| Season 2 | |
 | |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Release date | June 2016 |
| Season chronology | |
| previous Season 1 |
next |
Season 2 of Marco Polo consists of ten episodes and was released in its entirety on July 1, 2016.
A 30-minute Christmas special episode titled "One Hundred Eyes" was released between the first and the second season on December 26, 2015.
On December 12, 2016, Netflix announced they had canceled Marco Polo. Sources said the series' two seasons resulted in a $200 million loss for Netflix..."
Synopsis[]
In a world replete with greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry, Marco Polo is based on the famed explorer's adventures in Kublai Khan's court in 13th Century China, and the dark and tempestuous battle for the expanding Mongol empire.
As the Kublai Kahn conscripts Marco Polo into the Mongolian army, Marco must learn to reconciliate the empire as it descends into Civil war. Stuck between the excesses of the khan and the mighty ambitions of Kaidu, Marco Polo must find a way to reconciliate the empire before complete collapse.
Episodes[]
| # | Image | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00 |  |
"One Hundred Eyes" | December 26, 2015 |
| A defiant warrior-monk arrives at Kublai Khan's court in chains and soon earns his tragic nickname in this 30-minute origin story. | |||
| 01 |  |
"Hunter and the Sable Weaver" | July 1, 2016 |
| On Prince Jingim's wedding day, Kublai receives disturbing news about the ambitions of his cousin, while Marco navigates a delicate mission. | |||
| 02 |  |
"Hug" | July 1, 2016 |
| Marco gets an unplesant surprise upon his return to Kublai's court. Kublai faces an impossibly difficult decision. | |||
| 03 |  |
"Measure Against the LinchPin" | July 1, 2016 |
| Haunted by recent events, Kublai journies with Marco into the mountains for answers. Empress Chabi takes action to insure an heir to the khan. | |||
| 04 |  |
"Let God's Work Begin" | July 1, 2016 |
| The Challenge for the throne escalates when two of Kublai's sons are endangered. Far away, another threat to the khan is born. | |||
| 05 |  |
"Lullaby" | July 1, 2016 |
| Rebel attacks flare up in the south and pull Kubali's attentaion away from home. Kokachin gets an unwelcome visitor from her past. | |||
| 06 |  |
"Serpent's Terms" | July 1, 2016 |
| Ahmed's deadly and secret chess match against Kublai enters is endgame, even as Kublai's thirst for power grows stronger than ever. | |||
| 07 |  |
"Lost Crane" | July 1, 2016 |
| Kaidu's ruthlessness reaches new levels in his bid for power, while Hundred Eyes' former lover has him questioning his loyalties. | |||
| 08 |  |
"Whitehorse" | July 1, 2016 |
| Marco's allegiance to Kublai is tested like never before. Mei Lin's bold move throws Ahmed's plans into chaos. | |||
| 09 |  |
"Heirs" | July 1, 2016 |
| Marco's past with Kokachin resurfaces. Kublai's position as khan faces a final challenge, even as he welcomes a new heir into the world. | |||
| 10 |  |
"The Fellowship" | July 1, 2016 |
| The day of the Kurultai arrives, shaping Kublai's fate as khan. Ahmed makes his final stand, and Marco learns a terrible truth. | |||
Production[]
On January 7, 2015, Netflix officially ordered a second season of the series.
Behind the scene[]
- The first season of Marco Polo was met with negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a rating of 24%, based on 33 reviews, with a rating average of 4.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "An all-around disappointment, Marco Polo is less entertaining than a round of the game that shares its name." On Metacritic, the show's first season has a score of 48 out of 100 based on 21 reviews by critics, indicating "mixed reviews".
- In his review for Entertainment Weekly, Jeff Jensen gave the first season a "B−" rating, calling the premise "stale", but added "Somewhere in the middle of episode 2, though, Marco Polo becomes surprisingly watchable. The filmmaking becomes bolder."[16] Writing for People, Tom Gliatto praised the series, calling it "...a fun, body-flinging, old-fashioned epic". USA Today reviewer Robert Bianco gave the series 1 1⁄2 stars out of 4, saying, "Clearly what Netflix hopes you'll see a [sic] big-bucks, prestige entertainment along the lines of that HBO fantasy epic, but in truth, Marco is far closer to one of those cheesy international syndicated adventures."
- On March 23, 2015, the President of Mongolia Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj presented John Fusco and the Marco Polo creative team with an award, honoring their positive portrayal and global presentation of Mongolian subject matter.[citation needed] Fusco, himself, has described the series as historical fiction, based on the accounts of the Venetian traveler Marco Polo
Cast[]
Starring cast
- Lorenzo Richelmy as Marco Polo (10 episodes)
- Benedict Wong as Kublai Khan (10 episodes and "One Hundred Eyes")
- Joan Chen as Empress Chabi (10 episodes)
- Pierfrancesco Favino as Niccolò Polo (5 episodes)
- Rick Yune as Kaidu (10 episodes)
- Ron Yuan as Nayan (7 episodes)
- Remy Hii as Prince Jingim (10 episodes)
- Zhu Zhu as Kokachin (10 episodes)
- Tom Wu as Li Jinbao "Hundred Eyes" (8 episodes and "One Hundred Eyes")
- Mahesh Jadu as Ahmad (10 episodes)
- Olivia Cheng as Mei Lin (9 episodes)
- Claudia Kim as Khutulun (10 episodes)
- Uli Latukefu as Byamba (10 episodes)
- Jacqueline Chan as Shakana (7 episodes)
- Leonard Wu as Orus (8 episodes)
- Thomas Chaanhing as Gerel (3 episodes)
- Chris Pang as Arban (5 episodes)
- with Gabriel Byrne as Pope Gregory X ("Let God's Work Begin")
- with Chin Han as Jia Sidao ("Lost Crane")
- and Michelle Yeoh as Lotus (7 episodes and "One Hundred Eyes")
Guest Starring
- Daniel Tuiara as Sukh (6 episodes)
- Esther Low as Blue Princess (5 episodes)
- Jaime Chew as Ling-Ling (5 episodes)
- Max Kellady as Emperor Duzong (4 episodes)
- Jason Chong as Kasar (3 episodes)
- Tosh Zhang as Bai (3 episodes)
- Byambadorj Altanhuyag as General Qaban (3 episodes)
- Bayarsaikhan Baljinnyam as Bariyachi (2 episodes)
- Aaron Jackson as Maximus Dutti (2 episodes)
- Laura Prats as Shoreh (2 episodes)
- Togo Igawa as Chuluun (2 episodes)
Crew[]
Writers
- John Fusco: episode 1.
- Patrick Macmanus: episode 2.
- Elizabeth Sarnoff: episode 3.
- Kate Barnow: episodes 4 and 9.
- Bruce Marshall Romans: episode 5.
- Noelle Valdivia: episode 6.
- Matthew White: episode 7.
- Elizabeth Sarnoff & Patrick Macmanus: episodes 8 and 10.
Directors
- Daniel Minahan: episodes 1 and 3.
- David Petrarca: episodes 2 and 4.
- Jon Amiel: episodes 5 and 6.
- Alik Sakharov: episodes 7 and 10.
- James McTeigue: episodes 8 and 9.