Marco Polo (TV series)

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Television series
German title Marco Polo
Original title Marco Polo
Country of production United States
original language English
Year (s) 2014-2016
Production
company		 The Weinstein Company
length 52-60 minutes
Episodes 20 + 1 in 2 seasons
genre Drama
Historical Fantasy
idea John Fusco
music Eric V. Hachikian,
Peter Nashel
First broadcast December 12, 2014 on Netflix
German-language
first broadcast		 December 12, 2014 on Netflix
occupation

Marco Polo is an American television series about the early years of Marco Polo , which from since December 12, 2014 Netflix via streaming is broadcast. In December 2016, the series was discontinued after the second season due to the high production costs.

action

Marco Polo grows up alone with his aunt, since his father, Niccolò Polo , is constantly traveling as a trader , researcher and adventurer until Niccolò Polo takes his son on a multi-year trip through Asia. At the court of Kublai Khan , the grandson of Genghis Khan , he leaves him as a pledge so as not to be banished. Kublai Khan ruled Mongolia in the 13th century and soon plans to expand his power to all of China .

Marco Polo experienced his young years in a society characterized by intrigues, power struggles and bloody campaigns.

occupation

The synchronization of the series was created at Studio Hamburg Synchron based on a dialogue book by Kira Uecker and Robert Kotulla and directed by Sascha Draeger .

Main role

Role name Actress Main role
(episodes) 		Supporting role
(episodes) 		Voice actor
Marco Polo Lorenzo Richelmy 1.01-2.10 Tobias Schmidt
Kublai Khan Benedict Wong 1.01-2.10 Achim book
Empress Chabi Joan Chen 1.01-2.10 Anne Moll
Prince Jingim Remy Hii 1.01-2.10 Martin Brücker
Bayan / a hundred eyes Tom Wu 1.01-2.10 Sascha Draeger
Mei Lin Olivia Cheng 1.01-2.10 Kristina von Weltzien
Byamba Uli Latukefu 1.01-2.10 Oliver Warsitz
Yusuf Amr Waked 1.01–1.09 Oliver Boettcher
Chancellor Jia Sidao Chin Han 1.01–1.10 2.07 Robert Kotulla
Nerggui / Kokachin Zhu Zhu 1.01-2.10 Sonja Stein
Ahmad Mahesh Jadu 1.01-2.10 Christian Stark
Khutulun Claudia Kim 2.01-2.10 1.03-1.10 Eva Michaelis
Orus Leonard Wu 2.01-2.09
Kaidu Rick Yune 2.01-2.10 1.01, 1.03, 1.08-1.10 Constantin von Westphalen
Nayan Ron Yuan 2.02-2.09

Supporting role

Role name Actress Supporting role
(episodes) 		Voice actor
Maffeo Polo : Marco's uncle Corrado Invernizzi 1.01, 1.04-1.06
Niccolò Polo : Marco's father Pierfrancesco Favino 1.01, 1.04-1.06, 2.04, 2.07-2.10 Stephan Benson
Ariq Böke Baljinnjamyn Amarsaikhan 1.01–1.02
Sorga Vanessa Vanderstraaten 1.01–1.10
Ling Ling Chloe Luthi (Season 1)

Jamie Chew (Season 2)

1.01-2.08
Jing Fei Shu An Oon 1.01–1.08
Za Bing Lawrence Makoare 1.01–1.08
Empress widow Xie Daoqing Kheng Hua Tan 1.01–1.09 Traudel Sparrowhawk
Child Emperor Duzong Max Kellady 1.02-2.02
Tulga Nicholas Bloodworth 1.03-1.08 Patrick Bach
Sabbah Darwin Shaw 1.05
Kokachin Ester Low 1.05, 2.05-2.09
lotus Michelle Yeoh 2.01-2.08 Svenja Pages
Sukh Daniel Tuiara 2.01-2.10
Shakana Jacqueline Chan 2.02–
Arban Chris Pang 2.02–
General Qaban Byambadorj Altanhuyag 2.02, 2.04, 2.10
Bai Tosh Zhang 2.02, 2.05, 2.08
Gerel Thomas Chaanhing 2.02-2.06
Pope Gregory Gabriel Byrne 2.04
Bariyachi Bayarsaikhan Baljinnyam 2.05, 2.09 Kerstin Draeger
Kasar Jason Chong 2.05-2.06, 2.10
Chuluun Togo Igawa 2.06-2.07
Shoreh Laura Prats 2.06-2.07

production

In early January 2012, the American cable broadcaster Starz ordered a 10-part first season of the Marco Polo direct-to-series television series. Since the search for suitable filming locations dragged on and the planned shooting on the original locations in China turned out to be too complicated, Netflix finally took over the project in January 2014 and ordered ten episodes of the series. The first season production cost Netflix $ 90 million. In January 2015, Netflix announced the production of a ten-part second season, which was released on July 1, 2016.

In order to experience the setting of his story for himself and to incorporate its exoticism into the script, John Fusco traveled through Mongolia on horseback.

The film was shot in Italy , Kazakhstan and in the new Pinewood Studio in Johor Bahru , Malaysia . In Malaysia, 51 sets were built with 130 tons of plastic and 1.6 tons of silicone.

In December 2016 it was announced that Marco Polo will no longer be continued after the second season. This makes Marco Polo the first large-scale Netflix Originals series to be canceled at such an early stage. The reasons for this can probably be found in the considerable production effort already described.

Episode list

The first season of the series was released via streaming on Netflix on December 12, 2014 . Season 1 went online simultaneously in all Netflix international markets.

season 1

No.
( total ) 		No.
( St. ) 		German title Original title First broadcast in the USA German language first broadcast (D / A / CH) Director script
1 1 The traveler The Wayfarer Dec 12, 2014 Dec 12, 2014 Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg John Fusco
After Niccolò Polo returns from a long journey that missed the death of his wife, he meets Marco, his son, for the first time. With Marco's uncle, Maffeo, he would like to go on a trip to Kublai Khan again. Marco wants to accompany him, but Niccolò forbids him. When they are in the middle of the sea, Niccolò discovers his son who was hiding. They travel for three years and are eventually captured by Mongols and taken to the Kublai Khan. According to Marco's stories about the trip, he is visibly taken with him. Niccolò notices this and leaves Marco as a pledge for her freedom. Marco is initially held captive, but at the same time instructed in martial arts, hunting, language and archery. Meanwhile, Kublai Khan sends a fighting force to the Chinese walled city of Xiangyan, where Chancellor Jia Sidao is currently in charge. However, the troop realizes that they are clearly outnumbered and discusses a withdrawal. Kublai Khan shows Marco what life could be like for him if he is loyal by letting him walk through a love house where he is not allowed to touch women.
2 2 About the wolf and the deer The Wolf and the Deer Dec 12, 2014 Dec 12, 2014 Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg John Fusco
3 3 The party Feast Dec 12, 2014 Dec 12, 2014 Alik Sakharov Michael Chernuchin
4th 4th The fourth step The Fourth Step Dec 12, 2014 Dec 12, 2014 Alik Sakharov Brett Conrad
5 5 Assassins Hashshashin Dec 12, 2014 Dec 12, 2014 Daniel Minahan Patrick Macmanus
6th 6th The white moon White moon Dec 12, 2014 Dec 12, 2014 Daniel Minahan Dave Erickson
7th 7th The scholar's pen The Scholar's Pen Dec 12, 2014 Dec 12, 2014 David Petrarch Michael Chernuchin
8th 8th The image Rendering Dec 12, 2014 Dec 12, 2014 John Maybury Brett Conrad
9 9 The prisoners Prisoners Dec 12, 2014 Dec 12, 2014 David Petrarch Patrick Macmanus
10 10 The heavenly and the original The Heavenly and Primal Dec 12, 2014 Dec 12, 2014 John Maybury John Fusco

Special episode

No.
( total ) 		No.
( St. ) 		German title Original title First broadcast in the USA German language first broadcast ( D ) Director script
11 1 A hundred eyes One Hundred Eyes Dec 26, 2015 Dec 26, 2015 Alik Sakharov John Fusco

season 2

The second season was released via streaming on July 1, 2016 on Netflix .

No.
( total ) 		No.
( St. ) 		German title Original title First broadcast in the USA German language first broadcast (D / A / CH) Director script
12 1 Hunter and sable furrier Hunter and the Sable Weaver July 1, 2016 July 1, 2016 Daniel Minahan John Fusco
13 2 hug Hug July 1, 2016 July 1, 2016 David Petrarch Patrick Macmanus
14th 3 The holy mountain Measure Against the Linchpin July 1, 2016 July 1, 2016 Daniel Minahan Elizabeth Sarnoff
15th 4th Let God's work begin Let God's Work Begin July 1, 2016 July 1, 2016 David Petrarch Kate Barnow
16 5 Lullaby Lullaby July 1, 2016 July 1, 2016 Jon Amiel Bruce Marshall Romans
17th 6th The conditions of the snake Serpent's Terms July 1, 2016 July 1, 2016 Jon Amiel Noelle Valdivia
18th 7th Lost crane Lost Crane July 1, 2016 July 1, 2016 Alik Sakharov Matthew White
19th 8th White horse Whitehorse July 1, 2016 July 1, 2016 James McTeigue Elizabeth Sarnoff & Patrick Macmanus
20th 9 Inherit Heirs July 1, 2016 July 1, 2016 James McTeigue Kate Barnow
21st 10 The Community The Fellowship July 1, 2016 July 1, 2016 Alik Sakharov Elizabeth Sarnoff & Patrick Macmanus

reception

Oliver Kaever from Zeit Online thinks the series looks “like the old-fashioned pre-Christmas program of conventional TV channels” and the “narrative freedom and dramatic sophistication with which other Netflix series so surprised” is missing here. He also sees problems in the build-up of tension: “In a historical drama, the dramaturgical paths are more well-trodden, the conflicts more foreseeable”. Stefan Kuzmany from Spiegel Online also sees the "historically more or less guaranteed material" about the story of Marco Polo as an "obstacle to the arc of tension", as everyone knows that Marco Polo survived the time at the court of Kublai Khan. “Unlike in similar modern series, the main character is never in real danger” and “the end of the saga [...] is known from the start”.

What is striking about the reception of the Marco Polo series is the high discrepancy between the opinions of the critics and the assessment by the audience. The critical rating of the first season on the Rotten Tomatoes platform is 24%, whereas viewers rewarded the series with an average of over 90% (as of December 29, 2016).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Peter Nashel & Eric V. Hachikian Scoring Netflix's 'Marco Polo' ( English ) In: Film Music Reporter . November 5, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  2. ^ Daniel Holloway: 'Marco Polo' Canceled By Netflix. In: Variety. December 12, 2016, accessed December 29, 2016 .
  3. ↑ German synchronous index | Series | Marco Polo. Retrieved April 3, 2019 .
  4. ↑ Marco Polo in the German synchronous file
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g h Netflix's 'Marco Polo' Sets Its Cast ( English ) In: The Hollywood Reporter . April 8, 14. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  6. ^ Joan Chen Joins Netflix Series 'Marco Polo' . In: Variety . May 15, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  7. ↑ Egyptian Star Amr Waked Joins 'Marco Polo' Cast (EXCLUSIVE) . May 20, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  8. ↑ Chin Han joins Marco Polo cast . May 16, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  9. ↑ Marco Polo in the German synchronous file
  10. ↑ Bernd Michael Krannich: Starz orders new historical series Marco Polo . In: Serienjunkies.de . January 14, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  11. ↑ Lenka Hladikova: Marco Polo: Netflix orders nine episodes of the series . In: Serienjunkies.de . January 14, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  12. ↑ Mario Giglio: Marco Polo: 2nd season from July on Netflix . In: Serienjunkies.de . April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  13. ↑ a b Todd Spangler: 'Marco Polo' Premiere: Netflix Launches Bid for 13th Century Empire to Conquer the Globe ( English ) In: Variety . December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  14. ↑ Lenka Hladikova: Marco Polo: Cast of the Netflix series has been determined . In: Serienjunkies.de . August 4, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  15. ↑ Jacob Stolworthy: Marco Polo Becomes fourth original series to be canceled by Netflix. In: The Independent. December 13, 2016, accessed December 29, 2016 .
  16. ↑ Helena Ceredov: Marco Polo Season 3: End after the 2nd season. In: kino.de. December 13, 2016, accessed August 21, 2018 .
  17. ↑ Henning Harder: Play By Day: Premiere of Marco Polo on Netflix Germany . In: Serienjunkies.de . December 12, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  18. ↑ Oliver Kaever: Bombastische Void ( English ) In: Zeit Online . December 12, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  19. ^ Stefan Kuzmany: Martial arts and concubines . In: Spiegel Online . December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  20. ↑ Marco Polo: Season 1. On: Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 29, 2016 .