![]() ![]() 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. There are weak elements (and actors - looking at you, Khultulun), true. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. 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. The martial arts sequences and music have been outstanding. 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. I had held off watching the show due to poor critic reviews, and I found that they were wildly unwarranted - in my view. I enjoyed both Season 1 and Season 2 tremendously. ![]() This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. ![]()
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