Netflix's latest new medieval drama promises laughs and 'wine soaked romps' - but just how similar is it to smash hit Bridgerton?Starring Sex Education's Tanya Reynolds, The Decameron is loosely inspired by the short story collection of the same name by Giovanni Boccaccio.
Set in 1348, it follows a group of noblemen and their servants as they shack up in the Italian countryside. But this is by no means a holiday - it's a futile attempt to avoid the black plague.
And while Bridgerton recently confirmed Benedict Bridgerton would be at the centre of season four, it's likely fans will have a while to wait until to see how his love story pans out. Could The Decameron fill that Ton-shaped gap in our lives?
With The Decameron dropping on Thursday (July 25), we take a look at the differences and similarities between the Netflix series.
The series are set 400 years apart
While both Bridgerton and The Decameron are period dramas, they're actually set some 400 years apart. Bridgerton is set in London's Regency era, with the events unfolding between 1813 and 1827. Meanwhile The Decameron is set in the 1300s, swapping England's capital for the Italian countryside.
Social commentary
Bridgerton explores the themes of class, gender roles and societal expectations, especially aristocratic life and the marriage market. The rigid social structures of the Regency period are often criticised.
Similarly, The Decameron is a satirical take on the morals and behaviours of different social classes, also poking fun at vices and societal issues.
Strong female characters
Both series are fronted by strong female leads. Reynolds leads The Decameron as the witty and unpredictable servant Licisca who decides to 'let loose', while Zosia Mamet is soon-to-be lady of the villa Pampinea, who is 'full of hope and absolutely lacking in self-awareness.'
Pampinea, who will soon be the lady of the villa, is described as "full of hope and absolutely lacking in self-awareness". Actress and musician Zosia Mamet. The Decameron's source material features women intelligent women with agency, who often outsmart the men around them.
Their genres DO differ
Bridgerton combines drama, romance and the occasional sprinkling of comedy to create the ultimate rosy escapism. Sound tracked by classic covers of modern music, it offers a fresh take on the period drama genre.
Meanwhile The Decameron is a dark comedy, appearing more melodramatic and blending tragedy, moral lessons and laughs. It's less escapism, but more of a humorous reflection on human nature and societal norms of the 1300s.
Steamy scenes
Bridgerton ramped up its intensity with season three - who can forget that carriage scene!? Having been described as 'Love Island but back in the day,' The Decameron won't be skimping on saucy moments either, with promises of 'wine soaked romps'.
Reynolds admitted to The News Movement that it was 'very different' to film The Decameron's sex scenes, where her character Licisca has sex with a man. In Sex Education, for the first three seasons, she played Lily Iglehart, the alien-obsessed girlfriend of Ola Nyman - and all of her scenes were shot with Ola actress Trish Allison.
The Decameron is available to watch on Netflix from Thursday July 25.
