Marco Polo (2014)

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Season 2
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Dec 12, 2014
Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
tbd

No score yet - based on 1 Critic Review

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1

Critic Reviews

  1. We Got This Covered
    Reviewed by: Mitchel Broussard
    Jun 27, 2016
    60
    It recovers its stride eventually, but anyone who wasn’t already into Marco’s adventures helping raise--and potentially decimate--the Mongol Empire won’t be won over by a second year that’s, by and large, exactly the same as the first. And, unfortunately, with a lot of the same problems. On the positive side, that means it’s still got style.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 37
  3. Negative: 3 out of 37
  1. jakefabo
    Aug 10, 2016
    9
    Marco polo is a joy to watch, and beautiful on many levels. Firstly, the costume is amazing, especially when it comes to the royalty and theMarco polo is a joy to watch, and beautiful on many levels. Firstly, the costume is amazing, especially when it comes to the royalty and the knights (keshiks) around them. From the gowns on the princess to the Armour on the guards, the detail is stunning, really really well done. The music sets the scenes so well... in the military camps, or in temples, it’s perfect. The sets and landscape are also perfect... I find a lot of this shows appeal for me is just how well executed everything is. It never feels fake or unoriginal at all and sets itself apart from all the other medieval-themed (I use that term loosely) shows I watch (Game of Thrones, Vikings, The Last Kingdom)

    The acting I found very good, not perfect, but I appreciate the actors because I don’t recognize most of them, and for a big budget show (seemingly) that’s refreshing. Some scenes may seem awkward or just slow and I acknowledge some of the plot and writing faults, but it doesn’t break the show for me.

    The fighting (from wrestling, to martial arts to swords) has been fantastic - really well choreographed so far in both seasons.    … Full Review »
  2. Seffer
    Jul 25, 2016
    10
    This is a great show. I wrote a review for season 1 as well, so I won't repeat everything. If you liked season 1, I think you'd also likeThis is a great show. I wrote a review for season 1 as well, so I won't repeat everything. If you liked season 1, I think you'd also like season 2, which adds Michelle Yeoh and some more great fight scenes.

    As with season 1, the story can drag sometimes, but overall it was fun to watch, and the end is very satisfying. I'd love to see another season.    … Full Review »
  3. DuffyD0g
    Jul 25, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. I enjoyed both Season 1 and Season 2 tremendously. I had held off watching the show due to poor critic reviews, and I found that they were wildly unwarranted - in my view. This is a visually stunning show, with some fantastic acting, good action, and a range of characters I quickly was intrigued by or came to care about. The martial arts sequences and music have been outstanding. Who knew that Mongolian throat singing could be so mesmerizing? My own experiences with long-term stays in foreign countries led me to appreciate the show's presentation of Marco's perception of and reactions to what he's seeing and experiencing, including notable culture shock at times. I found the developing Stockholm Syndrome-like relationship between Kublai Khan and Marco Polo in Season 1 irresistible, and loved how that relationship continued to develop in Season 2. The fleshing out of other characters, and the exploration of family and loyalty in Season 2 was welcome and intriguing (again, with some weak spots/plot points). Wong, the actor portraying Kublai, is a gem - he can turn from one emotion to the next on a dime and draws you in like a moth to flame. Richelmy, portraying Polo, is incredibly expressive, while simultaneously contained, and the direction to have him communicate much of his character's deeper emotions/conflicts/shocks nonverbally fits perfectly with Marco's situation in the show where he is a captive outsider surrounded by powerful others. Season 3 can't come soon enough. I am hoping for a father-son-father triangle centered on Marco as ONE of the major plot lines, and have already invested time in learning what history has to say about "Prester John" and Christianity in the East.

    There are weak elements (and actors - looking at you, Khultulun), true. Some critiques are uninformed about Marco Polo's travel accounts, accusing the show of adding elements to titillate today's viewers: Too much sex, Mongol women wrestler/warriors, etc. Go read the Marco Polo accounts - these (and other things) are actually in them (regardless of whether you believe his accounts to be accurate). I approached this show as entertainment, with some roots in history at best, and it excelled in that for me. I learned quite a bit about the actual history and customs of the people, times, and places - not as "data" from the show (it is NOT a documentary folks), but from the show spurring me to investigate the historical accuracy of things that came up while viewing it. A show that can draw me in to doing that, and simultaneously be great entertainment, is a great show.    … Full Review »
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