My Honest Review of Netflix’s Decameron: Why Boccaccio Deserves More Than a “Vanilla” Adaptation

Watching Netflix’s Decameron, I couldn’t help but reflect on how powerful, complex, and timeless the original work truly is—and how difficult it is to translate its spirit authentically for a modern audience.

Before discussing the series itself, it feels necessary to step back and revisit the author behind it all: Giovanni Boccaccio, and the cultural moment that gave birth to one of the most important works in European literature.

The Mastermind, Giovanni Boccaccio

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Giovanni Boccaccio and the True Spirit of the Decameron

Written in the 14th century, Decameron was conceived during a time of profound crisis. Europe was ravaged by the Black Death, social structures were shifting, and the contrast between public morality and private life was stark.

The Decameron is far more than a collection of entertaining stories.

It is ironic, provocative, and deeply human.

Through wit and realism, Boccaccio explores desire, intelligence, fear, fortune, hypocrisy, and survival. He portrays humanity not as it should be, but as it truly is—often flawed, contradictory, and fascinatingly alive. What makes the work remarkable is its courage: even by today’s standards, many of its themes remain bold and unsettling.

For this reason, I genuinely encourage readers to experience the original text before—or alongside—any screen adaptation. Reading Boccaccio offers a depth and nuance that no simplified retelling can fully replicate.

I strongly suggest reading the real Decameron, which you can find here: https://amzn.to/4qRWOqA

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The Netflix Series: Pleasant and Entertaining, Yet Tamed

Now, to the Netflix adaptation, Decameron.

Overall, the series is visually appealing and easy to watch. It has a light tone, moments of humor, and an accessible rhythm that makes it enjoyable on a surface level. However, in my view, it does not fully capture the authentic spirit of Boccaccio’s work.

The original Decameron is sharp, irreverent, and often uncomfortable. The series, by contrast, feels softened—almost “vanilla”—in comparison to the true boldness of the source material. The edges are smoothed, the provocations diluted, and the result is something pleasant but far less memorable.

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A Misaligned Musical Choice

One of the elements that disappointed me most was the musical direction.

Music plays a crucial role in shaping emotional and psychological atmosphere, especially in a story rooted in turmoil, desire, and moral tension. In this case, the soundtrack felt disconnected from the sensations I expected to experience. Rather than enhancing the narrative, it often seemed randomly placed, pulling me out of the historical and emotional context instead of drawing me deeper into it.

For a work as layered as the Decameron, the music should echo unease, irony, and intensity. Unfortunately, this opportunity felt largely missed.

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Characters That Feel Too Americanized

Another aspect that weakened the adaptation was the characterization.

Many of the characters appear overly modern, filtered through a contemporary American sensibility. In doing so, they lose the emotional intensity, moral conflict, and romantic fervor that defined people of that era. This “Americanization” flattens the psychological depth of the characters and distances them from the cultural roots of the original text.

The result is a story that feels lighter and more familiar—but also less powerful.

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A Missed Opportunity with Immense Potential

This is particularly unfortunate because the Decameron offers extraordinary potential for a truly profound adaptation.

At its core, it is a story about humanity confronting crisis, isolation, fear, and desire—topics that remain painfully relevant today. With a deeper commitment to its philosophical and emotional layers, the series could have explored themes of survival, morality, and human contradiction in a way that resonates strongly with contemporary audiences.

Boccaccio had already understood these dynamics centuries ago. There is so much more that could still be said.

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The Most Positive Outcome: Renewed Attention

That said, there is one aspect I genuinely appreciated.

People are talking about Boccaccio again.

If this series sparks curiosity, leads viewers to pick up the original text, or encourages renewed interest in classical literature, then it has served an important purpose. Boccaccio is not merely a historical author; he is a cornerstone of cultural history, and his work deserves to be read, studied, and understood.

From history, we always learn—if we are willing to listen.

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Final Thoughts

Netflix’s Decameron is a pleasant and accessible adaptation, suitable as an introduction. But the true richness of the work lives on the page, not the screen.

For those who wish to experience the Decameron in its full depth, reading Boccaccio remains essential. The series may open the door, but the original work is where the journey truly begins.

Please let me know what you think about….

Ciao

Veronica

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