5 Reasons You Should Give Netflix’s ‘Marco Polo’ A Try

Last weekend, Game of Thrones fans were treated to a stunning Season Six finale — and now they have to wait a full year for new episodes. Take the edge off of your frustrations and enter a brand new world of palace intrigue with Marco Polo.

Marco Polo takes place in the complex court of Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan. What makes it so complex? Well, the grandson of the great Genghis Khan was brought up in the warrior ways of his ancestors, but has an appetite for worldly delights. Yes, he has an impressive harem, but he also likes collected adopted sons from various cultures all over the world. And so, the characters in his court are jostling for power as much as they are hungry for their “Dad’s” approval. Add the Crusades, tons of assassination plots, and a war with China, and you won’t feel all that far from the drama of King’s Landing.

Marco Polo likes to bill itself as a complex political drama, but it’s also an outstanding martial arts show. In fact, the show often feels like what would happen if you were to mix a show like The Borgias with historical Hong Kong epics. The result? A lot of political maneuvering offset by explosions of kinetic fight scenes.

And, oh, those fight scenes are incredible…

I mean, that looks like a panther swirling a sword while doing ballet.

This is like if video games could be real.

And, yes, this is a naked woman cartwheeling through the air as she murders her would-be rapists.

So, if you’re an action junkie who’s been skipping out on Marco Polo because it looks “boring,” you’ve been denying yourself some of the best choreographed fight scenes on television.

Marco Polo’s plot is driven by the strange father-son relationship that develops between Kublai Khan and his Italian hostage, Marco Polo, but its heart and soul come from its cast of ferocious heroines. The men might think these ladies are confined to the sidelines, but the show’s writers use them as instigators and masterminds.

Joan Chen’s Empress Chiabi seems like a kind, supportive, matronly figure in the court, but she’s really the tigress behind Kublai Khan’s throne. You also have the wistfully sad and noble Blue Princess, the scrappy and sensual Mei Lin, and the legendary warrior princess Khutulan. This season, we meet Michelle Yeoh’s Hand Maiden. She’s a warrior loyal to the fallen Chinese empire and she shares a tragic romantic past with Hundred Eyes. These women often serve up the best drama and the craziest action in the whole show — and they are each fascinating characters. If you ask me, the female characters are the most compelling part of Marco Polo.

I realize that I’m speaking to a very select audience here, but Marco Polo is chock full of super hot guys. Prince Jinjin, the golden boy of Kublai Khan’s court, is quite possibly the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen on screen. He’s prettier than most female supermodels! Grand Vizier Ahmad also has a really attractive face, gorgeous long locks, and a gravely, sexy voice. He’s also, spoiler alert, kind of a bad guy. Then there’s Byamba. He’s like a softer, kinder, cuddlier, more Mongolian version of the Rock. He’s massive like a giant, but soft like a Teddy Bear. And finally, there’s Marco Polo himself. Lorenzo Richelmy gives the intrepid explorer a romantic soul that any girl (or guy) would fall for.

I’m just saying Marco Polo has a lot of tasty man candy.

While Season One of Marco Polo could sometimes drag, Season Two starts with an explosion of energy. Characters are paired together in new (and sometimes humor-inducing) combinations. There’s an urgency and a lightness that wasn’t apparent before. The big villain this season isn’t a maniacal, power-hungry nobleman to the south, but the fear and jealousy rippling through the Khan’s own family. There are big new guest stars (Michelle Yeoh, Gabriel Byrne) and the show’s leading man and lady have greatly improved their English-speaking skills. Fun fact: Both Lorenzo Richelmy (Marco Polo) and Zhu Zhu (The Blue Princess) had to learn English after being cast in their roles.

So, yeah, Marco Polo might deserve your attention. It definitely deserves a second chance.

*Ironically, the main driving plot of Season Two seems to be Kublai Khan’s struggle to create a truly united global empire — and culture. His opposition comes from nationalist uprisings and religious fanatics.