Marco Polo is such an entertaining and underrated show, the only thing I'm mad at is it took as long as it did for me to watch it. You can tell they put a lot of money into this show by the sheer scale of it. Although Season one was really good it really takes off on season two. It almost feels like a different show in season two. This was one of Netflix's first big shows when Netflix was first taking off. Is it historically accurate? No...but who cares? It doesn't claim to be. It's just an entertaining show that's very well done! They canceled it too early but I read that it was so ridiculously expensive to make that they didn't have a choice. Still, glad we got two amazing seasons out of it.
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Rob133129 September 2022
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anupamguleria-5489812 August 2017It is indeed a shame that Netflix had to cancel probably the only the historical showpiece it had in its kitty. A showpiece, so much so that it is almost a masterpiece.
I am not sure why people here or elsewhere think that this show should not be classified as history genre. Specially when it is an agreed fact amongst historians that even the works of actual Marco Polo could have been closer to fiction than the actual truth. Mind you, this is an Empire(which was the world's largest land empire till the British empire in 1920) from history which has not been touched at all by movie or television. All this is while things like the Roman Empire, WW2 have been beaten up like a dead war horse.
With the sheer amount of work that simply went into researching, design, direction and then putting all that together in editing so it all fits beautifully together - it is indeed a shame that this had to end at Season 2. -
Supermanfan-1327 July 2020Marco Polo not only met my expectations but exceeded them in every way. It was only on for two seasons but they were a great two seasons. This has to be one of Netflix's most underrated shows ever. I don't know anyone who's seen it that didn't like it. Lorenzo Richelmy is absolutely perfect for this role and does such a terrific job as the lead and Benedict Wong leads a fantastic supporting cast. I'm actually mad at myself for putting it off for as long as I did. If you're a fan of historical action adventure thrillers like myself and you haven't watched this yet then do yourself a favor and go watch it as soon as possible. You won't be disappointed. Just make sure you leave yourself enough time because you're going to want to binge it as fast as you can.
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danielkanemusic8 March 2020What can I say... Netflix really messed up cancelling this show.
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danielwmackey8 February 2020This show was awesome. Benedict Wong was incredible as Khan, a true antihero you hate to love. There was a deep relationship dynamic to the show with then tension between Khan and Polo. Then of course you have the warfare, great combat and martial arts, and a strong core plot engine to the show in the palace intrigue. This show could have gone on for at least two more seasons. And don't forget the concubines. My goodness.
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mikialama14 December 2014I am appalled at the ignorance of some of the things posted in the boards of this show. I think it's pretty outstanding! The casting is excellent, the attention to history in detail of costumes and culture is awesome and I rather like the fact that Marco Polo himself is more of an observer than a main character...the Mongols, especially Kublai Khan, stealing every single scene! People have bemoaned the "stiffness" of the actors; I can only chalk that up to very little exposure to Asian culture, film or acting! Watch some classic Asian made films and you'll see the acting in this offering is very true to form. As for casting of Chinese as Mongols when they are two very distinctly different ethnic groups,the make-up did a very credible job transforming them into believable Mongols...who are much darker in skin than Chinese, have higher cheekbones, broader faces and a more pronounced slant to the eyes than Chinese as well. The choice to have each group speak in English was a wise business decision. The biggest audience for this is Americans who don't exactly have much patience with subtitles. There was a nice combination of native languages spoken either in the background or as asides that gave one a good flavor of the languages. The attention to detail in costuming was really, really good. And for those worried about historical accuracy...there are almost 150 different editions or versions of The Travels of Marco Polo which is the travelogue "written" (actually spoken to a scribe) by Polo himself. They all have great flights of fantasy and magic and extremely improbable events in them so much so that some scholars have wondered if Polo had ever really been to all the places he claimed to visit, so a few inaccuracies ( like everyone speaking in English) is actually right in line with Polo's original work and actually might have been something the author himself might have appreciated. In short, stop looking for production and script flaws, stop displaying such ignorance about Asian cultures and just sit back and enjoy a darn good-adventure film!
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codamax112 December 2021If anything to give it a proper ending. I thought this was a well done series and I would continue watching it. The actors were outstanding the plots good the action sufficient.
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blood_angel_xephia4 September 2016Marco Polo, season one, is beautiful. It's visually stunning. It has a very interesting (although perhaps not compelling) story and some excellent acting (especially by Benedict Wong). But it's lacking. Season one is good - but just good. It's not great.
Despite the obvious lack of actual Mongolian actors, it's pretty well cast. Most of the actors are good - some very, very good - despite no one really getting a whole lot of development. Khan Kublai is by far the most interesting character - but is perhaps the *only* interesting character in season one. This is season one's downfall. The characters are forgettable. There's little to no screen time dedicated to getting to know them. They're just faces and names (and often clichés) that forward the story.
Season one does not deserve the 8.1 IMDb rating.
A few episodes into season two, things start to change. The show takes on the advice of all the bad reviews and low critic scores. They start to flesh out the characters, to help you understand their motivations and relations. Cliche's fall away and characters become themselves, and - although many of them are cruel and vindictive - it's much easier to relate to and understand them, and even care about them.
As well as this, they also rely less on unnecessary harem scenes to fill out the episodes, and ditch some of the eyerolling racist stereotypes seen in season one. Marco himself becomes (a little) less distractedly boring, the pace of the show improves, and in general it becomes rawer, more dramatic, and much more 'show don't tell'.
There's still a weird mashup of Asian, Australian, American and European accents, but it's not too distracting.
In Marco Polo the good guys do bad things and the bad guys are often well intending. It's one of those shows that becomes compelling because of the realistic way the characters are (eventually) handled. And this is why season two is much better than season one.
Season three will be a huge turnaround for the popularity of Marco Polo. Marco Polo is brilliantly diverse, beautiful in setting and production, and tells a story that becomes increasingly more interesting. I believe season three will make this show great.
But right now, as it is, I can only recommend it as 'good'. But I do, absolutely, recommend it. -
muamba_eats_toast16 August 2020Season 1 was perfect and season 2 wasn't far off with the last two episodes in particular being near perfection. It seemed set up so nicely to go from strength to strength in further seasons but alas Netflix decided we deserved no more. Well worth a watch though all the same.
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To start its not historically accurate but it is entertaining. Basically it's a Mongolian Game of Thrones with Marco Polo as the main person. The plot was thoroughly engaging and actors delivered well. It took me an episode or two to truly get invested and adjust but once I did I was looking forward to finishing out the story. Unfortunately I think it tried to rival shows like GoT during their prime and it simply couldn't contend with that type of notoriety. However, if it had been released after GoT I feel it wouldn't have had just a financial loss.
I just finished the final episode to the series and well I want more. The show has a ton of potential still but it has to have netflix supporting it. It's too bad that I usually find hidden gems like this show and find out that they couldn't be fully completed. A simple season or two more would be perfect to wrap up the storyline completely.
Visually it was nice and the Mongolian theme was uniquely interesting whether factual or purely fictional. There was a lot of discretionary drama that you would find in similar shows that helped fueled the entertainment. Honestly just a solid good show probably A- in total production/plotline etc. But well worth the watch. For some I could see that this would be an acquired taste but those that enjoy it will truly enjoy it.
The cons - Seemed to follow the GoT formula which means a lot of unnecessary sex scenes/nudity. However I noticed that it didn't solely rely only on that to make a show (but it was definitely used like earlier GoT seasons).
Last thoughts - Finish out another season or two and be done with it. It's a good show and deserves that, especially given the terrible shows netflix floods with new seasons that simply suck. -
moussaman14 December 2014Marco Polo has most of the components of a great show: An intriguing plot, great cinematography combined with astounding and exotic settings, and complemented by above average choreography and costumes.
I say most, only because of a few bland acting performances scattered scarcely across the show, mostly by the main actor playing Marco Polo. This however, did not affect my enjoyment of the show, since it excels in so many other respects. The show does a good job of not focusing solely on Marco Polo, but also on Kublai Khan, his empire, as well as a very strong antagonist.
Marco Polo is being unjustly panned by critics. It is being unfairly compared to Game of Thrones, which has very little in common with it, which leads me to suspect that these critics haven't watched anything past the trailer. Even if it is not on the same level of Game of Thrones, it should not be completely dismissed, as is being done by critics.
I say give Marco Polo a chance, regardless of what the critics say. Completely dismissing a show because it is not on par with one one of the greatest shows on TV, especially one that demonstrates this high level of film-making, is really unfair.
Marco Polo: 9/10. -
cubeme9 January 2015It is indeed a good remake of 1982 original Marco Polo mini-series. Ken Marshall and Lorenzo Richelmy even look alike. We get to see more sex and maybe a bit more realistic bleeding wounds but the screenplay stays very close to the original version so far. That is great in my opinion, because the story does not need to be revamped. Re-filming with 30 years newer technology however makes this mini-series so much more pleasant to watch on a big screen. It is unfortunate that original locations were not used much, but filming in China is not that easy I would guess. Nonetheless it is overwhelming to relive and see what was on the side of the silk road, what Mongolia and China were, how rich their culture was developed in contrast to the European culture or the Indian tribes on the American continent.
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Eddy Hertens14 December 2014Nice production values, but main characters are lifeless, emotionless automatons. Furthermore, hearing the Asians speak 'American' is initially awkward, then becomes grating and ultimately too much to tolerate. By the end of the third episode I could not stand this fake construct any more and proceeded to watch the 1982 original, which is vastly superior in almost every aspect (except for the CGI, which did not exist then). Comparing this in quality to a gem like the Tudors is in my opinion absurd, bordering on the ridiculous. Another example of Hollywood kitsch , not Art
On the plus side, I really liked the Costumes, Set design, Lighting and Score -
thomas-446-10526814 December 2014I have just finished watching episode 9. So many reviews and people have been hating on this series. Honestly, it is seldom that i watch something for nearly 9 hours straight....and this was one of them.
It all starts very slow, but it captures a beautiful and strange world. Its the story of a Venetian explorer who gets caught up in the power struggles of the Mongol empire.
The problem is that people try to compare it with game of thrones. Its not game of thrones, its a different genre, and it feels unfair to compare the two.
The production value is superb, the acting, while not the greatest, it feels right. A movie doesn't need to be a Shakespearean play with lots of drama, as some seem to think.
Honestly, if this series had been released before game of thrones, it would have had a whole different reception, i really do not understand this mentality of people to compare series with others that are entirely different in setting and even budget.
9/10 Make a choice for yourself and ignore the critics on this one. Just the visuals and the portrayal of a mystical and exotic east through the eyes of a European explorer are reason enough for me to look forward to the next season. I personally do wish to see more adventure instead of politics, as this is about Marco Polo the great adventurer after all! -
vittorio-1321 July 2020This is how you spend 120 million wisely. One of the best tv series. I am sorry I found this series so late. Amazing, the acting, the visual, the spectacle of this show is excellent. Highly recommend it.
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sushilb12 March 2020Please bring back season 3.......its a very good show.. Want to know more about marco polo!
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I was anticipating watching this series as it was being advertised before its release. I was disappointed that the initial reviews called it boring and slow moving while lauding the cinematography. I'm glad I decided to see for myself.
All I can figure is that the critics were disappointed that there weren't Kung Fu or large battles two or three times in every episode. I think in some respects, that has become the expectation on any eastern themed movie nowadays. They also complained about slow plot development, and most tried to draw a comparison to Game of Thrones (which I also enjoy greatly). They miss the mark. Comparing Marco Polo to GOT is an apples and oranges comparison, and still with certain parallels which they failed to note.
GOT is fantasy, where MP is based on historical events. That's not to say MP is documentary; I'm sure that the writers have created fictional plot lines and characters to advance the story. However, many aspects of the storyline, and many of the characters are based on historical fact. The character development is thorough and intricate. These are very deep and nuanced characters. We tend to think of Kublai Khan as some short little cartoon character from the Rocky and Bullwinkle show, and the Mongol Horde as an undisciplined mob of savages. In this series Khan is shown to be a complex and politically and militarily savvy strong leader, and his army to be as powerful and effective as any of the great armies of Europe from the same era. The development of the peripheral characters are equally as complex and nuanced. There is much intrigue in both the Mongol and the Song palaces, enough to hold our interest, and require careful attention to understand. Next to GOT, the characters are much more complex, and far more interesting.
The critics were right about the cinematography. The locations are striking, and it is easy to see that no expense was spared in the making of the series. Their complaint about the dearth of action is unfounded. Every episode has some action. GOT tends to budget for one major event each season (Battle of the Blackwater, The Purple Wedding). In ten episodes of MP, I counted a number of battle scenes using thousands of extras. The show is impressive in its scope, and very enjoyable to watch.
The critics point out the gratuitous sex. Perhaps there is some, but no more than we would expect in any made-for-subscription TV series. I'm not a prude, but I did think that the producers may have pandered somewhat to the viewership in this respect, but while the nudity and sex don't actually add to the story, they don't diminish it either. I can think of several series (Spartacus and Rome come to mind) where gratuitous sex/nudity is much more obvious.
If there is a negative to the show, it is that you need to pay close attention to each episode to follow each plot line. Some of this is because of my own lack of familiarity with eastern culture. Names are difficult to remember and to keep straight, as are the family relationships, the alliances, the conflicts and the interests of the characters. This is not a show you can watch with one eye. To fully appreciate the story, you must be willing to watch with 100 per cent attention, every episode. If you are prepared to make that commitment, you will be rewarded with a rich and rewarding viewing experience. -
Netflix offers us a beautifully produced and visually pleasing historical drama. Although historically inaccurate in some parts, thus making Marco Polo a medieval fantasy of sorts, the drama, war, assassinations and political intrigue and characters are interesting enough to make this worth your time.
However, the series suffers a bit from the wooden acting and stunted dialogue. The actor chosen for the role of Marco Polo is not quiet up to the task. The dialogue in some scenes feels more read from a script than spoken with conviction and emotion.
After watching seven episodes, I feel it is good enough to watch the full season with some interest. Renewing the medieval genre with a Chinese focus is proving a difficult task for Netflix. But with better scripting and improved pacing of the story, Marco Polo may still prove a success.
6/10 ( acting 4/10', story 5/10, production 8/10, visual impact 8/10) -
This show is great and worth watching but it falls short of being a masterpiece due to an anti-climactic inconclusive ending. Probably because it wasn't supposed to end with season 2 but got cancelled prematurely just like netflix does with all of its shows.
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mordwyn-190-81978719 December 2014While the obvious historical inaccuracies and over dramatization can get somewhat tiresome, Marco Polo is no doubt a well crafted show. I found Marco to be one of the lesser characters, he struck me as too cliché and somewhat whiny but being a fan of Benedict Wong, I rather enjoyed his portrayal of Kublai Khan. More intelligent and thoughtful than you would think a Khan, but this just adds necessary depth and appeal to the character, rather than having him a generic brutish barbarian, the real Kublai Khan was a Poet as well as warlord.
I must also applaud the show for it's female characters. It's not easy writing compelling female roles when your show is set in 13th century Asia, a century and locale known for misogyny, Serving girls and silent concubines give way for warrior women, assassins, conspirators and women of the Court, who wield power and consequence as much as any male character. Chin Han as Jai Sidao is fantastic, a brilliant, savvy and scheming antagonist amplified by his unsettling nature and odd hobbies.
The fight scenes I deemed as entirely unnecessary and cringed somewhat every time a fight broke out. While entertaining, well choreographed and visually pleasing, it detracting from the plot and added a sense of confusion and unpredictability to the show. I was convinced that someone would try a lighting quick grab for someone else's eyeball since everyone is so amazingly trained in martial arts, even the once peasant Chancellor Sidao, an interesting addition I must say. I found the Court politics to be only partially engaging, too many faces and names to remember at once without much of an introduction until later in the series.
As I said, it's very dramatized and oddly paced but I did find it enjoyable to watch. -
bliz8213 December 2014Although littered with historical and biographical inaccuracies and exaggerations, Marco Polo has a good quality production and creates an escapist atmosphere of a mythologized past. The acting is average, and the story lines and characters are intriguing. The settings and camera work are great, and rather than solely focusing on Marco Polo the show has many other characters' roles and perspectives. The sense of power struggles is well laid out, although not even close to Game of Thrones level in scope (obviously).
In terms of any comparisons and/ or contrasts of other historical-epic type t.v. shows, I would say those that enjoyed the shows Rome, Spartacus, Vikings, and Shogun would enjoy this show. This show isn't quite as good as those particular shows, but is better than shows like Black Sails, Davinci's Demons, and The Tudors.
Considering it's Netflix first venture into historical-epic/ fantasy type genre, it's really good quality and more signs of great original content on the Netflix horizon.
All in all, I give it an 8. -
Placiddragon16 December 2014I've only seen 5 of the episodes this far, but my take on the series is :
Fantastic scenery, costumes, sets, etc Practically an all Asian cast who all does a good job. A main character, for which the show is named, who is.. if i am being extremely charitable, very mediocre in his acting. As he is the main character, he is literally in half of the scenes..and he pulls the entire show down with him.
As for me watching the second half of the season, instead of rooting for Marco Polo and watching it because of him, i'll be watching it in spite of him.
Which is very unfortunate. -
erh-200-61546031 December 2014Visually stunning and excellent costuming. Having said that, it's really not much more than soft porn wrapped within pseudo-history. Full of mumbling and anachronisms, it was painful for me to watch as a history teacher. Morally, it is not something I could show in a family setting. Typical rendering of our times - pushing an immoral agenda in the guise of history.I don't buy that the sex scenes have to be included. They are NOT included for historical accuracy - they are included to appeal to prurient instincts. If you read the writings of Polo, I think you will get a much different picture than this film portrays. So sad we've reached this point in media entertainment. It could have been a marvelous series.
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HermitRob10 January 2020This was one of the most well produced, well written, well cast, well acted, and incredibly well directed series ever released! It sad that is was just to mature for so many NFX viewers! It the wake of Netflix incredibly bad business choices of late, they need to re-evaluate cancelling the series, and get the band back together! "It was to expensive" blah blah blah! No one wants to hear that! They owe the Marco Polo series at the very least a season 3 to wrap up the first two. They just left us hangin big league! I'm sure they won't because money is the deciding factor for everything I spose, but man I wish they would! We were, and are BIG FANS!!
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findmuzu18 December 2014Cast roles are great. The way Mongolian empire shown in contrast with Chinese is remarkable. Song dynasty and Yuan dynasty clashes with exquisite sets and costumes. Horse riding scenes were breath taking. I recommend this and its must watch especially for those who are into history. Although i found this to be bit short of only 10 episodes, i wished they could have extended more to show the aftermath. I am eager for the next season and i hope they will release it soon. Loved the role of kublai khan and Song chancellor too. Earlier i was skeptical regarding show whether to watch it or not after reading several critics but believe me u should watch it for sure.