Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Marco Polo: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

Anyone want to hazard a guess as to the subject of the next "random historical figure Drama?"

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 7, 2015

The adult television market is flooded almost to the point of gross over saturation. With the expansion of satellite television to countless channels and the quick growth of on-demand outlets that are no longer content to regurgitate everyone else's programming, there are more airways, and digital streams, to fill than ever before. Add in the wild success of programs like The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad or, more apropos to Marco Polo, Rome, Spartacus, and Game of Thrones and suddenly everyone has their own next can't miss, sprawling show that's equal parts reimagined history, intrigue, violence, and nudity. Yet for every smash success there's a deluge of decent-to-forgettable would-be favorites that span everything from ancient history to brainy Sci-Fi. Marco Polo is a Netflix (House of Cards) original that falls into that second-class category. Its subject is not an obscure historical figure but one who is better known for a swimming pool game than he is for his historically important exploits in the Far East. Netflix's program attempts to tell his story, with the obligatory sprawl of dark politics, unsavory characters, epic violence, and rampant sex, but it never much distinguishes itself and feels manufactured to fit a style and regurgitate genre trope rather than tell a story of any value that will enrich audiences and leave them satisfied beyond feasting on television scraps.

The king and I.

Marco Polo (Lorenzo Richelmy) is a young, fresh-faced Italian who has travelled from venice to deep into the heart of the Mongol Empire with his father, Niccolò (Pierfrancesco Favino). They're a merchant family by trade but on a religious mission for the pontiff. They witness first hand the Empire's brutality. It's long been in conflict with the Song Dynasty, led by Chancellor Jia Sidao (Chin Han), which has for decades been holed up in the walled city of Xiangyang. The Mongols are slaughtering anyone who sides with the opposition. The Polos are captured and appear before Kublai Khan (Benedict Wong) himself, who expresses disappointment that they have arrived without proper papal representation. They're about to be banished, but young Marco impresses Khan with his smooth tongue and learned ways. His father makes a startling offer: open free Silk Road passage for him, and he'll leave his son behind. Marco is shocked but slowly adapts to his new surroundings. He's taught the ways of the Mongols by a monk known as Hundred Eyes (Tom Wu) and finds himself caught in the middle of foreign intrigue and a bloody conquest for world domination.

Marco Polo isn't a bad show. It's just...unnecessary. Structurally, this is basic television rebranded to an admittedly fascinating backdrop of ancient China. But the core story details only serve a generic backdrop of power, intrigue, sex, and violence, all of which are nuts-and-bolts core dealings in many a show today. Nitty-gritty details like trade, politics, war, and culture are interesting to a point but lack supportive novel drama and characterization in support. Marco Polo brings nothing new to the table outside of window dressing, albeit oftentimes stunning window dressing. Characters are empty vessels motivated by generic attributes. Dialogue ranges from serviceable to tedious and all the way down to exceedingly atrocious, particularly considering the show's numerous fortune cookie-inspired quips. There's little emotional weight and an equally empty sense of character. Lorenzo Richelmy's performance of the title character is empty, thanks largely to an underwhelming script and scattershot character and larger world detailing. On the plus side, production design is outstanding. The show is eye candy of the best kind. It's, unique, exacting and detailed, particularly its practical sets and costumes. Some digital effects stand out like a sore thumb, but there are many little details and supportive pieces that seamlessly blend into the greater production. The world has been painstakingly and lovingly recreated, obviously with many historical and production liberties but the level of intimate detail is truly special.

Below is a listing of every season one episode. Recaps come courtesy of the Blu-ray disc. Minor spoilers follow.

Disc One:

• The Wayfarer: After three years crossing seas, deserts and the Silk Road, a young Marco Polo finds himself a prisoner of the great Kublai Khan.
• The Wolf and the Deer: As Kublai Khan battles his warmonger brother for rule over Mongolia, Marco learns that justice in Khan's imperial city is as swift as it is deadly.
• Feast: Marco begins a relationship with the beautiful Blue Princess as tensions grow between Kublai and Xiangyang's cunning chancellor Jia Sidao.
• The Fourth Step: As war looms with the walled city of Xiangyang, Prince Jingim tests his diplomacy skills while Kublai questions Marco's allegiance.

Disc Two:

• Hashshashin: Marco searches for the mastermind behind a murderous plot, while Prince Jingim weighs the risks of retaliation.
• White Moon: On the eve of an auspicious ceremony, Marco searches for the culprit behind the assassination attempt on Kublai Khan -- even as a new one takes shape.
• The Scholar's Pen: Marco and Hundred Eyes take on a dangerous mission to infiltrate the walled city of Xiangyang, while its chancellor struggles to hold on to power.
• Rendering: When Kublai sets his sights -- and his army -- on the taking of the walled city of Xiangyang, Marco's allegiance is tested.

Disc Three:

• Prisoners: Marco finds his fate in the hands of Kublai yet again, while behind the walls of Xiangyang, Chancellor Sidao sets his sights on regaining power.
• The Heavenly and Primal: Marco's ingenuity -- and loyalty -- is put to the ultimate test when Kublai takes a violent and bold step in his quest to become emperor of the world.

Marco Polo: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Explore Marco Polo: Season One on Blu-ray via an oftentimes striking 1080p and somewhat unique and wide(r) 2.00:1-framed transfer (as opposed to the more standardized 1.78:1 modern TV ratio). Image clarity is excellent thanks to a tight, well defined digitally sourced picture that's impeccably clean and endlessly revealing. Terrain looks amazing. Sandy and rock floors, heavily textures rock faces, grasses, and trees appear as complexly defined as the format allows. Ornate clothing textures are the standout. Every stitch and seam and adornment are revealingly complex and tactile. The transfer reveals every bit of gruff stubble on Polo's face with amazing definition. Pores, lines, scars, makeup, and other facial details are likewise superbly presented across the character roster. Even lower light locations, like Khan's throne room, show amazingly intricate details. Scuffs and wear on the tile floor, for example, are endlessly revealing. Colors are excellent, again both in bright exterior light and dimmer interiors lit, usually, by slits of sunlight or some scattered candles and small flames. Primaries pop and earthy support elements, like sand and rocks, are terrific. Black levels are deep, shadow details are excellent, and flesh tones are not problematic. Trace amounts of noise and banding are present but hardly warrant more than a passing mention. Overall, this is another top quality image from Anchor Bay that approaches the reference excellence of Black Sails.

Marco Polo: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Marco Polo: Season One travels onto Blu-ray with an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Music is big and spacious, presenting with terrific clarity across a nice array of styles. The low end is deep, surrounds are engaged with balance, and definition is excellent at the top and the midrange. There's no shortage of exciting and well defined support elements. A blustery cold wind pushes through the stage, for example, all but frosting the speakers and chilling the listener. Booming thunder is deep and rolls accurately throughout the stage to create a natural sensation. Galloping horses, immersive combat, and other more action-oriented elements are terrific, particularly at the bottom where LFE is well defined and powerful. Gentler atmospherics, such as light natural exterior details and reverberating dialogue in Khan's throne room, are accurate and make natural use of every speaker in the five-channel configuration. Basic dialogue is strong with center focus and consistent verbal clarity. Prioritization is never an issue.

Marco Polo: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Marco Polo: Season One contains several bonuses on disc three, more than the average Anchor Bay-released TV show Blu-ray.

• The Marco Polo Documentary (1080p, 38:02): A detailed look at the real Marco Polo with various filmmakers (including Creator John Fusco) and historical technical advisers who worked on the show.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Episode 1: Alternate Opening Sequence (2:46), Marco in Venice -- Extended (8:45), and Niccolo's Homecoming Dinner (3:27). Episode 2: Marco Destroys His Room (1:06). Episode 3: Ahmad & Marco Before Kaidu's Feast (2:19) and Extended Ending (4:54). Episode 4: Prelude to Diplomacy (0:54) and Marco's Sword (1:15). Episode 5: "I Am Destined for Paradise" (1:58) and Jingim Rouses the Mongol Generals (2:58). Episode 8: Jia Sidao's Confession -- Extended (1:52). Episode 9: Empress Chabi & Kokachin -- Extended (1:20), Byamba & Khutulun Make Dinner (2:03), Kaidu's Family Dinner (4:01), and Marco's Meditation -- Extended (2:43). Episode 10: Kokachin & Marco -- Extended (1:06) and Kublai Khan's Victory Ceremony (2:10).
• Gag Reel (1080p, 3:23).
• The Martial Arts of Marco Polo (1080p, 7:33): Creator John Fusco and Stunt Coordinator Brett Chan explore the series' groundbreaking choreography.
• Fight Scene Rehearsals (1080p): A look at fight rehearsals, which include sound effects and a bit of CGI, often juxtaposed with the final sequence as seen in the show. Included are Hundred Eyes vs. Marco (1:09), Mei Lin vs. Song Soldiers (0:57), Jia Sidao vs. Whirlwind Tiger (0:50), Hashshashin Attack (2:16), Mei Lin Attacks at White Moon Festival (1:32), Fang Zhen & Hundred Eyes vs. Jia Sidao (2:09), and Marco & Hundred Eyes vs. Jia Sidao (3:18).
• The Visual Effects of Marco Polo (1080p, 2:57): A compilation of incomplete vs. complete effects shots.
• The Making of the Opening Titles (1080p, 1:40): A quick, no commentary run-though of the creative process behind the titles.
• Concept Art-to-Scene Comparison (1080p, 3:08): Concept art is juxtaposed with the final shot from the series.
• Concept Art Gallery (1080p): Can be viewed as either a slideshow (9:46) or a user-controlled gallery.
• Costume Gallery (1080p): Can be viewed as either a slideshow (3:16) or a user-controlled gallery.

Marco Polo: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Marco Polo brings with it fresh scenery and oftentimes soaring technical attributes but little more to the overcrowded TV landscape. Character definition never soars and the dramatic elements -- both overt and those that lurk below the surface -- can't escape a sense of repetitiveness that leaves it feeling like a Johnny (or Marco, in this case) come lately looking to capitalize on a thriving market rather than bring anything new to it. It's a perfectly serviceable show, but it doesn't go out of its way to distinguish itself beyond the façade. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Marco Polo: Season One features excellent video and audio. Supplements are a little more in-depth than the average Anchor Bay-released TV Blu-ray package. Fans should have no qualms about adding it to their collections, particularly considering the uptick in quality and collectible value over the general Netflix stream.