‘The Decameron’ Review – Netflix’s Rowdy House Party Is More Than Meets the Eye

Lately, the success of a pandemic-set story appears to essentially rely on timing. Whereas some creators have chosen to lean right into a extra fashionable narrative linked to rather more latest circumstances, others are trying a lot additional again — utilizing the previous as a car to faucet into modern fears and anxieties. Such is the case with Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of The Decameron, which hails from creator Kathleen Jordan (Teenage Bounty Hunters) in addition to government producer Jenji Kohan (Orange Is the New Black).

These of us who earned liberal arts levels — significantly centered on literature — will doubtless acknowledge that title as being linked to a group of brief tales written by Giovanni Boccaccio within the 14th century, which facilities round a gaggle of women and men who’ve fled to Florence to flee the Black Plague. Whereas sheltered within the security of their abandoned countryside villa, every member of the celebration tells their very own story, leading to a complete of ten tales (the gathering’s identify is rooted within the Greek phrases for “ten” and “day”). The Decameron has been tailored numerous occasions on each stage and display screen, although most variations — together with the newest instance in 2017’s The Little Hours — are inclined to solely take a web page out of 1 or two tales, somewhat than the complete narrative. Whereas Netflix’s adaptation of The Decameron performs a bit extra quick and free with the general story, it nonetheless embraces the permeating themes of repression, indulgence, debauchery, and the sorrow that accompanies isolation — leading to the most effective darkish comedies of the yr up to now.

What Is ‘The Decameron’ About?

In 1348, the Black Dying is ravaging the streets of Florence, principally impacting the poor whereas the wealthy shut themselves away of their properties and do all they’ll to keep away from catching the illness. Initially, it appears nobody will be capable to escape lethal circumstances — till a small group of nobles and their servants receives an invite from the mysterious lord Leonardo to hitch him at his countryside manor, Villa Santa. For the rich Pampinea (Zosia Mamet), it is a chance to put eyes on her betrothed for the primary time since their engagement, whereas her loyal-to-a-fault maid Misia (Saoirse-Monica Jackson) struggles to think about a future that is not at her woman’s facet. On the flipside of their state of affairs are the servant Licisca (Tanya Reynolds) and her employer Filomena (Jessica Plummer), the previous of whom considers this journey to Villa Santa an opportunity to reinvent her circumstances and turn out to be somebody completely totally different, whereas the latter struggles to outline herself in ways in which aren’t explicitly tethered to her wealth and privilege.

As soon as Leonardo’s friends start trickling in, all of them have a chance to measurement one another up. Wealthy noble Tindaro (Douggie McMeekin), whereas a single man himself, manages to be somewhat off-putting solely by advantage of being each a raging hypochondriac and a proto-incel, blaming ladies and their obvious manipulations for his incapacity to land a bride. It is also unclear whether or not his well being obsession is well-founded or a consequence of his charming physician Dioneo’s (Amar Chadha-Patel) “therapies,” which appear to solely exacerbate Tindaro’s signs somewhat than remedy them. Rounding out the invited group are married couple Neifile (Lou Gala) and Panfilo (Karan Gill), themselves in a way more platonic association; Neifile’s abiding devotion to God wars along with her deep, “unholy” needs, whereas Panfilo’s dedication to his spouse solely extends thus far.

Though Leonardo will not be current to greet his friends once they arrive, they’re all ushered into Villa Santa by its steward, Sirisco (Tony Hale), who does his finest to maintain the temper gentle, and home servant, Stratilia (Leila Farzad), whose no-nonsense nature leaves her with little persistence for a celebration of stuck-up nobles. Whereas Villa Santa initially looks as if the right retreat to attend out the worst of the plague, the remoted setting additionally serves as a method for the friends to begin abandoning societal designations and the expectations that accompany them. In the meantime, the villa solely provides a lot safety from the remainder of the world, and as inside sources start to wane, the group is compelled to think about whether or not opening the gates to outsiders — together with Leonardo’s significantly good-looking scoundrel of a cousin, Ruggiero (performed by The Wheel of Time‘s Fares Fares) — might finally show pricey.

‘The Decameron’ Succeeds By means of Its Wildly Gifted Ensemble

It would come as no shock {that a} solid of this caliber — anchored by actors like Mamet, Hale, Jackson, and Reynolds — would primarily be a motive a present like The Decameron works, however this explicit ensemble is what frequently prompts you to press play on the subsequent episode. Mamet, who introduced a very bubbly power to the position of Shoshanna on HBO’s Ladies, is given free rein to unleash each dimension of her character Pampinea, whose more and more unhinged antics are solely a part of what makes The Decameron‘s humor so memorable. As Misia, Jackson wildly vacillates between unsettling positivity and continually being on the verge of tears, each signs of how poisonous and manipulative her dynamic with Pampinea has turn out to be. Reynolds, who has to toe the tough tightrope of inhabiting a personality who’s pretending to be another person, deftly navigates all of the layers of that haphazard facade, particularly as Licisca wrestles along with her rising emotions for Dioneo and her difficult devotion to Filomena. Hale at all times appears to derive delight from enjoying reverse an enormous group of actors; right here, he is extra of a bumbling emcee struggling to wrangle spoiled cats than a profitable grasp of ceremonies.

When it comes to much less acquainted faces, although, most of The Decameron‘s remaining ensemble has simply as a lot screentime to flex their expertise. Gala, whose character Neifile will get arguably the largest sexual awakening of the whole celebration, additionally has her finest scene companion in her on-screen husband. Panfilo’s evolution of self-acceptance is extra of a B-plot total, however Gill and Gala’s chemistry additionally progresses all through the story, with their characters’ connection going from distanced, begrudging spouses to one thing extra like deeply platonic love. Even McMeekin, who performs one of the unbearable characters of the lot, will get to lean into multiple aspect of Tindaro, indicating that first impressions might not at all times be the right ones. Plummer’s Filomena, as properly, turns into one of the likable elements of the solid after she begins considering extra for herself somewhat than ready passively for another person to do the exhausting work on her behalf.

In comparison with the remainder of the principle ensemble, nevertheless, Chadha-Patel does not earn as many alternatives to show extra vary, as Dioneo most frequently sits someplace between a smooth-talking cad and somebody for different characters to blatantly ogle each time he takes his shirt off (full with sluggish movement impact). It is a disgrace, contemplating that his relationship with Licisca, which begins as a sequence of hookups earlier than actual emotions are caught, looks as if it is solely simply getting began when the narrative finds a method to chop it brief.

‘The Decameron’ Leans Equally Into Tragedy and Comedy

You would not be mistaken should you believed, based mostly on the premise alone, {that a} present with the bubonic plague as its backdrop would sometimes delve into emotionally heavier territory. The Decameron, which is being billed as a darkish comedy sequence, does not skimp on or draw back from both half of its style — however that finally works in its favor, making certain that each humor and tragedy pack an equally robust punch when wielded. Understandably, because the season progresses and the stakes proceed to rise, there’s rather more calamity, which ends up in extra loss. However The Decameron additionally does not make gentle of the damaging and insulated circumstances this celebration of nobles finds itself in; in actual fact, the sequence finds room for humor amid the darkness, which helps it keep away from the pitfall of changing into too miserable. The present’s distinctive power can also be terrifically rendered by way of its alternative of soundtrack, which incorporates songs from bands like Sparks and Depeche Mode.

Finally, The Decameron feels significantly becoming as a pandemic present for our now, capturing the overwhelming feelings that accompany confinement whereas utilizing its distant setting to power the characters into essential moments of reflection about themselves and their relationships with others. Whereas many people have been on lockdown not too way back, distanced from one another, we had lots of time to consider who we actually wished to be. Netflix’s The Decameron is spinning a story that’s many centuries faraway from the current, however this seemingly raunchy home celebration comedy has a lot extra beneath the floor, as raucous, wine-drenched celebration provides approach to very actual battle, heartbreak, and, finally, one thing resembling triumph.

The Decameron (2024)

Netflix’s adaptation of The Decameron efficiently balances tragedy and humor, leading to the most effective darkish comedy exhibits thus far in 2024.

Professionals

• The ensemble is made up of comedy heavyweights, with Zosia Mamet, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Tanya Reynolds, and Tony Hale particularly standing out.
• Lou Gala and Karan Gill are one another’s finest scene companions, exploring each aspect of Neifile and Panfilo’s platonic association.
• The present’s irreverence can also be terrifically captured by way of its alternative of soundtrack, together with songs from Sparks and Depeche Mode.

Cons

• Some characters, like Amar Chadha-Patel’s Dioneo, do not feel as well-defined as others.

The Decameron is now accessible to stream on Netflix within the U.S.

Watch on Netflix