoying it. The direction, the writing, the cast, the background music, the location, and the story all of it worked well.

No character is safe in this show, which I love. I enjoy shows where they kill off some or many lead characters because it keeps you engaged and interested in seeing who will survive until the end.

The cast did an amazing job. I love many of the characters, especially Filomena and Neifile, who were my favorites. Even though it's currently a limited series, I'd love for the show to continue for at least three seasons or more..

The final episode includes a really dark scene that I wasn't expecting. The overall ending was superb and satisfying, avoiding the usual cliffhanger tactic to force a network renewal.

The ratings are currently a bit low, but please give it atleast 10-15 minutes of your time before judging the show based on these ratings and skipping it.

Negatives: Although I don't mind nudity and intimate scenes, some of it felt a bit unnecessary. Almost everyone is involved, including straight people, gays, lesbians, and even rats in the intro. But, this doesn't impact the overall experience much.

The final battle could have been more interesting and thrilling, keeping us on the edge. Instead, it was made more casual.

They could have explored the black deaths happening during the pandemic a bit more. The show mainly focuses on those who are not affected, so it doesn't feel like it's set during a pandemic. The focus is more on, poisonous deaths, revenge, and battle rather than the disease.

Overall: This is a must-watch and super binge-worthy show. I hope it gets the hype it deserves, with popular leads from hit shows like Sex Education and Derry Girls. It's on Netflix and is one of the best comedy period dramas. It may not be as good as The Great, but fans of that show might also enjoy this one. Rating: 3.75/5.