Hey,
https://github.com/palantir/conjure-python-client/blob/develop/conjure_python_client/_serde/decoder.py#L50
if the field is missing from the object in the line above instead of throwing exceptions, we call check_null_field which in turn just creates an {} for the field instead of throwing an error.
I could not figure out how optional fields are meant to work here so did not PR but to me it sounds like if it anything but an optional we should throw an exception.
Will PR a fix that i think will work but not sure.