Network: Netflix
Episodes: 20 (hour)
Seasons: Two
TV show dates: December 12, 2014 — July 1, 2016
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Lorenzo Richelmy, Benedict Wong, Joan Chen, Rick Yune, Amr Waked, Remy Hii, Zhu Zhu, Tom Wu, Mahesh Jadu, Olivia Cheng, Uli Latukefu, Chin Han, and Pierfrancesco Favino.
TV show description:
Created by John Fusco, this adventure TV show follows the early years of famous explorer Marco Polo (Lorenzo Richelmy) in 13th century China, as he travels the exotic Silk Road to the court of the great Kublai Khan (Benedict Wong) — Great king of Mongolian Empire.
Opulent, treacherous, and balancing on tenuous political high wires, Kublai Khan’s court in the 13th Century Mongol Empire is no place for an Italian explorer’s son — yet here he is.
Traded as a gift for access to the famed Silk Road by his father, the charismatic Marco Polo is part slave, part pet to the godlike Khan.
The ruthless ruler is being challenged by the steadfast remains of the Chinese Song dynasty — as well as by his own militant warlords. They’re growing tired of Kublai’s unproven son, Prince Jingim (Remy Hii).
The overlords of the Song Dynasty have their own webs to untangle. The empowered Chinese “Cricket” Minister Jia Sidao (Chin Han) weaves schemes to use his sister Mei Lin (Olivia Cheng) to seduce loyalty from the Chinese army in Xiangyiang.
That is, until he banishes her to a term of espionage within the Khan’s court.
Surrounded by illicit turmoil, Marco continues his physical and mental training with the sagacious, sightless Hundred Eyes (Tom Wu). Meanwhile, he plans a half-hearted escape from his ever-more-dangerous role as Kublai’s adopted son in the Empire.
But even Marco Polo can’t resist the charms of Khutulun (Claudia Kim) and the Blue Princess Kokachin (Zhu Zhu).
Episode #20 — The Fellowship
The day of the kurultai arrives which shapes Kublai’s fate as khan. Ahmad makes his final stand and Marco learns a truth that is terrible.
First aired: July 1, 2016.
What do you think? Do you like the Marco Polo TV show? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a third season?
One of the best series I’ve seen in a long time. It ended way too soon. Way, way, way too soon!! Bring it back with seasons 3, 4, 5, and 6. Marco Polo lead such an interesting life and was a famous explorer. He did far more than what this series ended with and he lead a life worth following for at least a couple of more seasons.
It was awesome. I thought the actors were superb. The scenes were very real and I was caught up in the show. I was hoping there were going to be more seasons to follow. Very disappointed that there wasnt.
Just finished watching this series (Oct 2019). Good action, better acting. Deserved to be renewed, especially when seeing what gets renewed and continued.
Just finished watching the series on Netflix in 2019. Thought it was great, good action, acting, deserved to be renewed, especially after seeing so much of the crap that continues and gets renewed.