A Netflix series has drawn comparisons to Game of Thrones and The Last Kingdom and has been watched for hundreds of millions of hours.
The streaming platform is renowned for its successful original TV series such as Squid Game and Wednesday.
Additionally, Netflix has earned praise for its historical dramas, similar to this one.
This particular series aired from 2014 to 2016 over two seasons before it was unfortunately canceled.
It was among the early Netflix originals to be discontinued after multiple seasons – do you recall Hemlock Grove, the horror series that ended in 2015 after three seasons? Or Bloodline, which concluded after its third season in 2017?
The drama is set in the 13th century, focusing on the early adventures of a renowned Venetian explorer at the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler of China.
As the protagonist navigates this opulent yet perilous world, he becomes entangled in a complex web of loyalty, betrayal, and ambition.
He must balance his role as a curious outsider with being a trusted confidant – or face dire consequences.
Lorenzo Richelmy plays the role of Marco, with Benedict Wong portraying Kublai Khan.
The main cast is rounded out by Tom Wu, Zhu Zhu, Remy Hii, Joan Chen, and Rick Yune, with special guest appearances by Michelle Yeoh from Wicked and Gabriel Byrne from Hereditary.
The series, known as Marco Polo, is named after its central character.
Watch its trailer below:
According to FlixPatrol, the series has been viewed for an impressive 126.5 million hours.
It has also achieved an incredible 93 percent score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite this, critics were less enthusiastic, rating Marco Polo at 66 percent.
“An all-around disappointment, Marco Polo is less entertaining than a round of the game that shares its name,” noted the critics’ consensus.
Yet viewers disagreed, with one fan commenting: “This was brilliant. Every bit as good as GOT, Vikings, and The Last Kingdom. Well acted and visually stunning. It should never have been canceled.”
Another viewer concurred: “Great cast, great story, starts a bit slow but that’s just in the first few episodes. Still wish for a season 3 please!”
A third viewer commented: “The fact that this series got cancelled is a travesty. It had so much promise.”
Another shared their thoughts: “I thought the show, graphics, characters and everything about this show kept you wanting more! Definitely worth watching and I wish they wouldn’t have canceled!! 100% a fantastic series.”
Both seasons of Marco Polo are available to stream on Netflix now.