Zosia Mamet steals the show in Netflix's otherwise skippable The Decameron

The Decameron made its premiere on Netflix on Thursday, July 25, and while it's based on short stories by Giovanni Boccaccio from the 14th century that some might have read, the series hasn't really been pushed by the streamer as a tentpole summer release. It's odd considering two of its stars are big names in comedy: Veep Emmy winner Tony Hale and Girls star Zosia Mamet.

In the series, which takes place in 1348 as the Black Plague invades Florence, Italy, a group of nobles and their trusted servants hunker down from the pandemic at Villa Santa in the countryside. A strong combination of wine, sex, and power dynamics quickly sends the villa into chaos and disorder, leading to another fight for survival completely separate from the illness threatening their lives.

Simply because it's a period piece that's also a dark comedy, the series already won't be for every viewer. Sometimes, these kinds of stories and this particular genre can be a tough sell, and The Decameron isn't going to change that fact at all. To help prospective viewers decide if they should watch or skip the new show, we're sharing spoiler-free pros and cons and our overall consensus!

Watch The Decameron if...

Obviously, the biggest selling point of the series is its cast. Tony Hale and Zosia Mamet are quite the double-bill draw, but it doesn't even stop there. Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Sex Education vet Tanya Reynolds are also two of the show's best performances, stealing every scene they're in. But it's Mamet that personally delivers the performance that's worth watching.

Admittedly, I'm a huge fan of Girls and loved Mamet's often underrated portrayal of late bloomer turned toxic friend group expat Shoshanna Shapiro. Nepotism allegations neither here nor there, Mamet has a comedic timing and voice that brings a script to life. She does that again in The Decameron with her unserious character Pampinea, who has definite shades of Shosh.

If you're a fan of Mamet, you will likely enjoy the moments she's on screen most. Same for Hale, who does some of his quirkiest live-action comedy work since maybe reprising Buster Bluth in Arrested Development's Netflix seasons. As a whole, the show kind of feels like House of the Dragon (minus the dragons) if it were The Boys (loud and crass). Does that sound like your thing? Then watch!

Skip The Decameron if...

Aside from loving Mamet's character work and uniquely modern reading of a period character, I would personally deem The Decameron a skip. It's hard to imagine that a mainstream audience will come together and equally adore a show that's so niche and specific taste-wise. It's more like Drunk History than it is a universally palatable spoof of the medieval times.

Oftentimes, the show finds itself tonally disjointed, reaching for actual emotion when much of the situations and characters are just short of silly. The sense of humor won't impress viewers looking for true laughs and the twists likely aren't shocking enough to win over the Game of Thrones crowd. It just lives somewhere in the middle, and that's not the best case for a must-watch.

The consensus: Overall, anyone in search of a binge-watch free of profanity, sexual situations, some nudity, and a fair amount of graphic violence won't find that in Netflix's The Decameron. While there are some solid performances and laughs to be found in the valiant attempt at a medieval satire, it's not a crowd pleaser. Give it a watch if any of the above descriptions piqued your interest, but otherwise, skip The Decameron and watch Zosia Mamet in Girls instead.

Watch The Decameron only on Netflix.