The Decameron is a medieval black comedy series created by Kathleen Jordan. Based on the 14th-century Italian short-story collection of the same name by author Giovanni Boccaccio, the Netflix series is set in 1348, when the Black Death was destroying Florence. It follows the story of a few nobles who lock themselves away with servants in a countryside villa. In the beginning, everything goes swimmingly but soon something turns their retreat into a fight for survival. The Decameron stars Zosia Mamet, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Tanya Reynolds, Amar Chadha-Patel, Leila Farzad, Lou Gala, Karan Gill, Tony Hale, Douggie McMeekin, and Jessica Plummer. So, if you love the wild comedy and historic setting in The Decameron, here are some similar shows you could watch next.
The Great (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video)
The Great is a historical dark comedy-drama series created by Tony McNamara. The Hulu series follows the story of a young Catherine as she marries Emperor Peter III of Russia, a cruel and dangerous man. Catherine quickly adapts to her wildly different life and plots to get to the top. The Great stars Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult in the lead roles with Phoebe Fox, Sacha Dhawan, Charity Wakefield, Gwilym Lee, Adam Godley, Douglas Hodge, Belinda Bromilow, Bayo Gbadamosi, Sebastian de Souza, Florence Keith-Roach, and Danusia Samal starring in supporting roles.
Harlots (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video)
Harlots is a period drama series created by Alison Newman and Moira Buffini. Based on The Covent Garden Ladies by British historian Hallie Rubenhold, the Hulu series is set in the 1760s and it follows the story of a brothel owner, Margaret Wells as she decides to expand her business to rich clientele in Soho, London which puts her in direct conflict with a rival madame Lydia, who is Margaret’s ex-boss. Harlots stars Samantha Morton in the lead role with Lesley Manville, Jessica Brown Findlay, Eloise Smyth, Dorothy Atkinson, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Kate Fleetwood, Holli Dempsey, Douggie McMeekin, Edward Hogg, Richard McCabe, Danny Sapani, and Hugh Skinner starring in the supporting roles.
Mary & George (Starz & Prime Video Add-On)
Mary & George is a historical drama series created by D.C. Moore. Based on the 2017 non-fiction book titled The King’s Assassin by author Benjamin Woolley, the Starz series follows the story of Mary, the Countess of Buckingham, who raised her son to seduce King James I to make her family richer and more influential than England had ever seen. Mary & George stars Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine in the lead role with Tony Curran, Laurie Davidson, Sean Gilder, Mark O’Halloran, Pearl Chanda, Trine Dyrholm, Simon Russell Beale, Niamh Algar, Adrian Rawlins, Samuel Blenkin, Nicola Walker, Kate Fleetwood, Mirren Mack, Unax Ugalde, and Joseph Mawle starring in supporting roles.
Crossing Swords (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video)
Crossing Swords is an adult animated dark comedy series created by John Harvatine IV and Tom Root. The Hulu series follows the story of Patrick, a well-meaning peasant who becomes a Knight at the royal castle. His dream job quickly becomes a nightmare, when he learns that the people at the top are just a bunch of horny idiots who have no idea what they are doing. Crossing Swords’ voice cast includes Nicholas Hoult in the lead role with Luke Evans, Alanna Ubach, Adam Pally, Tara Strong, Tony Hale, Adam Ray, Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, and Wendi McLendon-Covey starring in supporting roles.
The Borgias (Paramount+ & Rent on Prime Video)
The Borgias is a historical drama series created by Neil Jordan. The Showtime series is set in Renaissance-era Italy and it follows the story of Borgia family patriarch Rodrigo Borgia, who dreams of ruling Italy by becoming the pope. He marries his two sons to the girls of rival families and works his way up by any means necessary. The Borgias stars Jeremy Irons, François Arnaud, Holliday Grainger, Joanne Whalley, Lotte Verbeek, David Oakes, Sean Harris, Colm Feore, Gina McKee, Ronan Vibert, and Edward Akrout.
Succession (Max & Rent on Prime Video)
Succession is a dark comedy-drama series created by Jesse Armstrong. The HBO series follows the Roy family, who control the global media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo. As the patriarch of the family Logan Roy comes close to retirement, his four children backstab and plot to get to the CEO position but their childhood trauma and self-destructive tendencies always get in the way. Succession stars Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Brian Cox, Nicholas Braun, Matthew Macfadyen, Alan Ruck, J. Smith-Cameron, Alexander Skarsgård, Justin Lupe, Hiam Abbass, Arian Moayed, Peter Friedman, and David Rasche starring in supporting roles.
Blackadder (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video)
Blackadder is a classic British comedy series created by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson. The BBC1 series follows the story of Edmund Blackadder, an immoral dim-witted prince as he plots to take the throne from his father Richard IV, but because of his stupidity his plans don’t work out. Blackadder stars Atkinson in the lead role with Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Tim McInnerny, Miranda Richardson, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Rik Mayall, Helen Atkinson-Wood, Patsy Byrne, and Gabrielle Glaister starring in supporting roles.
