A storm of egotism and heroism: The Decameron’s finale

Spoiler Alert: This post contains spoilers for the first season of “The Decameron,” now streaming on Netflix.

When the plague isn’t the worst threat

In Netflix’s new series, The Decameron, the Black Plague is merely the backdrop for a more insidious battle. The show, a dark comedy created by Kathleen Jordan, is loosely inspired by Giovanni Boccaccio’s 14th-century short-story collection. It follows a group of wealthy Italian citizens who seek refuge in an isolated villa in Florence to escape the bubonic plague ravaging Europe in the 1340s. However, their sanctuary soon becomes a battleground of egotism, greed, and unexpected heroism.

The final stand

In the gripping finale, the group faces mercenaries determined to force them out into the plague-infested countryside. The once-offish Tindaro (Douggie McMeekin) musters last-minute courage to defend his lover Stratilia (Leila Farzad) and her son, only to be cut down after an impressive display of swordsmanship. Panfilo (Karan Gill), grief-stricken over the loss of his fiancé Neifile (Lou Gala), uses her body as a shield to deter the intruders, only to be turned into a pincushion of arrows. Sirisco (Tony Hale) and his new peasant friends also suffer casualties, and the mercenaries’ one-eyed leader meets a grim end.

The most shocking death

Yet, the most shocking death occurs in a quieter scene in the wine cellar. Misia (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), the devoted servant of Pampinea (Zosia Mamet), has endured her boss’s selfishness all season. Pampinea, who came to the villa to marry its lord only to find he had died of the plague, has consistently undermined the group for her own interests. In a desperate attempt to reclaim the villa, she brings the mercenaries to their doorstep.

Recognizing that her mistress will never change, Misia lures Pampinea to the cellar and convinces her to hide in an empty barrel. After sealing her in, Misia sets the barrel and the cellar on fire, severing the toxic ties of her servitude.

A complex relationship

The writers’ room debated Misia’s drastic action extensively. They called it “barreling Pampinea” and questioned whether Misia could actually go through with it. Ultimately, they decided that Misia couldn’t be free until she was free of Pampinea, who was like a succubus.

Mamet and Jackson didn’t learn about Pampinea’s fate until midway through production. They discussed the complex relationship between Misia and Pampinea, noting that despite the toxicity, there was a modicum of love. They had likely been in each other’s lives since they were young, making their relationship the most consistent one they had.

Murder or mercy?

The question remains: Was it murder or mercy? Pampinea proved immovable even during a global pandemic, but did Misia need to burn her alive to rid herself of her mistress? Jackson believes Misia was devastated by how much Pampinea had taken from her. Misia had killed a potential heir to the villa to protect Pampinea’s claim and discarded her budding romance with Filomena (Jessica Plummer) to remain faithful to her mistress. By the time she takes Pampinea to the cellar, Misia has already made up her mind.

A cleansing moment

Misia’s choice of the wine cellar for her final act is no coincidence. When she and Pampinea first arrived at the villa, Misia smuggled her plague-infected girlfriend hidden in a barrel into this very cellar, only for her to succumb to the sickness. The fiery end for Pampinea can be seen as a cleansing moment for Misia, who sings a song with her boss as she entombs her, before literally setting fire to what ails her.

A new beginning

Misia’s motives are not as clear-cut as either murder or mercy. Jackson notes that Misia’s singing as she walks up the stairs is significant. She usually sings for others’ benefit, but this time, she sings for herself. The music playing over the fire adds a chilling touch to the scene.

Jordan, Mamet, and Jackson agree that Misia’s actions were driven by a mix of emotions. Mamet suggests that Misia felt the most compassionate thing to do was to kill Pampinea herself, from a place of love, rather than leaving her to the hands of someone else.

The survivors’ fate

The season ends with the survivors gathered in a hollow of ruins and weeds, entertaining each other with hilarious stories to pass the time and avoid thoughts of their grim outlook in the wilderness. Whether they survive the plague remains a mystery. Although “The Decameron” is billed as a limited series, Jordan is open to exploring the survivors’ story further or possibly jumping ahead in time.

“There is a world in which the survivors’ story continues, and there is a world in which we jump to the 1500s, and we are talking about sex, shame, and syphilis in France,” Jordan says. “But it is all up to the metrics and the Powers That Be.”

For more information and to watch the trailer, visit The Decameron.

Keywords: The Decameron, Netflix, Black Plague, dark comedy, Giovanni Boccaccio, Kathleen Jordan, Misia, Pampinea, Tindaro, Panfilo, Stratilia, Sirisco, medieval, limited series, mercenaries, survival, heroism, egotism, greed, toxic relationship, murder, mercy, cleansing moment, survivors.