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'The Decameron' Episode 4 Takeaway: Why Licisca's well-kept secret can no longer be protected

Licisca is Filomena's servant who pretends to be Filomena until the latter is attacked by Ruggiero

Contains spoilers for 'The Decameron'

FLORENCE, ITALY: 'The Decameron' premiered on Netflix on July 25, 2024. The cheeky dark comedy is about a bunch of privileged individuals who find themselves together in a Villa away from the infected city. 

By the time the series reaches the fourth episode, many lies and secrets are brewing under the surface as they try to live and tolerate each other but an instance in the fourth episode prompts those lies to come to the fore. 

Licisca (Tanya Reynolds) is a servant of Filomena (Jessica Plummer) who pretends to be Filomena in the Villa until she returns and confronts Lisisca. They reach an agreement and continue the facade but a celebration brings hidden secrets to the fore. 

Why did Licisca pretend to be Filomena in 'The Decameron'? 

Licisca wouldn't be welcome in the Villa without Filomena as she is a commoner and the show is a satire that shows how the rich and privileged find their way to survive even a pandemic. 

Licisca in a moment of impulse throws Filomena while they are on their way to the Villa but if she needs to be on the Villa, she will need to disguise herself as Filomena to be one of the privileged people.

Licisca has always lived an underprivileged life and this gives her a chance at being one of the privileged few and even getting the attention of the most eligible man Dioneo (Amar Chadha-Patel). Dioneo himself is keeping his secrets as he is secretly poisoning Tindaro (Douggie McMeekin).

She continues to live as Filomena but she finally has to confess when a moment of celebration goes out of control. 

Licisca confesses when a drunk moment of celebration goes wrong

Ruggiero (Fares Fares) takes the entire group to Leonardo's (Davy Eduard King) parlor where they continue partying, and all of them are drunk when Misia (Saoirse-Monica Jackson) curses Ruggiero who in turn decides to show his authority by taking his anger out on Filomena. 

Licisca might be a flawed individual but her character has always been loyal to the family and she would never let anything happen to Filomena on her watch. It has been well established that she was even there for Filomena's father in their last moments. She finally confesses leading to a string of confessions coming out. 

Her confession is brave and proves her goodness as she could have put her life in danger as an enraged Ruggiero looked for an excuse to take out his anger on someone. With Filomena being Leonardo's cousin, she becomes family to Ruggiero, and that saves Licisca's life in a way redeeming her for the earlier harm she had caused Filomena. 

'The Decameron' is streaming on Netflix