The climactic finale of "The Decameron" unfolds as ruthless mercenaries lay siege to the gates, their eyes fixed on claiming Villa Santa as their own. Yet, our eclectic crew of eccentric guests refuse to surrender without a valiant struggle. As they steel themselves for the impending clash with the mercenaries amassed outside, Tindaro thrives in his natural habitat, assuming command and reliving the epic battles he's pored over in his historical tomes. Suddenly, a knock echoes through the villa, and every weapon is drawn, only to reveal Licisca, returning from a failed escape attempt, her path thwarted by the rogue soldiers.
Determined to find another way out, she sets her sights on Leonardo's infamous "whore door," but Filomena's plea for reconciliation and a chance at sisterhood falls on deaf ears. Amidst the tension, Licisca's escape seems imminent until more soldiers materialize, forcing her retreat back into the villa's confines.
The mercenaries' leader, Eric, arrives in tow with Pampinea, who had vainly attempted to bribe them into fleeing with her dowry. Her scheme crumbles as they greedily pocket her money, declare the villa theirs, and prepare to do battle with the guests regardless. Tindaro's courage swells as the conflict intensifies, and he charges at Eric with his sword, only to be met with a treacherous stab to the gut. In retaliation, Eric's brutal slaying of the villa's gatekeeper enrages Panfilo, who retaliates with a fierce thrust, piercing Eric's eye and ending his life.
As attention shifts to tending to Tindaro's wounds, Filomena realizes that Misia has returned Pampinea's dowry, sparking a heated debate about Misia's perpetual entanglement with Pampinea's manipulative influence. Desperate, the group attempts to negotiate with the mercenaries, offering them the remnants of Pampinea's dowry (the portions she hadn't yet devoured!), but their offer falls short, and arrows rain down upon them through the shattered windows, painting the villa's interior with a grim portrait of impending doom.
As the realization dawned that they were vastly outnumbered, and the soldiers' inevitable invasion of the villa was merely a matter of moments, everyone scrambled to seek refuge in the lower levels. Yet, amidst the chaos, Filomena became disconnected from the group, her fate soon intertwined with that of a menacing soldier who spotted her, intent on ending her life.
Licisca, her heart heavy with the love for her half-sister, heard Filomena's anguished screams piercing the air. Despite a clear path of escape through an open door, her loyalty and affection overpowered all else. Without hesitation, she hurled herself into action, shoving the soldier down the stairs, his life extinguished in an instant of bravery.
Meanwhile, Panfilo's mind reeled with a twisted pleasure, the imminent danger a welcome respite from the depths of his grief over Neifile. Licisca, captivated by this newfound rebellious streak in him, found themselves drawn to each other in a fiery embrace, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. But the moment was fleeting as Panfilo reluctantly confessed the impossibility of their union, bound as he was by the chains of marriage—and a truth even deeper, his true nature as a man who loved men.
As desperation set in, with each second ticking closer to their doom, Misia's thoughts were consumed not by escape but by the urgent need to break free from Pampinea's enchantment. She knew that only Pampinea's death could sever the invisible ties that bound them. So, she feigned loyalty, luring Pampinea into a barrel in the cellar—a fateful replay of how her lost love had once entered the villa—but with a sinister twist. Misia sealed the barrel shut, placing Pampinea's flammable hat atop it like a funeral pyre, and ignited the fuse, turning the cellar into an inferno, trapping Pampinea in a fiery tomb.
Gathered in the kitchen, the group strategized their escape, with Panfilo volunteering to be the decoy, drawing the mercenaries' attention while the rest sought safety beyond the villa's walls. Amidst these tense preparations, Tindaro's life ebbed away, his final act a poignant bequest of jewels to Stratilia and Jacopo, coupled with a heartfelt question about the possibility of finding fatherly love in their hearts. Jacopo, tears in his eyes, vowed that Tindaro would always hold that place in his heart, even as the soldier's life was cut short while valiantly shielding Jacopo from harm.
Realizing the villa's exit was barred except through desperate means, Panfilo embarked on a heroic quest, retrieving the lifeless, plague-ridden form of Neifile. Keenly aware of the mercenaries' abject fear of the pestilence, he utilized her as a macabre shield, terrorizing them while his companions seized the moment to flee through the main gate. In a selfless act that sealed his fate, Panfilo, clutching his beloved wife's remains, fell victim to a rain of arrows, sacrificing his life to safeguard his friends.
In the wake of this tragedy, the remnants of Villa Santa dwindled to a mere handful: Sirisco, Licisca, Filomena, Misia, Stratilia, and Jacopo, who clung desperately to life amidst the chaos. A few of Sirisco's fellow villagers, though surviving the ordeal, harbored resentment for leading them into danger, ultimately causing the loss of their leader. Thus, they parted ways, seeking solace in solitude after escaping the mercenaries' clutches.
Their refuge became the same cave where Licisca and Filomena had sought shelter days prior, where they exchanged weary glances and sought fleeting respite, the weight of recent events pressing heavily upon their shoulders. However, the series' culminating scene painted a stark contrast, showcasing the six survivors amidst a verdant, inviting corner of the forest, their faces etched with smiles as they exchanged tales and laughter, finding solace in each other's company amidst the ruins.
Recalling Stratilia's revelation in episode seven, where Leonardo's intention to bequeath all his possessions to Jacopo was divulged, it seemed Jacopo was destined to inherit the villa. Yet, his hasty departure with his mother and the surviving group left the villa in the iron grip of the mercenaries, ensuring that none of the characters residing within its walls during the series' narrative ultimately laid claim to it.
