Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Variety reported last night that Netflix has canceled Marco Polo after two seasons (and a stand alone special). Marco Polo was one of the streaming service’s first real gambles as an original content provider. At the time of its debut, Marco Polo was supposedly one of the most expensive shows ever produced – Season One cost an estimated $90 million. While the series may have failed to spark the critical acclaim that House of Cards, Stranger Things, and The Crown have enjoyed, Marco Polo shouldn’t be written off. It was a bold experiment for Netflix that set the stage for future success. Also, a lot of Marco Polo was really, really fun.
Marco Polo was an opulent soap opera/action adventure series set in the court of Kublai Khan. Audiences were introduced to the complex Mongolian Empire through the eyes of the show’s titular hero, an idealist young Italian merchant. The show was built around Marco and Kublai’s unique relationship, but the real stars of the series (for my money) were the compelling heroines. The series shouldn’t just noteworthy for its cost, but for its attempt to bridge Western and Eastern cultures through one singular television series. Marco Polo tried to blend the best of Western prestige drama with the greatest Asian action set pieces.
News of Marco Polo‘s cancelation comes right on the heels of the Golden Globe nominations. Netflix’s newest “most expensive” show, The Crown, nabbed three nominations including one for Best Drama Series.
[Watch Marco Polo on Netflix]
[Watch Marco Polo: One Hundred Eyes on Netflix]
