Summary
Netflix’sThe Decameronis the latest historical comedy to hit the scene in a long line of similar TV shows within the subgenre. LikeThe Decameron,many comparable shows are set in an important moment in history but add entertaining, modern elements of storytelling. ForThe Decameron— based on the collection ofshort stories by Giovanni Boccaccio— the setting is 1348 as a fatal plague is conquering Europe.
The Black Plague inThe Decameronprompts its characters to escape to a countryside villa where relationships are formed and tested. Foras funny asThe Decameroncan be thanks to its cast of comedic actors, deeper themes of class divide and self-discovery are introduced as the series progresses. While audiences wait for news aboutThe Decameronseason 2, similar series in the subgenre of comedy help fill the void.
The Decameron’s Book History & When It Was Written
Netflix’s dark comedy The Decameron’s source material dates back over 500 years and is one of the most influential works of literature of its time.
Harlots
Cast
Harlots is a period drama series set in 18th-century London, focusing on the lives of women who work in the city’s brothels. The series stars Samantha Morton, Lesley Manville, and Jessica Brown Findlay, and explores themes of power, family, and survival in a patriarchal society. The show provides a gritty depiction of the struggles and complexities faced by women in the sex trade industry during that era.
Starring Samantha Morton and Lesley Manville,Harlotsis a gripping period drama set in 18th-century London. As the series' name suggests,Morton’s character, Margaret Wells, runs a brothel to support her family.WithHarlots' focus on sex work, there are a decent number of steamy scenes throughout the series. However, many of these scenes are in the spirit of liberation, a theme brought up inThe Decameron.
There is a sense of sexual liberation, namely with the married couple of Neifile and Panfilo, but freedom also appears in tandem withThe Decameron’s themes of class. This is most apparent in episode one when Licisca goes on an unexpected solo trip to Villa Santa.
Differences in class and status are important factors inHarlotsand are woven throughout its narrative, adding depth to the characters as they navigate a limiting society.The Decameron’s Douggie McMeekin also appears inHarlotsas Charles Quigley.
Our Flag Means Death
Created by David Jenkins and starring Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi, Our Flag Means Death blends romantic comedy with period drama on the high seas. Loosely based on real historical figures, the series chronicles the adventures of Stede Bonnet and the crew of the pirate ship Revenge, detailing their often hilarious exploits and encounters, including crossing paths with the infamous Blackbeard. The series received praise for its extensive and positive LGBTQ+ representation upon the first season’s release.
The personalities of 18th-century pirates are comically embodied inOur Flag Means Death, putting an entertaining spin on the Golden Age of Piracy. The swashbuckler comedy was canceled after two seasons, leaving many ofOur Flag Means Death’s storylines unanswered. Still,the character arcs and relationships formed in the series' 18 episodes make it worth the watch.
Our Flag Means Deathis brought to life by its ensemble cast of actors who have a knack for comedy, including notable guest stars such as Leslie Jones and Fred Armisen.Our Flag Means Deathis also packed with LGBTQ+ relationships and characters, having earned much praise for its diversity and representation.The Decameronhas a similar LGBTQ+ representation, but the series doesn’t go as far in the exploration of such storylines.Therefore,Our Flag Means Deathprovides the perfect solution to audiences' desire for a period piece with a wider range of love.
The 25 Best Historical TV Shows
From Vikings to Spartacus, historical series are always admired. These 25 are the best historical TV shows.
Quacks
Quacks is a British comedy series set in the 1840s that explores the lives of four eccentric medical pioneers. Tom Basden, Rory Kinnear, and Mathew Baynton star as doctors and a dentist navigating the often absurd and perilous world of Victorian medicine. Lydia Leonard also stars as a wife challenging the era’s societal norms. The show offers a humorous yet insightful look at the advances and oddities in early medical practices.
The Victorian era was a time of progression with large steps forward in the medicinal field, and it acts as the setting ofQuacks. The BBC sitcom revolves around the lives of comical, entertaining doctors. Led by Rory Kinnear as Robert Lessing,Quacksplaces its medical staff in absurd scenarios, leaning heavily into slapstick humor. However, many ofQuacks' storylines are based on documented historical events and figures.
History has proven to be an effective companion for the comedy genre as the mixture of the two continues to be popular with audiences.
History has proven to be an effective companion for the comedy genreas the mixture of the two continues to be popular with audiences.The Decamerontoo falls into the genre, as there are plenty of moments where audiences are invited to laugh at the series' characters.
However, the comedy inThe Decameronis much more grounded and coheres with its 14th-century setting. The amusing real-life behavior from the Victorian era, such as the use of vegetables and snake oil as the cure for severe diseases, lends itself well toQuacksand allows for over-the-top provocations of laughter.
The ensemble ofcharacters inThe DecameronandThe Buccaneershave quite a bit in common. The group of characters in each show set off on an adventure away from home and discover parts of themselves they hadn’t explored before.InThe Buccaneers, five women from America travel to London in hopes of finding love.However, the cultural clash between them and the high class in London causes tension and drama.
There’s an obvious connection toThe Decameron’s servants and noble characters and the themes of class difference that come as a result. Beyond that, Licisca and her undercover identity as Filomena’s servant bear some resemblance toThe Buccaneers' Nan (Kristine Froseth) and the secret she keeps about her family’s history.The Decameron’s soundtrackis also similar toThe Buccaneers, as both series implement music from recent decades by artists such as New Monday and Japanese Breakfast.
Plebs
Plebs is a British comedy series set in Ancient Rome, focusing on the daily lives of three young men navigating the ups and downs of city life. Tom Rosenthal, Joel Fry, and Ryan Sampson star as friends facing mundane challenges, romantic entanglements, and perennial misadventures, juxtaposing ancient settings with contemporary humor.
The first few moments ofThe Decameronshowthe reality of the Black Death that sweeps through Florence.The series' main characters have the privilege of escaping the plague, but many less fortunate individuals never stand a chance. Going further back in history thanThe Decameron,Plebsfocuses on these lower-class individuals — onlyPlebsis set in ancient Rome and, thankfully, there isn’t a daunting illness taking control over the area.
Instead,Plebslooks at the day-to-day lives of its group of commoners, Stylax, Marcus, and Grumio. The three men are put in scenarios expected of a sitcom, such as coming across a large amount of money after betting on chariot races.Plebs' five seasons allow for engaging relationships and growth of its main characters and, just as many shows likeThe Decamerondo,Plebsutilizes modern language and music throughout.
Mary & George
Based on the 2017 book The King’s Assassin, Mary & George is a historical drama television series created for Starz by D. C. Moore. The series follows the tale of the Countess of Buckingham, Mary, as she plots to influence England’s development from the shadows by training her son to seduce the king.
One of thebest romance TV shows of 2024so far,Mary & Georgeshares a few elements withThe Decameron. Both series pull from historical events but don’t care to stick to the facts the entire way through. History —the affair between James VI and I and the 1st Duke of Buckingham, George Villiers— acts mainly as a setup forMary & George.
Set in the 17th century,Mary & Georgesees its main characters, played by Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine respectively, scheming to reach a higher status through artificial feelings of love. Because of their actions, the lead characters inMary & Georgeare unlikable, and the same can be said forThe Decameron. However, each series is aware of its characters' flaws and plays them up for laughter and drama.
Every Character In The Decameron Ranked By Likability
While all the characters in The Decameron are entertaining to watch, most of them have unlikable personalities that makes them easy to root against.
Dickinson
Dickinson is a comedy series starring Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld. Dickinson audaciously explores the constraints of society, gender, and family from the perspective of the rebellious young poet Emily Dickinson, all while putting a modern spin on the period piece era’s tone. The show takes liberties with this retelling of the Author’s life while attempting to stay faithful to her history.
The absurdity of Zosia Mamet’s Pampinea inThe Decameronis a comfortable place for the actress to explore.Mamet previously guest starred inDickinsonas Louisa May Alcott, the famed novelist known best for writingLittle Women.Like Pampinea,Dickinson’s version of Louisa is odd and comically charming, fitting well within the series' approach to history.Dickinson, which follows the life of American poet Emily Dickinson, includes references to many historical events and figures, but with a present-day twist.
Music, dialogue, and accounts of history are modernized and comedic.The Decameronhas a limited number of episodes to work through its character’s journeys, butDickinsonhas three seasons to its name, allowing ample room for growth.The quality ofDickinson’s character-driven narrative is apparent in not only its lead character, played by Hailee Steinfeld, but in its notable guest characters as well, including Mamet, Ayo Edebiri, and Billy Eichner.
Blackadder
Blackadder is a British sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson as various incarnations of Edmund Blackadder, spanning different historical eras from the Middle Ages to World War I. Created by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, the series blends satirical humor and historical settings, offering a comedic take on British history with a sharp wit and memorable characters, including Baldrick, played by Tony Robinson.
Before taking on the role of Mr. Bean, the character many know him for today, Rowan Atkinson was the titular role in the British sitcomBlackadder. The title character goes about life through four different time periods, all with his sidekick Baldrick by his side.Blackadderis one of the earliest examples of the comedy subgenrethat pokes fun at history.Beginning in 1485,Blackaddergoes through history at a quick and engaging pace.
Blackadderis mainly lighthearted, only getting a notably darker tone in the last season. Set in 1917 during the First World War,Blackadderstarts to mirror the elements of dark comedy present throughoutThe Decameronas the former’s characters face hardships during a time of war. However,Blackadderis sure to never lose sight of its comedic tone that made the series a success in the first place.
My Lady Jane
My Lady Jane is a Prime Video original series created by Gemma Burgess. The story is a “what if” style story of English royal history where King Henry VIII’s son Edward, Lady Jane Grey, and her husband Guildford all survive their real-life deaths. In the retelling of history, Jane Grey takes center stage, becoming queen and immediately finding herself facing nefarious villains.
Another historical series from 2024 that uses history as the foundation for its fictional story isMy Lady Jane. The fantasy show takes place later thanThe Decameronin the 16th century and follows analtered version of Lady Jane Grey’s life. Jane is famous for her nine-day reign, butMy Lady Janeposes the question of what would happen had she been declared innocent of treason and lived.
My Lady Jane’s fantasy component of shape-shifting creatures is missing fromThe Decameron, but both series share entertaining mysteries and character relationships. Just as the characters inThe Decameronare divided by class, those inMy Lady Janeare divided by their ability to transform into animals —Ethians and Verities. Each series has the same number of episodes and awaits news of a follow-up season, as the shows are easy and absorbing viewings that have audiences waiting for more.
The 25 Best Medieval TV Shows, Ranked
Medieval settings can make for interesting stories whether it’s Viking Europe or Kublai Khan’s Asia. Here are the best medieval TV shows available.
The Great
A drastic departure from the true story, The Great tells the story of Catherine The Great, who went from being an outsider to the most powerful and longest-ruling woman in Russia’s history. But, after assuming the throne from a coup against her husband, she soon discovers enacting her form of liberation of the country will be a challenge - and she’ll have to fight everyone she knows to get it done.
Aptly titledThe Great,the satirical comedy details the life of Catherine the Great with strong performances by Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, and more.Manyperiod TV showshave detailed and visually pleasing sets and costumes andThe Greatis no different. The costuming ofThe Greatearned the series multiple award nominations and wins for its design and detail.
The Great’s writing is modern. However, its relatable, witty, and quick script makes for a highly bingeable series.
However, similar toThe Decameron, Hulu’s comedy series isn’t a substitute for history books. Described as mostly “anti-historical,” there are a few times whenThe Greatdoes align with history, properly setting the scene of the era. An area whereThe Greatdiffers from history is in its dialogue and delivery. LikeThe Decameronand shows similar to it,The Great’s writing is modern. However,its relatable, witty, and quick script makes for a highly bingeable series.
