Marco Polo (2014)

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Dec 12, 2014
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 499 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 411 out of 499
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 499
  3. Negative: 57 out of 499
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  1. nodesman
    Dec 16, 2014
    10
    I don't know what the critics are looking for really. This is a good show. If they want a mongolian Game of Thrones, then this isn't it. Fine. This is Marco Polo. Game of thrones isn't sufficiently Marco Polo. Your turn Critics. In other words - there is not much of a difference between this and game of thrones.

    Except in this show a lot more things happen in a single episode than does    I don't know what the critics are looking for really. This is a good show. If they want a mongolian Game of Thrones, then this isn't it. Fine. This is Marco Polo. Game of thrones isn't sufficiently Marco Polo. Your turn Critics. In other words - there is not much of a difference between this and game of thrones.

    Except in this show a lot more things happen in a single episode than does in GoT. It is very engaging and has a healthy balance of exciting moments and drama.

    The screen play is very good. It looks freaking expensive. The actors behind Kublai Khan and Hundred Eyes played in incredibly well.

    Some critics complain about the amount of nudity in it. There is no more nudity in this than in any other show that are running strong right now.    … Expand
  2. snorlax634
    Dec 20, 2014
    9
    I thoroughly enjoyed this show. I do agree with other reviewers and feel it needed more action. But all in all to me it was enjoyable, beautiful scenery, and had some impressive performances. Don't pay attention to the "Critics". They were bought and paid for long ago. Pay attention to what the Users think. I highly recommend this show. You will not be disappointed.
  3. normanx
    Dec 18, 2014
    9
    For whatever reason, the critics saw the first episode and wrote off the series... Their loss. This is not your daddy's Richard Chamberlain/Shogun... this is violent, sexy, deviant and filled with peril and wonder. When "Users" ....based on a hundred reviews see it as an 8.2 and critics are at a mere 48... somebody is not doing their job. Watch it. Hate it, or love it... it is a veryFor whatever reason, the critics saw the first episode and wrote off the series... Their loss. This is not your daddy's Richard Chamberlain/Shogun... this is violent, sexy, deviant and filled with peril and wonder. When "Users" ....based on a hundred reviews see it as an 8.2 and critics are at a mere 48... somebody is not doing their job. Watch it. Hate it, or love it... it is a very dynamic series-portrayed in lush film production...… Expand
  4. astralboy79
    Dec 16, 2014
    10
    brilliant...in one sitting watched the first 4 episodes, smooth flow. ignore the critic reviews, its one jem of a show....digging the mongol lifestyle, hot women, tensions and war. Can see its not a cheap show and care has been put into every detail including camera work, costumes, music. i wish for season II.
  5. nick14ch
    Dec 17, 2014
    10
    I had very low expectations after reading critics reviews but after watching the series I have no idea why it got rated so badly. It s true that the pilot isn't great and a bit slow but the show gets better and better. Production and costumes are amazing, the cast is great (although I do agree that the main actor is not charismatic enough) and the plot is gripping. Definitely recommended
  6. Thumbsdown
    Dec 18, 2014
    10
    Great story, fabricated or semi inventive, can't stop watching. Has great Kung Fu, Sex, Bloody battles and lots of Drama. There are many historical facts to this which I truly enjoy, as a history buff. I like the Main character, he plays his role well as do the other actors.
  7. UncleEarl
    Dec 13, 2014
    10
    NOTE: I will mostly mention the few flaws in the show. In truth, the positives of the show more than outweighed the negatives and there just isn't enough room to write about them. Go watch the show.

    First few episodes have some dumb Confucian-type dialogue that the writers probably thought would help highlight the eastern setting but it kind of falls flat. The dialogue gets better    NOTE: I will mostly mention the few flaws in the show. In truth, the positives of the show more than outweighed the negatives and there just isn't enough room to write about them. Go watch the show.

    First few episodes have some dumb Confucian-type dialogue that the writers probably thought would help highlight the eastern setting but it kind of falls flat. The dialogue gets better around the third episode or so and the exposition gives way to the quick pace the rest of the season enjoys.

    There are a lot of exciting and outrageous fight scenes all throughout the show and they're really captivating. Critics have complained about these scenes. "This woman fights 3 guys by herself while she's naked! This is so sexist! The writers and directors are pigs!" You're missing the whole point. The fights are stylistic and fantastical as a nod to the choreography that eastern films are legendary for. One woman fights naked because she lulled the men trying to screw her into a false sense of security and then she pounced while they didn't expect it. This is practical, not sexist or whatever you want to label it.

    I don't even have to mention the cinematography, atmosphere, music, set design. It's all impeccable and money well spent.

    Aside from the dialogue issues that don't reappear after the first 2 episodes, My only other gripe is how illogically loyal and naive the character Marco Polo is. It's a shame we don't see him crush his foes when he has a chance. He tries to make everyone happy, and we all know you can't please everyone all the time. But still, the rest of the characters are ruthless enough for him. They dictate the pace of the plot, not Marco, which would seem fitting since this is their home court, not his. Overall, this show was a wonderful experience and the low critical reviews say a lot about the authority of critics who weren't able to accurately appraise the program.

    10/10 binge-watched this in one night instead of writing my final paper    … Expand
  8. kamiyamaninja1
    Dec 18, 2014
    10
    this was a very interesting and exciting series.
    I was extremely pleased with the story and quality of acting.
    Beautiful people and awesome sets.. at times breath taking.
    More shows should be made like this..
    The kung fu master was awesome and really added to the story line.. very smart adding this to the plot..
  9. hydrologi
    Dec 18, 2014
    9
    I disagree with the critics, and I hope other viewers ignore them. The show is thoroughly enjoyable. Just don't expect a show focusing on Marco Polo's adventures. This is about Kublai Khan, his court, and his rivalry with Jia Sidao.

    Landscapes are breathtaking, fight scenes are spectacular (particularly season finale). Marco isn't a main character that you would expect from this genre    I disagree with the critics, and I hope other viewers ignore them. The show is thoroughly enjoyable. Just don't expect a show focusing on Marco Polo's adventures. This is about Kublai Khan, his court, and his rivalry with Jia Sidao.

    Landscapes are breathtaking, fight scenes are spectacular (particularly season finale). Marco isn't a main character that you would expect from this genre (e.g. Tyrion, Spartacus, etc). He is just along for the ride and do what he's told. But the other characters, Kublai, Hundred Eyes, Lady Chabi etc. are interesting and played wonderfully. Can't wait for season 2. Hopefully the producers aren't discouraged by the wisearse critics and will keep making this wonderful show.    … Expand
  10. ralphrepo
    Dec 18, 2014
    9
    Compared to GOT in its entirety? No. But when stacked against just GOT season 1? Yes, it holds its own. Polo has a lot pulling for it too, given the semi-historical and non-fantasy setting. Also, it showcases the able language and acting ability of Asian talent in what is arguably a fully English speaking production, without subtitles nor stilted "Fu Manchu" accents. In essence, probablyCompared to GOT in its entirety? No. But when stacked against just GOT season 1? Yes, it holds its own. Polo has a lot pulling for it too, given the semi-historical and non-fantasy setting. Also, it showcases the able language and acting ability of Asian talent in what is arguably a fully English speaking production, without subtitles nor stilted "Fu Manchu" accents. In essence, probably the first western made epic in which the central Chinese figure isn't portrayed by a white actor dressed in Asian wardrobe. Nicely done!… Expand
  11. lizardrath
    Dec 13, 2014
    10
    I spend weeks sometimes looking for interesting, mature and sophisticated shows and Marco Polo is all that! This is the first review I have ever written and it is in response to the unbelievable bad "critics" review of this epic series. Beautiful scenes, well thought out dialogue and plots...yeah, Game of Thrones is good (but doesn't quite live up to the books - too fast paced and lostI spend weeks sometimes looking for interesting, mature and sophisticated shows and Marco Polo is all that! This is the first review I have ever written and it is in response to the unbelievable bad "critics" review of this epic series. Beautiful scenes, well thought out dialogue and plots...yeah, Game of Thrones is good (but doesn't quite live up to the books - too fast paced and lost important details!). Marco Polo is a clear winner! With all the immature, unbelievable shows on TV, you think critics could see a good thing if right in front of their face! Makes me wonder if there is a little politics going on here between traditional TV and online...… Expand
  12. ssmater
    Dec 13, 2014
    10
    I am surprised how negative some of the critics reviews are. On of them wrote "..undermined by ponderously self-important writing". Well yes, it is self-important, it's supposed to be self-important. This is a movie about the Great Khan, the Khan of Khans, the Ruler of the Silk Road and the World, whose name terrified people from Central Europe to Chinese Coast. If you don't the get powerI am surprised how negative some of the critics reviews are. On of them wrote "..undermined by ponderously self-important writing". Well yes, it is self-important, it's supposed to be self-important. This is a movie about the Great Khan, the Khan of Khans, the Ruler of the Silk Road and the World, whose name terrified people from Central Europe to Chinese Coast. If you don't the get power of the Mongols and the fear they created in the civilized World, this is not a show for you. I also noticed that this movie feels like a very smooth mixture of Eastern and Western cinema.… Expand
  13. RenanAAlmeida
    Dec 13, 2014
    9
    Critics need to relax a little bit. The show isn't nearly as bad as they're making it sound like. Beautifully shot and directed. The writing could be better? Yes. But that doesn't mean it's terrible, it just need improvement. Just because you don't see familiar faces everywhere like you expect in big american productions doesn't mean the show is bad. The way that they used a latin actor toCritics need to relax a little bit. The show isn't nearly as bad as they're making it sound like. Beautifully shot and directed. The writing could be better? Yes. But that doesn't mean it's terrible, it just need improvement. Just because you don't see familiar faces everywhere like you expect in big american productions doesn't mean the show is bad. The way that they used a latin actor to do latin character and every chinese/mongol character they used real chinese actors is simply... well... awesome. Can't wait to see more of this show and I expect it to be renewed, but if the viewership doesn't pay off its big budget I will be really sad if its only destiny is cancellation.… Expand
  14. sandwalker
    Dec 13, 2014
    9
    I notice most critics' reviews are based on only the first 1-2 episodes. This is a series that gets better and better as it goes along, until the climactic final episode that pays off in a big way. Keep watching - it's worth it.
  15. baford
    Dec 15, 2014
    8
    Marco Polo accomplished what it set out to do: entertain me as a viewer. The show is historically inaccurate, but then again I don't expect most modern day shows to serve as a history lesson. I enjoyed the show from the first episode, and I was pleased that the show continually improved throughout the season. I notice that a lot of critics are giving this show low ratings and there seemsMarco Polo accomplished what it set out to do: entertain me as a viewer. The show is historically inaccurate, but then again I don't expect most modern day shows to serve as a history lesson. I enjoyed the show from the first episode, and I was pleased that the show continually improved throughout the season. I notice that a lot of critics are giving this show low ratings and there seems to be a cliche of Game of Thrones comparisons. I can kinda see the point they are making: Both shows are on a high budget, 10 episodes long, extremely violent, contain shady politics and sex, and filmed at exotic locations. Is that really "new" though? Take the show for what it is; an entertaining series that is historically inaccurate yet still catches the essence of the time period with mild cultural insight (albeit a bit cliche). I found the series to be interesting from the first episode and enjoyed the season as it gradually improved with each episode. I hope the show gets a second season, and look forward to continuing Netflix's fictional account of Marco Polo.… Expand
  16. Ezekius
    Dec 16, 2014
    10
    Walked in expecting nothing. This show was way better then I thought it could be. I did not like the pilot, and it almost made me stop watching, but I stuck it out a few more episodes and the show got way better. Hope there is a next season!
  17. KMV
    Dec 14, 2014
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I think some critics are taking this show a bit too seriously. I too would have liked it to be a bit more feasible, and less exploitive of women (not sure the nude harem scene was entirely necessary to the plot). But its got a lot going for it. Basically, you have to accept that this is like a less sophisticated "Game of Thrones" - great cinematography, less characters (and truthfully, less character development), but a lot of the same sword and schemes excitement. There are characters and plot lines I did care about, some great bad guys, and a moment of sacrifice I really did find believable and touching.

    And its good points are good enough, that its plot holes and melodrama become kind of a fun game, questions you can save up (Minor SPOILER ALERT): like, why is a 100 pound courtesan able to fight like a character from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"? Are we really supposed to believe that the best swordsman in the Mongol lands is completely blind? If you're going to send a spy into an enemy Chinese city, wouldn't you pick someone who wouldn't draw attention, rather than the only European they're likely to have ever seen?

    Marco Polo isn't 'must-see' TV. But if you're looking for something fun and exciting in this genre, it should make for a fun evening.    … Expand
  18. DrHutch
    Dec 14, 2014
    7
    Setting aside the terrible historical inaccuracies (of which there are many) and the troubling stereotypes that crop up about Chinese and Mongolian culture, the show as a work of fiction is on par with the quality of Game of Thrones. While it does not have the same epic sweep, its a ability to move between locations on the social hierarchy and its avoidance of sexposition in favour ofSetting aside the terrible historical inaccuracies (of which there are many) and the troubling stereotypes that crop up about Chinese and Mongolian culture, the show as a work of fiction is on par with the quality of Game of Thrones. While it does not have the same epic sweep, its a ability to move between locations on the social hierarchy and its avoidance of sexposition in favour of exploring sensuality as a system of power and authority make it in some ways superior to its HBO cousin. Yet, the dialogue is, as many critics have pointed out, weak. At times, too, the motivations of characters, especially villainous ones, are too one-dimensional to be believable. Is this the greatest show on television? No. Nor is it the weakest among the growing number of epics.… Expand
  19. jwai
    Dec 15, 2014
    9
    I'll say this: I'm very picky about the shows I invest my time in. This is one of those rare shows. There's just something about it. Maybe it's the lavish set pieces and costumes or its Eastern flavor or the sweeping landscape backdrops. Whatever it is, it got me watching and talking and telling my friends to give it try. Sure, it borrows liberally from Game of Thrones but I found theI'll say this: I'm very picky about the shows I invest my time in. This is one of those rare shows. There's just something about it. Maybe it's the lavish set pieces and costumes or its Eastern flavor or the sweeping landscape backdrops. Whatever it is, it got me watching and talking and telling my friends to give it try. Sure, it borrows liberally from Game of Thrones but I found the captivating beauty and sheer scale of this production far outweighs the occasional imitative annoyances. Seeing the workmanship in crafting this epic alone is worth the price of admission. So give it try. You won't be disappointed.… Expand
  20. Foka
    Dec 15, 2014
    10
    Excellent. I watched all 10 eps in one shot! The story is not deep and complex like GoT, but still good. The character are well designed and the landscapes are awesome. Nice fighting scenes as well.
  21. alexanderb2
    Dec 14, 2014
    9
    Registered just because I finished first season and saw "unfair" reviews by critics. Firstly, few things I can agree yes acting is maybe not best you can find you are used to, but it's so refreshing to see some new faces who do still act well (to be honest I'm so tired of few actors who are just in mostly each series no matter they fit or not, even so they are great overall). I'm EuropeanRegistered just because I finished first season and saw "unfair" reviews by critics. Firstly, few things I can agree yes acting is maybe not best you can find you are used to, but it's so refreshing to see some new faces who do still act well (to be honest I'm so tired of few actors who are just in mostly each series no matter they fit or not, even so they are great overall). I'm European so not Chinese expert but have few friends from central Asia and it was very refreshing to see some Kazakhs and Mongol faces playing Mongols and their thick accent which some people do not like is in my opinion is amazing and add so much more colour to the movie. Story is great and very close to what I have red back in the years about polo and post Genghis Khan era in china. The view on steps with hundred horses riding is just amazing. I do recommend anyone who like "historical" movies to watch it. It is maybe one of the best series you will see along with "Rome" and very few others.… Expand
  22. dgauss
    Dec 14, 2014
    9
    Half way through the first season and I am in love with it. While the first two episodes are a slow with plot build up, by the 4th you are pulled into the world of Marco Polo and the drama that surrounds him.

    I am not watching this as a historical piece but for entertainment. I am also not a historian so I can not speak to its accuracy. What I can tell you is the show has not    Half way through the first season and I am in love with it. While the first two episodes are a slow with plot build up, by the 4th you are pulled into the world of Marco Polo and the drama that surrounds him.

    I am not watching this as a historical piece but for entertainment. I am also not a historian so I can not speak to its accuracy. What I can tell you is the show has not disappointing me at all and it just seems to be getting better and better.

    If you have Netflix I recommend you give this a good watch.    … Expand
  23. jameshca
    Dec 20, 2014
    8
    Great cinematic, but too much of sex.

    Very different from what I expected. I was expecting a depiction of Mongol/Orient society during the reign of khanate (customs, politics, military cultures and etc. ), which the show delivered - the trebuchet is awesome, but the kung fu part is too hard to stomach. A Kung Fu Master Marco Polo? come on... Why critics gave the show such a low    Great cinematic, but too much of sex.

    Very different from what I expected.
    I was expecting a depiction of Mongol/Orient society during the reign of khanate (customs, politics, military cultures and etc. ), which the show delivered - the trebuchet is awesome, but the kung fu part is too hard to stomach. A Kung Fu Master Marco Polo? come on...

    Why critics gave the show such a low score? Are we going to have season 2?    … Expand
  24. sholmes019
    Dec 14, 2014
    10
    If you like naked women, gore, and action, then Marco Polo is for you. In my opinion that's all a show really needs along with half decent acting. I never read what the critics have to say about shows on this website. I only read what the every day people have to say. Critics tend to have the worst opinions on anything while the people tend to have a more down to earth view on things. TheIf you like naked women, gore, and action, then Marco Polo is for you. In my opinion that's all a show really needs along with half decent acting. I never read what the critics have to say about shows on this website. I only read what the every day people have to say. Critics tend to have the worst opinions on anything while the people tend to have a more down to earth view on things. The fact that Marco Polo had high reviews among the people and low reviews among the critics supports this.… Expand
  25. PoeticDumpling
    Dec 16, 2014
    8
    I am voting based on only two episodes thus far, but I am flabberghasted to see such low reviews from critics. This show is fantastic and thrilling! The acting isn't out of this world, but it isn't by any means bad either. The culture is fresh, the scale is sweeping, the action adventure is cranked up. I have no complaints thus far. Perhaps I will add an upadated review after furtherI am voting based on only two episodes thus far, but I am flabberghasted to see such low reviews from critics. This show is fantastic and thrilling! The acting isn't out of this world, but it isn't by any means bad either. The culture is fresh, the scale is sweeping, the action adventure is cranked up. I have no complaints thus far. Perhaps I will add an upadated review after further episodes or season 1 completion.… Expand
  26. Mazmorrero47
    Dec 15, 2014
    5
    Netflix's 90 million dollar collaboration with The Weinstein Company is a mixed bag. Its technical aspects are beautifully crafted. The cinematography in particular has some creative uses of high contrast illumination. The armors, weapons, sets, etc. have a lot of attention to detail.
    Unfortunately, Marco Polo lacks compelling characters and story that encourage binge-watching (the    Netflix's 90 million dollar collaboration with The Weinstein Company is a mixed bag. Its technical aspects are beautifully crafted. The cinematography in particular has some creative uses of high contrast illumination. The armors, weapons, sets, etc. have a lot of attention to detail.
    Unfortunately, Marco Polo lacks compelling characters and story that encourage binge-watching (the sluggish pacing and stilted dialog don't help much to the cause either). For starters, its title is misleading, since Marco Polo is NOT the protagonist. In fact, the scenes where he appears are the most boring. The actor who plays him doesn't have any charisma or range, so it's hard to understand why the Khan is so mesmerized with his descriptions and several women feel sexually attracted to him. In all fairness though, the rest of the characters aren't any better because they all have one single trait: Hundred Eyes-disciplined, Jingim-jealous, Sidao-evil, etc. which makes them more caricatures than fleshed-out human beings. Their motivations are simplistic at best and nonsensical at worst.
    And of course, what would a period show be without the gratuitous nudity? Marco Polo gives Game of Thrones a run for its money in that regard. Even the female characters that are supposed to be "strong" and "independent" end up being objectified. Netflix is trying too hard.
    Marco Polo came out with great timing, since it fills the hole left by the TV holiday hiatus. In any other time of the year, there are much better options to check.    … Expand
  27. rwieland
    Dec 15, 2014
    8
    The comparison to GOT is misleading. It's an epic historical drama like HBO's Rome. And I think what the critics mean when they say there's no characters to care about is that there aren't enough white people in it. It's beautiful and entertaining and the only way you could be bored by it is if you are too small minded to appreciate what it offers. I think non-American critics will reviewThe comparison to GOT is misleading. It's an epic historical drama like HBO's Rome. And I think what the critics mean when they say there's no characters to care about is that there aren't enough white people in it. It's beautiful and entertaining and the only way you could be bored by it is if you are too small minded to appreciate what it offers. I think non-American critics will review this much more favourably. It's the best thing on Netflix right now in my opinion.… Expand
  28. aelredus
    Apr 28, 2015
    3
    I'm disappointed. Marco Polo wasn't a Marvel hero. He was a real man. I wanted a credibly historic serie here, not the Nth version of American ninja. Mongol girl fighters? Come on, that is the most ridiculous historic abuse ever seen.
  29. thehawk
    Dec 14, 2014
    5
    I should have known what to expect when I noticed that Marco on the promo poster looked too much like Tyrion Lannister. So when the regulation sex scenes duly appeared I thought this will be Game Of Chinese Thrones. No such luck.

    As one critic wrote the first episode was poor, imo due to some very bland dialogue and acting. Sound was poor and there were a few meaningless scenes.    I should have known what to expect when I noticed that Marco on the promo poster looked too much like Tyrion Lannister. So when the regulation sex scenes duly appeared I thought this will be Game Of Chinese Thrones. No such luck.

    As one critic wrote the first episode was poor, imo due to some very bland dialogue and acting. Sound was poor and there were a few meaningless scenes. Episode 2 improved a bit. Modern accents and some modern idioms crept in every so often which was jarring.
    The historical representation was bad. Cities hundreds of miles apart were just down the road. The Golden Horde lived in a few tents. Their horses, in reality able to run for a day without stopping, could not cross a small desert without grain. Water off a duck's back for Mongol horsemen. And would they have cared if half died in the journey? - not a chance.

    As with a lot of these films and series, a good chance lost to use historical re-enactors to increase immersion.

    OK, enough complaining about poor production quality. The real problem is lack of an exciting plot. There is no character build-up. All the characters are shallow, even Marco. And even the gimmicks were weak - with one exception - Tom Wu who was VG as Hundred Eyes.    … Expand
  30. PixelIntruder
    Dec 17, 2014
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It’s starts out amazingly well, at least it did for me. But by episode six or so you reach some absolute ridiculousness with a big “whodunit” where your seemingly smart protagonist goes around vulnerable and unreinforced asking potential guilty mastermind villains, “Hey, do you happen to the dangerous bad guy were looking for who’s trying to stay hidden, is very powerful, and possibly dislikes me? And if not could you give us directions to where we can find him? Please be truthful!!!”

    Then by that point the once quite large show of massive armies and wars between giant nation empires of legend becomes infuriatingly small and limiting. There is no interaction with “extra-level” peasants or army-folk or anybody, you start to just bounce between the same seven or so characters and a formula starts to stick out and poke you in the eye and you start to notice just how cheesy and B-movie the lines and dialogue actually are.

    Worse, with the great and terrible Kublai Khan character who’s keeping the entire show together, it unintentionally just becomes more and more apparent that the actor playing the character MUST BE in real life a quite jovial, comedically funny man, always laughing and telling a joke. And so the earlier well-crafted illusion of the larger than life, dangerous, unpredictable character slowly unravels (after already being gravely wounded in believability by a clumsy earlier physical confrontation with another character).

    Then the already goofy, cheesy, and cartoonish Kung Fu aspect of the show that has pulled you out of the good character drama from the start with a funny-looking blind Kung Fu master who spins around seemingly more than a man really needs to, causing loud whooshing sounds, grates on you worse and worse.

    And you can no longer forgive the show that the opposing force and power in this supposedly enormous scale opera for the great Mongolian Horde is confined to a unexplainably, scared, crabby old woman and a two-dimensional, run-of-the-mill, ever-so-flimsy, psychopathic bad guy that never has made any sense.

    And the biggest thing to bug the viewer’s mind is your lovable protagonist is an apparent, crazed, lady-stalker who becomes obsessed with a woman simply because she is the only woman on the continent to wear blue garments rather than drab, Mongolian-Horde-fashions, and likes to mysteriously ride out to the only tree that grows in all of Mongolia.

    And this unexplainable fascination continues on and on, made worse by the fact the show’s writers never give us a reason to like her. Not a one. They actually provide us with a separate female character who wrestles men that we love and would love for our protagonist to love but we’re stuck with some random girl who wears blue clothes and does nothing of note and who there is nothing remarkable about.

    Oh, and the continuous assault on the viewer with naked women and breasts gets ever so tedious. It’s hard to understand that the show writers don’t realize that most people have internet access and far more intimate stuff is a click away for most viewers. So enough is enough as it becomes very distracting at times from the plot, characters, and drama. (And not distracting in a “good way” even if you are a young heterosexual male viewer).

    So now at episode seven or eight with my protagonist having appeared to have “completely drank the Kublai Khan Kool-Aid” more completely than I find credible for the character and his arc at this point in the show, I think I have to pull the plug on Netflix’s Marco Polo.

    ADDITIONAL NOTE - The cinematography, musical score, the casting, the majority of the acting, and more is all very amazing. This is an incredible production in many, many ways. A lot of very talented people worked on this. It's just certain weaknesses in regards to certain aspects of the show drag it down, at least for this humble viewer.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
32
#32 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
48

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 21
  3. Negative: 7 out of 21
  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Margaret Lyons
    Dec 15, 2014
    30
    The show is vacant and uninspiring, so much so that I'd rather fill my imaginary home with ball utensils than watch Marco Polo.
    Read full review
  2. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Dec 15, 2014
    70
    A fun, body-flinging, old-fashioned epic.... As Kublai Khan, British actor Benedict Wong gives an impressive performance, one of the best of the year: You absolutely believe his ruthlessness, his power and his calculating thoughtfulness. As Marco Polo, on the other hand, Italian actor Lorenzo Richelmy, who looks like a more lyrical Emile Hirsch, mostly has to be put up with.
    Read full review
  3. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Mekeisha Madden Toby
    Dec 15, 2014
    70
    Ultimately, once viewers overcome the sluggish pace there’s something for everyone with Marco Polo. History lovers will enjoy Googling along with the series as historical names and battles are introduced while martial arts fans will appreciate the intricately choreographed fight scenes. Although the series isn’t as riveting as “Game of Thrones,” strong performances and impeccable visuals make it worthy of a watch on a slow and rainy afternoon.
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