Marco Polo

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.

Marco 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.

Although 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.

Season 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.

I 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!