The Decameron - General Discussion

[BetterButter]

Netflix

Drama

July 25

 

You're invited to the party of the 14th century.

 

[paulvdb]

Video: "The Decameron" - Official Teaser - Netflix

According to Netflix it's not a drama but a comedy. Series description:

Quote

You are cordially invited to a wine-soaked sex romp set in the Italian countryside. The Decameron is a soapy dark comedy that examines the all-too-timely theme of class struggles in the season of a pandemic. In the year 1348, the Black Death strikes hard in the city of Florence, and a handful of nobles retreat with their servants to a grand villa to wait out the plague with a lavish holiday. But as social rules wear thin, a scramble for survival ensues, brought to life by a cast of characters both cunning and outrageous.

 

[Haleth]

I read this in high school.  I don't remember it being funny but this looks interesting.

[AnimeMania]

The Decameron is an 8 episode soapy period dramedy that streams on July 25, 2024 on Netflix. It aims to examine the themes of class systems, power struggles, and survival in a time of pandemic, brought to life by an ensemble of misfits both ridiculous and ill-fated. 

Set in 1348, the Black Death (bubonic plague) strikes hard in the city of Florence. A handful of nobles, with their servants, are invited to retreat at a grand villa in the Italian countryside to wait out the pestilence, as a lavish holiday. But as society's rules wear thin, what starts out as a wine-soaked sex romp in the hills of Tuscany, descends into an all-out scramble for survival.

The Decameron published in Italy in 1353 by Giovanni Boccaccio is a frame narrative where many separate and distinct stories are presented within the context of the main story. The book, The Decameron, tells the story of a group of nobles and their servants sheltering in the grand Villa Santa outside Florence as the Black Death rages in 1348. To pass the time, they take turns telling each other stories that range from witty to debauched. The Decameron contains one hundred stories told by ten people (seven women, three men) over ten days. The stories range from silly to witty to erotic, causing the book to be banned by the church in it's day.  

Amar Chadha-Patel plays Dioneo, a cocksure physician whose profession puts him in a frustrating limbo between the upper and lower classes. 

Lou Gala plays Neifile, who is God-fearing and highly libidinous. She’s a woman of paradoxes, whose time spent at the villa proves deeply transformative. 

Douggie McMeekin takes on the role of Tindaro, a rich noble from a prominent family. His perfect pedigree as an eligible bachelor is undermined by his insufferable attitude and blunt disdain for women. 

Leila Farzad plays Stratilia, who is intuitive, wise, and steady. She’s the stalwart backbone of Villa Santa and works hard to stay out of the fray and protect her secrets. 

Tony Hale is Sirisco, the affable, ill-prepared, and eager-to-please steward of Villa Santa. 

Zosia Mamet is Pampinea, the soon-to-be lady of the villa. She’s full of hope and absolutely lacking in self-awareness. Despite her obsession with her high station, Pampinea’s groomed exterior conceals a deep loneliness and insecurity.

Saoirse-Monica Jackson plays Misia, the codependent servant of Pampinea. She adores her demanding master and derives much self-worth from pleasing her. 

Karan Gill takes on Panfilo, the charming and cunning son of a prominent political family in Florence. He becomes a formidable presence at the villa. 

Jessica Plummer plays Filomena, a spoiled oddball with a chip on her shoulder. She’s the last surviving child of her noble family. 

Tanya Reynolds plays Licisca, an obedient yet unpredictable servant with a heart of bronze. Her life has been defined by her hard work, thick skin, and devotion to the family she serves — until now.

[BetterButter]

 

[libgirl2]

I gave it three episodes. It should have been funnier. It had moments but not enough. It was like everything was there for it to be good and it was just lacking. 

[DanaMB]

I’m 4 eps in. Not sure I’d stick with it if I weren’t just using it as background noise as I work on other things. 

[chaifan]

I'm on Episode 5, and I'm loving this.  I think it's funny, witty, the actors are all great.  Yes, some of the characters are annoying and over the top, but that's sort of the point for those characters. 

I'm really surprised there's no traction on this thread.  I've been recommending this to everyone.