Summary
The Decameronearns a spot on Netflix’s global streaming chart.The historical and dark romantic-comedy series sees the wealthy elite and their servants fleeing to a countryside villawhen a plague, known as the Black Death, spreads at an alarming rate. A 14th-century short storycollection written by Giovanni Boccaccio titledThe Decameronserved as a loose inspiration for the series, although Netflix leans more into comedy than social commentary, leading to a 68% Rotten Tomatoes critical score and overall mixed reviews.
According toNetflix,The Decameronwas globally the eighth most-watched serieson the streaming service for the week of July 22 to July 28. All eight ofThe Decameron’s episodes made their Netflix debut on July 25 and amassed a total of 15.3 million hours and 2.1 million views. It will likely continue to move up the global chart in the coming week, as many of the series ahead of it, includingCobra Kaiseason 6 andSupacellseason 1, have already been available to stream for two or more weeks.
Why The Decameron Has Received Mixed Reviews
Its Comedy & Covid-19 Parallels Are Divisive.
Nevertheless,The Decameronproved to be enjoyable enough to become one of the most globally watched Netflix series during its debut weekend.
The Decameronhas received praise for its comedy and sense of escapism, not only for the characters but for viewers as well. A story about a group of characters essentially going into lockdown during a widespread pandemic is more relatable given the recency of the Covid-19 pandemic.Flight Attendant’s Zosia Mamet,Willow’s Amar Chadha-Patel, andArrested Development’s Tony Hale deliver strong performances that make the series genuinely entertaining to watch.
10 Best Shows Like The Decameron
After watching Netflix’s The Decameron, similar period TV shows with a light, modern approach to history act as the perfect follow-up.
As for more mixed or negativereviews forThe Decameron, its irreverent humor received a divisive reaction, with it being praised in some feedback while being cited as a weakness in others. The humor’s lack of wit paled in comparison to the literary classic from which it was loosely inspired. The relatability to the Covid-19 pandemic was not a complete win either, asturning the Black Death into comedic fodder failed to find some resonance,given the serious nature of what occurred in recent years.
The Black Death killed more than 20 million people in Europe.
Largely prioritizing absurd comedy over social commentaryabout the wealthy elite was another significant way it failed to live up to its namesake. Nevertheless,The Decameronproved to be enjoyable enough to become one of the most globally watched Netflix series during its debut weekend. It is off to a strong start, and as a limited series, there is little concern about whether it will get renewed for a potential season 2.
The Decameron
Cast
In 1348 Italy, a group of nobles and their servants seek refuge in a grand villa from the bubonic plague. As they attempt to wait out the pandemic, their interactions reveal class tensions and personal secrets. The show blends dark comedy with historical drama, examining survival and societal divides in a crisis.
