EPISODE
SEASON
Marco Polo - Season 1
Marco Polo is a drama about Marco Polo';;;s early years in the court of Kublai Khan, which lasted from 1271-1368. Marco travels the Silk Road to the imperial city of Kublai Khan, and begins learning the ways of Chinese culture, politics and war.
2 October 1967, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
26 October 1982, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
6 August 1969, Kazakhstan
1970, Manchester, England, UK
December 18, 2014
While the sweeping period drama boasts stunning vistas, meticulous costuming, and some impressive action, what it lacks is a compelling story and three-dimensional characters who are actually worth caring about.
November 12, 2015
The series is a sloppy, clattering mess, intended to draw international attention, not plaudits. The yawning intricacies of international taxation and trade are the perfect subject matter for a spectacle this cynical.
December 15, 2014
Once viewers overcome the sluggish pace thereÂ's something for everyone with Marco Polo.
November 12, 2015
The lavishly produced and reportedly mega-expensive Marco Polo can be a feast for the eyes, even when the overripe dialogue ("Treachery grows well in the fertile soil of contempt I tilled") and uneven performances feel dramatically undernourished.
November 12, 2015
A big budget, high hopes, and good intentions it seems wasn't enough to buoy a boring protagonist and flaccid story.
November 12, 2015
From just one hour, it seems clear that Marco Polo lacks the vitality and sparkle of both its written origins, and the blockbuster shows it was influenced by. There are some things money can't buy.
January 20, 2015
Richelmy, in the title role, evolves from a meager, humbling, and somewhat lifeless beginning, into an interesting, captivating presence to watch on screen. Which is a sentiment I'd ascribe to Marco Polo as a whole, really.
December 15, 2014
Viewers who are hoping for the story to develop will start to feel like kids in a swimming pool playing the namesake game who keep shouting "Marco!" without hearing anyone shout "Polo!"
December 18, 2014
The 10-episode historical drama will appeal to viewers who miss miniseries of the past like Shogun and whose screens are big and bright enough to appreciate its rich scenery and costumes.
