“The Decameron” is a series made and written by Kathleen Jordan. Michael Uppendahl directed four of the eight episodes. This show mixes dark humour with soap opera style, looking at class differences, power struggles, and survival during a pandemic. It has eight episodes, each about an hour long. The series started on July 25, 2024, and is available to watch on Netflix.
Plot Summary
In 1348, as the Black Death hits Italy, “The Decameron” is about ten young nobles who leave Florence to escape the plague. They go to a comfy country house and spend their time telling stories. Each story shows their secrets, dreams, and worries. With dark humour and drama, the series explores love, betrayal, and survival during the pandemic. What stories will they tell next?
Cast And Characters
- Pampinea played Zosia Mamet: Soon to be the villa’s lady, she is optimistic but often finds herself in amusing, awkward situations.
- Licisca played Tanya Reynolds: A loyal yet unpredictable servant with a tough exterior, she has always been part of Filomena’s family’s household.
- Filomena played Jessica Plummer: A pampered noble who feels both privileged and isolated as the youngest member of her family.
- Sirisco played Tony Hale: The bumbling steward of Villa Sant, whose efforts to run the villa often result in comical mishaps.
- Misia played Saoirse-Monica Jackson: A devoted servant to Pampinea, whose sense of worth hinges on satisfying her demanding employer.
- Dioneo played Amar Chadha-Patel: A charismatic young noble who captivates and influences others through storytelling.
What Happens When Pampinea Is Set To Marry Viscount Leonardo?
As Pampinea arrives to marry Viscount Leonardo, she is met by Sirisco, the steward of Leonardo’s estate. “Welcome to Villa Santa,” he says, introducing her to the residence of her future husband. Known as Signora Pampinea of Firenze, she is about to become the viscountess of the villa. Pampinea presents a small wedding gift to Sirisco and inquires about her fiancé. Sirisco informs her that Leonardo is currently away, busy collecting wine from nearby towns. Despite this, Pampinea’s excitement is palpable as she anticipates her new life and her future with her husband.
Is Viscount Leonardo Really Dead?
Soon after Sirisco introduces Pampinea and her lady servant, and as Pampinea and her group head to her new home, Sirisco behaves strangely. He quickly moves to a quiet corner and finds Viscount Leonardo dead. It becomes clear that Leonardo has been dead for a while, having fallen victim to the plague, also known as the Black Death, which is hitting Florence and nearby areas hard. To prevent panic and keep things running smoothly among the guests arriving at Villa Santa, Sirisco and the cook, Stratilia, decide to hide Leonardo’s death, pretending he is still alive
How Does Licisca Use Filomena As Her Maid To Maintain Her Facade?
Filomena wakes up by a river, remembering how a woman had saved her only to steal her clothes. Feeling betrayed but determined, Filomena makes her way to Villa Santa. When she arrives and says she is Viscount Leonardo’s cousin, Pampinea, put off by her messy appearance, tells her to leave and says that lying like this could mean death. Filomena then runs into Licisca and attacks her, causing a commotion.
Meanwhile, Licisca pretends to be Filomena, hoping to impress Tindaro and get a marriage proposal. She thinks that having Filomena act as her maid will help keep up the lie. Licisca scolds Filomena for not meeting expectations and demands that she apologize in front of everyone. After being thrown out of the villa, Filomena begs Licisca to let her stay.
What Happens During The Falcon Contest?
the Falcon Contest at Villa Santa is a big and fun moment. The game is about trying to get a falcon to take a piece of meat from someone’s arm. It’s a mix of challenge and fun.
At first, the falcon flies away instead of grabbing the meat, which is quite funny. During this time, Dioneo and Licisca have a serious talk. Neifile shares how Dioneo once saved her from a well, adding more to their stories and showing how their relationships are changing. Pampinea, who is running the contest, makes fun of Neifile by calling her a “lusty maiden.” Licisca steps up to defend Neifile, pointing out that if Pampinea thinks Neifile is lusty, she should remember that she might be more pious than Pampinea. Pampinea gets upset and says they should all leave. Licisca suggests they should stay, saying that if Leonardo is as gracious as Pampinea says, he wouldn’t want them to leave.
Pampinea, still angry, says she can ask Leonardo to withdraw his invitation. A man asks if she would really kick them out, and Pampinea shouts “Yes!” She then insists that if they want to return to plague-ridden Florence, they can leave.
Just when Pampinea is about to throw everyone out, the falcon appears in the sky. Pampinea announces that she sees the bird, and everyone gets ready to catch it. Licisca raises her arm and makes a noise, and the falcon suddenly grabs the meat from Licisca’s arm.
How Do Ruggiero’s Actions and Comments At The Feast Cause Tension And Reveal Rivalries At Villa Santa?
During the feast, new guests like Ruggiero bring both excitement and tension to Villa Santa. In the grand dining hall, where everyone is enjoying a lavish meal, Ruggiero quickly grabs attention with his bold and shocking stories about his adventures. While some guests find his tales entertaining, Pampinea feels uncomfortable and out of place because his carefree and wild behaviour contrasts sharply with her more reserved and traditional nature.
Feeling overwhelmed, Pampinea speaks up and demands civility, saying that without it, they are just beasts. Ruggiero apologizes but insists he has the right to criticize their behavior. He then remarks that Leonardo is incredibly lucky to have married someone of such virtue, despite his own life of depravity. Ruggiero recalls spending a few days with Leonardo in Pisa and seeing him with a dozen women over three nights, though he adds that many were whores and it was mostly group encounters. The guests laugh, and Pampinea, though annoyed, fakes a laugh and agrees, noting that men can be wild in their youth. She reassures Ruggiero that he has been a model of virtue since she has known him. Ruggiero then adds that, while he is very loyal, he is not surprised that Leonardo left to buy glass right after their marriage was consummated. He further explains that Leonardo loves glass. This comment, which is a thinly veiled insult, makes everyone laugh loudly.
Who Poisons Tindaro?
Dieno, Tindaro’s doctor, had an affair with Licisca. His master, who is a complete clown, falls in love with Licisca and dreams of marrying her. One day, Dieno learns that the only woman whom he loved has started to have feelings for his boss as well. He couldn’t bear to see this union and plans to kill his master by poisoning his drink. However, Tindaro is saved by one of the servants who reveals that he was poisoned by none other than his doctor himself. This news comes as a huge shock to Tindaro who only thought his doctor to be his best friend. Tindaro then plans to take revenge from the doctor and proposes to Licisca in haste.
How Do The Guests Learn About Leonardo’s Death?
When the guests first arrive at Villa Santa, they don’t know that Leonardo has already died from the plague. The truth starts to come out when Misia, while dealing with Parmena’s body, accidentally finds Leonardo’s corpse. Shocked, she goes to Sirisco, who begs her to keep the secret to keep things stable at the villa.
Even though they try to keep it quiet, the guests begin to suspect something. Eventually, Sirisco can’t keep up the lie anymore and tells everyone that Leonardo has died from the plague. He then brings Leonardo’s head into the room, shocking everyone. Sirisco explains that Pampinea never married Leonardo and had never even met him because he was dead before anyone arrived. He also reveals that Pampinea’s child is not Leonardo’s and that she has no claim to the villa. The villa belongs to Ruggiero, who was invited to take over. Sirisco tells Ruggiero to claim his rightful place and end Pampinea’s madness.
What Pampinea Knows About Jacopo?
Pampinea learns that Jacopo is Leonardo’s son and the cook, Stratilia, is his mother who had been hiding him all this time. He was first discovered by Tindaro who promises to take care of him. He takes him with himself to the villa where Pampinea finds him. She treats him to sweets in exchange for some sweets. It is only when Jacopo mentions a villa, Pampinea understands he is his son and devises an evil plan to use him to take control of the villa. She decides to kill Stratilia to snatch away her son. However, fails in her attempt.
What Is the Fate Of Ruggiero?
The guests at Villa Santa try to take back control from Ruggiero and his group. But when they do, they find that almost everyone, including Ruggiero’s crew and the sex workers they brought, has suddenly died. The cause is a quickly spreading plague that affected them all. Even though Ruggiero survives the initial outbreak, he doesn’t stay safe for long. The ongoing fights and chaos in the villa lead to more violence and eventually result in Ruggiero’s death.
Who Ends Up Taking Over the Villa?
The fight for Villa Santa ends dramatically. Pampinea tries to gain control by offering her dowry to Eric, the general of the Disciples of Order. But Eric betrays her and decides to take over the villa himself. When the mercenaries burst into the villa, a chaotic battle breaks out. The guests try to defend themselves, but they are quickly overpowered. In the end, Eric and his men take control of Villa Santa, bringing a harsh and violent end to the struggle for power.
Is This Series A Happy Ending Or A Tragic Conclusion?
At the end of “The Decameron,” things get dark and chaotic, showing the harsh reality of the Black Death. Many key characters, like Ruggiero and his group, die from the plague or in the fighting that follows, showing how deadly the disease is. The fight for control of Villa Santa leads to more chaos and violence. The survivors must face the tough aftermath and the constant danger of the plague, with an uncertain future ahead. The ending highlights complicated human traits like betrayal and the struggle for power while staying true to the harsh facts of life during the plague.
Is This Series Suitable For Families And Children?
“The Decameron” is rated TV-MA, meaning it’s for mature audiences only, 17 and up. The series isn’t suitable for children or families due to its explicit violence, sexual content, and mature language. It also features graphic depictions of the Black Death and explores dark, complex relationships among characters.
