'Strange and amusing' Netflix period drama has fans utterly gripped

Fans can't get enough of this dark comedy miniseries set in 14th-century Italy for its "absurd" characters and "hilarious" script.

The Decameron is a short series inspired by the 1300s Italian short-story collection with the same name, written by Giovanni Boccaccio. Set during history's deadliest pandemic, The Black Death, the show focuses on a wealthy family and their survival during the time of the outbreak with heaps of wit and humour.

The series follows a group of both nobles and servants as they make a great escape to a villa, where they live out a lavish lifestyle that soon turns into chaos. Rated a 15, The Decameron doesn't shy away from daring dark comedy in its sex scenes, language, violence and gory details, which makes it a standout show for fans.

A Rotten Tomatoes review describes the show as a "strange and amusing limited series". They say: "Characters that once seemed irredeemable are likeable, if not loveable, by the final episode. Absurd and enjoyable, the series manages to stay light while investigating the dark underbelly of humanity.

"In the midst of the Bubonic Plague, we watch as our characters struggle to survive and to 'deserve' their own survival. Hilarity and darkness ensue!"

Another viewer claims: "While the show is loosely based on a 700-year-old book, I found The Decameron fresh and engaging." The plot and characters felt like it was faithful to the 1300s without being stodgy. The characters are absolutely absurd, but that is part of their charm."

Released in 2024, the show is full of familiar faces, including the hilarious Tanya Reynolds from Sex Education, paired with Zosia Mamet, who is best known for her breakout comedic role as Shoshanna Shapiro in Girls on HBO. But the cast doesn't stop there; viewers can expect to see Derry Girl's very own Saoirse-Monica Jackson play a handmaiden, Misia, alongside the Beecham House actor Amar Chadha-Patel.

Plenty of people have given praise to the dynamic casting of The Decameron, with some even saying the characters are "unhinged". One review reads: "A period historical series that throws all the comedy and romance tropes out of the window, escalated by the enjoyable performances of a diverse cast untangled from any political narrative."

"This series is proof that even a story with unpredictable direction and story arcs makes for a hilariously entertaining one." Another viewer stated: "The Decameron is a darkly funny, beautiful look at the stripped-down elements of humanity in the face of an unbearable world state."

Created by Kathleen Jordan, its unique story was in safe hands, as the filmmaker came straight back from the success of another Netflix drama, Teenage Bounty Hunters.

The comedic period drama covers a lot of ground in its short eight-episode stint, but it appears the series was never intended for a further season and ends where the original 14th-century story does – making it completely bingeable to watch.

If you're intrigued to see how this raved-about show plays out, you can stream all episodes of The Decameron on Netflix now.