Marco Polo ( TV series ) - wikipedia Marco Polo ( TV series ) Marco Polo Promotional poster Genre Historical Drama Adventure Created by John Fusco Directed by Joachim Rønning Espen Sandberg Alik Sakharov Daniel Minahan David Petrarca John Maybury Jon Amiel James McTeigue Starring Lorenzo Richelmy Benedict Wong Joan Chen Rick Yune Amr Waked Remy Hii Zhu Zhu Tom Wu Mahesh Jadu Olivia Cheng Uli Latukefu Chin Han Pierfrancesco Favino Ron Yuan Claudia Kim Jacqueline Chan Leonard Wu Thomas Chaanhing Chris Pang Gabriel Byrne Michelle Yeoh Theme music composer Daniele Luppi Ending theme Altan Urag Composer ( s ) Peter Nashel Eric V. Hachikian Country of origin United States Original language ( s ) English No. of seasons No. of episodes 20 + 1 special ( list of episodes ) Production Executive producer ( s ) Daniel Minahan Elizabeth Sarnoff John Fusco Harvey Weinstein Peter Friedlander Blair Fetter Bob Weinstein Patrick Macmanus Joachim Rønning Espen Sandberg Dave Erickson David C. Glasser Ben Silverman Chris Grant Producer ( s ) Richard Sharkey Brett Conrad Collin Creighton Michael Chernuchin Kate Barnow Bruce Marshall Romans Production location ( s ) Malaysia Kazakhstan Hungary Italy Slovakia Cinematography Romain Lacourbas Vanja Černjul Xavier Grobet Gavin Struthers Editor ( s ) Malcolm Jamieson Michael Berenbaum Allyson C. Johnson Andrew Marcus Barbara Tulliver Elizabeth Kling Malik Johnson Martin Nicholson Erica Freed Marker Andy Keir William Henry Running time 51 -- 60 minutes Production company ( s ) The Weinstein Company TV Electus Release Original network Netflix Picture format 1080i ( HDTV ), 2160p ( 4K UHD ) Audio format Dolby Digital 5.1 Original release December 12, 2014 ( 2014 - 12 - 12 ) -- July 1, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 01 ) Marco Polo is an American drama web television series inspired by Marco Polo 's early years in the court of Kublai Khan, the Khagan of the Mongol Empire and the founder of the Yuan dynasty ( 1271 -- 1368 ). The show premiered on Netflix on December 12, 2014. The series was written and created by John Fusco and stars Lorenzo Richelmy in the title role with Benedict Wong as Kublai Khan. The series is produced by The Weinstein Company. On January 7, 2015, Marco Polo was renewed by Netflix for a 10 - episode second season, which premiered on July 1, 2016. On December 12, 2016, Netflix announced they had canceled Marco Polo after two seasons. Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the series ' two seasons resulted in a $200 million loss for Netflix, and the decision to cancel the series was jointly taken by Netflix and The Weinstein Company. Contents 1 Cast and characters 1.1 Main 1.2 Recurring 2 Production 2.1 Music 3 Episodes 3.1 Season 1 3.2 Christmas special 3.3 Season 2 4 Reception 4.1 Accolades 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Cast and characters Main Actor Character Seasons Lorenzo Richelmy Marco Polo Main Benedict Wong Kublai Khan Main Joan Chen Empress Chabi Main Remy Hii Crown Prince Jingim Main Uli Latukefu Byamba Main Zhu Zhu Nergui / Princess Kokachin Main Mahesh Jadu Ahmad Main Tom Wu Li Jinbao a.k.a. `` Hundred Eyes '' Main Olivia Cheng Jia Mei Lin Main Rick Yune Kaidu Khan Main Pierfrancesco Favino Niccolò Polo Main Amr Waked Vice Regent Yusuf Main Does not appear Chin Han Chancellor Jia Sidao Main Guest Claudia Kim Princess Khutulun Recurring Main Jacqueline Chan Shabkana Khatun Does not appear Main Ron Yuan Prince Nayan Does not appear Main Leonard Wu Prince Orus Does not appear Main Michelle Yeoh Lotus Does not appear Main Thomas Chaanhing Gerel Khan Does not appear Main Chris Pang Arban Khan Does not appear Main Gabriel Byrne Pope Gregory X Does not appear Main Recurring Actor Character Seasons Chloe Luthi & Jaime Chew + Princess Ling Ling Recurring Max Kellady Emperor Gong of Song Recurring Esther Low Princess Kokachin Guest Recurring Tan Kheng Hua Empress Dowager Xie Daoqing Recurring Does not appear Patrick Teoh General Red Brow Recurring Does not appear Lawrence Makoare Za Bing Recurring Does not appear Nicholas Bloodworth Tulga Recurring Does not appear Shu An Oon Jing Fei Recurring Does not appear Vanessa Vanderstraaten Princess Sorga Recurring Does not appear Corrado Invernizzi Maffeo Polo Recurring Does not appear Baljinnyamyn Amarsaikhan Ariq Böke Recurring Does not appear Jason Chong General Kasar Does not appear Recurring Daniel Tuiara Sukh Does not appear Recurring + Luthi portrays Ling Ling in season 1, Chew in season 2. Production The series was originally developed at Starz, which had picked up the series in January 2012. After attempts to film in China failed, the project was released back to The Weinstein Company. Netflix then picked up the series for a 10 - episode season, for approximately $90 million, making it one of the most expensive TV shows in the world, second to Game of Thrones. The project was officially announced at Netflix in January 2014. Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg serve as executive producers and directed the pilot and second episodes, `` The Wayfarer '' and `` The Wolf and the Deer '', respectively. The series was filmed in Italy, Kazakhstan, and at Pinewood Studios in Malaysia. Stuntman Ju Kun was working on the show alongside fight choreographer Brett Chan, but went missing with the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 during pre-production. To prepare for her role as Chabi, Joan Chen read the book The Secret History of the Mongol Queens by Jack Weatherford, as she wanted her performance to reflect the culture of the time period. During his extensive research, show creator John Fusco traveled the Silk Road by horseback and also crossed the Ming Sha Dunes of Western China on camel. In Venice, Italy he sought out and studied the Last Will and Testament of Marco Polo. While some Mongolian viewers and experts view it as `` riddled with historical errors '', many have praised the series. Orgil Narangerel, who played Genghis Khan in a BBC documentary, said it was more accurate than any previous foreign portrayal of Mongolian culture. `` As a Mongol and an artist, Marco Polo makes me feel like our dreams are coming true, '' he told AFP. `` I watched all 10 episodes in just one day. '' Music The series featured music by Mongolian bands Altan Urag and Batzorig Vaanchig of Asia 's Got Talent, who cameoed as a singer. Daniele Luppi composed the main theme, whilst Peter Nashel and Eric V. Hachikian are composers of the original score. Episodes Season 1 No. overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original release date `` The Wayfarer '' Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg John Fusco December 12, 2014 ( 2014 - 12 - 12 ) 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 '' Joachim Rønning & Espen Sandberg John Fusco December 12, 2014 ( 2014 - 12 - 12 ) As Kublai Khan battles his warmonger brother for rule over Mongolia, Marco learns that justice in Khan 's Imperial City is swift as it is deadly. `` Feast '' Alik Sakharov Michael Chernuchin December 12, 2014 ( 2014 - 12 - 12 ) Marco begins a dangerous relationship with the beautiful Blue Princess as tensions grow between Kublai and Xiangyang 's cunning Chancellor. `` The Fourth Step '' Alik Sakharov Brett Conrad December 12, 2014 ( 2014 - 12 - 12 ) As war looms with the walled city of Xiangyang, Prince Jingim tests his diplomacy skills while Kublai questions Marco 's allegiance. 5 5 `` Hashshashin '' Daniel Minahan Patrick Macmanus December 12, 2014 ( 2014 - 12 - 12 ) Marco searches for the mastermind behind a murderous plot, while Prince Jingim weighs the risks of retaliation. 6 6 `` White Moon '' Daniel Minahan Dave Erickson December 12, 2014 ( 2014 - 12 - 12 ) On the eve of an auspicious ceremony, Marco searches for the culprit behind the assassination attempted on Kublai Khan, even as a new one takes shape. 7 7 `` The Scholar 's Pen '' David Petrarca Michael Chernuchin December 12, 2014 ( 2014 - 12 - 12 ) 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. 8 8 `` Rendering '' John Maybury Brett Conrad December 12, 2014 ( 2014 - 12 - 12 ) When Kublai sets his sights -- and his army -- on the taking of the walled city of Xiangyang, Marco 's allegiance is tested. 9 9 `` Prisoners '' David Petrarca Patrick Macmanus December 12, 2014 ( 2014 - 12 - 12 ) Marco finds his fate in the hands of Kublai yet again. Meanwhile, behind the walls of Xiangyang, Chancellor Sidao sets his sights on regaining power. 10 10 `` The Heavenly and Primal '' John Maybury John Fusco December 12, 2014 ( 2014 - 12 - 12 ) 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. Christmas special No. overall Title Directed by Written by Original release date 11 `` One Hundred Eyes '' Alik Sakharov John Fusco December 26, 2015 ( 2015 - 12 - 26 ) A 30 - minute origin story of Hundred Eyes, in which a defiant warrior - monk arrives at Kublai Khan 's court in chains and earns his nickname. Season 2 No. overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original release date 12 `` Hunter and the Sable Weaver '' Daniel Minahan John Fusco July 1, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 01 ) Much of the second season premiere is about getting reoriented in this world, establishing who these characters are and where they stand. After flashing back to a young Kublai Khan taking lessons from his grandfather, we see Kublai at home in his role, attending to trade issues while also preparing for his son 's wedding. Jingim is set to marry the Blue Princess, the former love interest of Marco Polo, securing more heirs to the throne. It is n't long before the day of celebrations is spoiled though. Khan 's bastard child Byamba shows up with a message from Kaidu, Kublai 's cousin. Kaidu is still angry about not being handed the lead during the sack of Xiangyang, and he 's prepared a form of retaliation. He 's going to challenge the Kublai 's rule as Khan in an attempt to secure the position for himself. Kublai, of course, does not accept such a ridiculous claim, but that 's not the news Byamba brings back to Kaidu. There 's a confrontation on the horizon this season, and it 's taking place within filial boundaries. As for Marco Polo, his first storyline of the season is lacking. He, along with Mei Lin, is looking for the boy emperor, the last heir of the Song Dynasty that Jia Sidao defended last season. The journey leads them past an outpost after Mei Lin uses her ties with the Red Lotus to bargain for safe passage. That leads them to a small house in the middle of the jungle where they believe the emperor is. After encountering quite the fight with a woman there, they find the boy emperor stashed away under the floorboards. 13 `` Hug '' David Petrarca Patrick Macmanus July 1, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 01 ) Marco Polo and Mei Lin are traveling through the jungle with the boy emperor in their care. They 're delivering the boy to Kublai, as Marco has been instructed, but their travel is n't so easy. The boy 's protector, who 's known only as The Handmaiden, is still chasing after them, somehow able to keep up with them despite traveling on foot. Meanwhile, Kaidu is doing everything he can to secure support in his claim to Kublai 's throne. While on the one hand it 's not a difficult sell because many believe Kublai stole the election long ago, there are also those who see going against Kublai as a dangerous act. Back in the new capital of Cambulac, Kublai is taking advice from his wife. She says that he needs to accept the challenge to his throne because Kaidu is operating within the law and any other approach would suggest weakness or deceit. Then, Marco and Mei Lin return with the boy emperor. The return sparks all kinds of intriguing relationships and power struggles. There 's Kublai asserting his power over Mei Lin, even as Marco asks for leniency. There 's Marco being `` introduced '' to the Blue Princess by Jingim, and the appropriate awkwardness that follows from the former secret romantic partners. Then there 's the issue of what to do with the boy emperor. While Jingim and Marco suggest letting the boy fade from the public 's memory by stashing him in a safe place, Ahmad suggests killing him and parading his head through the streets to send a message. Of course, this is the same man who 's working with Mei Lin to overthrow Kublai, even telling her that she could see her daughter in exchange for bringing the boy emperor to the capital. The Blue Princess has a miscarriage, but Jingim is forgiving and understanding. Kaidu has his meeting with Nayan, who 's preaching Christianity to the Mongolian masses, but they ca n't come to an agreement for him to back Kaidu 's claim to the throne. And of course there 's Marco telling Kublai of the many people in south China killing themselves, as they see the Mongolian presence not as liberation but as occupation. The whole episode revolves around a single decision though : Will Kublai kill the boy emperor ? As Ahmad brings the boy to Kublai, and leaves the two of them alone, it 's clear the emperor is conflicted. He first brandishes a dagger but then hugs the boy, consoles him for he knows he 's innocent. But, as he 's hugging him, he suffocates him, his limp body falling to the floor as Marco stumbles upon the scene, a look of disgust crossing his face before the credits roll. 14 `` Measure Against the Linchpin '' Daniel Minahan Elizabeth Sarnoff July 1, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 01 ) As the boy emperor hangs from the capital, and the Handmaiden takes the sight in, Kublai awakes from another nightmare, his wife still lambasting him for his decision to kill a child. Marco is n't too happy with him either, and with both in crisis, Kublai takes his Venetian friend on a hike in order to decide what to do about Kaidu 's claim to the throne. Meanwhile, the Blue Princess is having one hell of a time. Not only does the Handmaiden confront her ( though they both agree they have a common enemy ), there 's also the pressure to produce an heir before Kaidu 's claim comes to pass. That pressure leads to a truly sadistic moment from the Empress. During the night, she holds the Blue Princess down and forces a stable boy to have sex with her since Jingim has yet to impregnate her. `` The baby will have no royal blood, '' she says, with pure menace. While this is happening Jingim goes to Karakorum to help persuade people to side with his father. That means taking down a huge dude in a wrestling match and earning some respect, though that does n't stop Kaidu 's two children from attacking them on their way home. Furthermore, Kaidu makes a bold decision and insists that his daughter Khutulun, rather than his son, will be the next heir. This episode is all about the hike though. Marco and Kublai discuss death, responsibility, and fate, and come face - to - face with a wolf several times. Kublai and Marco stare the wolf down and eventually shoot it when things get dangerous. Kublai sees it as a sign. He will stare down Kaidu 's claim until it becomes too dangerous. 15 `` Let God 's Work Begin '' David Petrarca Kate Barnow July 1, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 01 ) Nayan is in Northern Israel, along with Marco 's father, to talk about Kublai. The discussion is rather simple. The Pope sees Kublai 's rule as a threat, especially since he 's so accepting of many religions, and vows to confront his forces should they move West. Nayan is less enthused about this idea, but when he proves his religious value to the Pope and the two agree to work together, he 's swayed, washing away his sins and preparing for battle. Meanwhile, the hunt is on for Jingim and Ahmad. Kaidu is pissed at his son because of his actions, which have brought Kublai to his doorstep. Together they all go out to search for the Khan 's missing sons. Along the way, Kaidu and Kublai connect with memories of their childhood but also remain divided on the prospects of the Mongol empire. Things get particularly heated when the insults start flying and Kaidu pulls his sword on Kublai. Ultimately, nothing comes of the moment, as Jingim and Ahmad are found, but certainly the challenge to the throne will not go so smoothly. The other dangling plot thread is that of the Blue Princess and her potential pregnancy. Here she finds out that the stable boy who impregnated her has been killed, and when she goes to see the body for herself she stumbles upon his wife and spends the day with her and her baby. It almost seems as if she 'll abandon her position, especially if Jingim is n't found. Alas, after some bonding with Ahmad, who almost reveals his plans to overthrow the Khan in his delirium, he is found, and she returns to greet him with the good news of her own pregnancy. 16 5 `` Lullaby '' Jon Amiel Bruce Marshall Romans July 1, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 01 ) Five rebels execute five different attacks and kill 300 Mongolians, as Ahmad informs the Khan. Kublai states that while he 'll still travel to Xanadu to challenge Kaidu, he gives Ahmad control of his forces to strike back. Meanwhile, Khutulun makes it clear to Kaidu that she 's not happy about being the heir because it would mean sacrificing her own goals, and Byamba, who she 's now separated from, is demoted to a foot soldier by Ahmad, who 's still working on his own plans to dethrone Kublai. Ahmad gains even more control when a guard tells him about the Empress leading a stableboy into Princess Kokachin 's chambers. That whole situation is about to get even more complicated because the real Princess Kokachin shows up, apparently not dead like we all believed, and wants her life back. At the same time, Marco continues to grow suspicious of Ahmad, especially as he decides to send nearly 60,000 troops to battle the uprising and only 7,000 with Kublai to Xanadu. `` Lullaby '' also spends a bit of time filling in Ahmad 's backstory. He was once simply a tax collector for the Khan, wanting to travel and learn about the people in Kublai 's empire. Before long though he becomes jaded ; a prostitute he shares a bed with, and ends up killing when she hums the same song his mother did when he was a child, signals his turn as he returns to Kublai and takes a position as his finance minister and begins to take control of his future. The future for everyone is clearly about to get chaotic. The Handmaiden and Hundred Eyes have a strange fight / dance showdown, Kublai is leaving for Xanadu with little protection and an uncertain meeting with Kaidu, and Ahmad is clearly gaining more power. 17 6 `` Serpent 's Terms '' Jon Amiel Noelle Valdivia July 1, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 01 ) First, as the episode opens, we see Kaidu and his mother secretly finding their way to Cambulac. They arrive in the middle of the night shrouded in hoods. The purpose of their meeting in the capital is to discuss the overthrow of the Khan with Ahmad. The Khan 's Vice Regent has made it clear that he wants Kublai gone, and he sees Kaidu as his own tool. Along with Kaidu he invites Nayan for the meeting, securing both in opposition to Kublai, the offer of Mei Lin 's daughter to the sinful Nayan helping to sway him. Meanwhile, Kublai is in Xanadu petitioning for votes, bringing a vision of empirical expansion, complete with cool fireworks, to the people there. There are harbingers of death all around though. Horses that were gifted to Kublai are attacked, found with their eyes carved out. Marco and Jingim believe it 's the work of Kaidu, but Kublai does n't seem worried. Eventually, after a night of passion with an exotic dancer who 's traveled the world, the Blue Princess visits Marco and the mystery of the horses seems solved. You see, the fake Blue Princess believes it was the real Blue Princess who attacked the horses, sending a message to Kublai and, more importantly the impostor Blue Princess, that she wanted her life back. When she goes to Marco with this theory though it 's revealed that she has blood all over her hands. The real Blue Princess seems to be a figment of her imagination, perhaps brought on by her guilt over her child and the dead stableboy. `` Serpent 's Terms '' ends with Ahmad, Nayan, and Kaidu forming an alliance -- one which Khutlulun is n't happy about -- while Kublai remains unaware, and Byamba is off on his own following barrels of black powder that he believes will reveal something corrupt. 18 7 `` Lost Crane '' Alik Sakharov Matthew White July 1, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 01 ) We see that Hundred Eyes and the Handmaiden, who he refers to as Lotus, were once friends and lovers, until the Mongolians attacked them, Hundred Eyes believing he watched Lotus die at the hands of an archer. That bit of backstory makes their reunion here that much sweeter, and their separation at the end of the episode all the more heartbreaking. The second attack is undertaken by Khutulun and Orus on the order of Kaidu. He 's conducting murderous raids under the banner of Kublai, having his children and warriors wear masks to conceal their identities. Essentially he 's framing Kublai in the hopes of drumming up support for his ascension to the throne. Meanwhile, the Blue Princess is truly losing it, and her visions threaten to reveal the true nature of the baby. Jingim is upset by his wife 's condition, but, after Kublai finds out about Kaidu 's attacks under his own banner, he 's ordered to ride East to engage in their own attacks. That 's all part of Ahmad 's grand scheme though : send Jingim East to die while Nayan and Kaidu amass troops in the West. There 's a twist that Ahmad does n't expect though : Mei Lin turns on him after he fails to deliver on his promise for her to see her daughter. That sends her to Marco, who gives her time with her daughter, and in return she tells him everything. Marco goes to the Khan and asks for his permission to head West even though he ca n't reveal why. He 's asking for trust and Kublai gives it. A good thing he does, too, as Marco and Jingim ride West and, after Byamba saves them from two of Kaidu 's men, discover the gathering forces and one big surprise : Marco 's father, Niccolò Polo. 19 8 `` Whitehorse '' James McTeigue Elizabeth Sarnoff & Patrick Macmanus July 1, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 01 ) First, Ahmad lies to Kublai about Jingim 's attacks in the East -- remember, Marco and Jingim actually headed West -- and when Mei Lin goes missing, Kublai questions his Vice Regent 's connection to her. At the same time, Niccolò goes missing from Nayan 's camp near the Twin Rivers, captured by Marco and Byamba. They spend the entirety of `` Whitehorse '' hiding in the woods, Marco questioning his father about where they will attack the Khan, and his father returning fire by essentially calling him a traitor to his Christian people. For a while it looks like Marco has no choice but to kill his father, but a last - minute attack leaves the elder Polo 's fate hanging in the balance. As for Mei Lin, she 's escaped her entrapment with Ahmad, daughter in tow, and when Mongols attack her on the road, Lotus comes to her aid. That forces Mei Lin to accept that the Mongols will keep coming after her and her daughter until she ends this feud, so she leaves her daughter in the care of Lotus, the same woman who could n't protect the boy emperor. Essentially, `` Whitehorse '' is about bringing the conflicts to the forefront before the season 's climax. Kublai learns of Ahmad 's betrayal when Jingim arrives home safe, and he 's devastated, crying in his wife 's arms when he realizes Ahmad tricked him into killing the boy emperor. With Nayan and Kaidu set on destroying Kublai, and Kublai realizing it now that Ahmad 's been outed, the forces are set to collide in the final two episodes of the season. And of course, Marco 's caught in the middle. 20 9 `` Heirs '' James McTeigue Kate Barnow July 1, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 01 ) The opening credits of Marco Polo do n't come until 20 minutes into `` Heirs '' because the show is too busy pulling off quite the battle scene. The episode opens with Kublai showing up at Nayan and Kaidu 's camp in the dead of night. He has quite the plan in store : He lights all of his white horses on fire and sends them running into the camp, where they light the tents ablaze and ignite the black powder, causing huge explosions. That fiery backdrop is also the stage for a number of individual moments. Kaidu is sent to safety by Niccolò so as to keep the hope of dethroning the Khan alive. Byamba and Marco fight side by side. Hundred Eyes comes face to face with a huge man covered in chain mail, but destroys him with a quick jab to the neck. Then, there are the big moments. Khutulun saves Byamba, showing that her love trumps her allegiance to her father. Jingim bashes Orus ' skull in, which Khutulun witnesses. Then Marco lets his father escape as Kublai watches from a distance. When the battle is over, Nayan is crucified and the Khan must reckon with the fact that not only has Ahmad betrayed him, holing up in Cambulac under the false pretense of the Khan 's orders, he also feels betrayed by Marco. The arrival of Jingim 's heir -- or `` Heirs, '' as the Blue Princess gives birth to both a girl and a boy -- should bring some joy to the lives of the Khan and his people, but it 's clear there 's more darkness on the horizon. Marco is banished from the tent, but only after the Blue Princess whispers her secret to him, and Kublai heads toward a vote that will impact his empire and legacy. 21 10 `` The Fellowship '' Alik Sakharov Elizabeth Sarnoff & Patrick Macmanus July 1, 2016 ( 2016 - 07 - 01 ) There 's a lot of sitting around, as Kublai and Kaidu await the outcome of the Kurultai, and Ahmad sits on the Khan 's throne in Cambulac, hoping that his plan unfolds in a timely fashion. Essentially, the episode is a lot of setup for a few moments that change the course of the show, and set up a number of stories for the third season. There 's basically two stories that make up `` The Fellowship. '' First there 's Kaidu and Kublai giving speeches and hoping to be selected as the Khan of Khans. It looks as if the vote is all but settled, with the people siding with Kublai and protesting Kaidu 's aggressive tactics. Of course, the Kurultai does n't go down without a hitch. Ahmad, backed into a corner by the presence of Jingim, Byamba, and Hundred Eyes, sends word to Kaidu revealing the truth about Jingim 's son and Kublai 's heir. Kaidu uses that knowledge to blackmail the Khan and the Empress, but they 're more determined than Kaidu gives them credit for. First, the Empress helps the Blue Princess drown herself, and Kublai attempts to poison Kaidu, hoping to stop the potential leak of the information. Kaidu gets the upper hand though and is moments away from killing Kublai when Marco saves him, coming back from his banishment to inform the Khan about an approaching Christian army, killing Kaidu and proving his loyalty to Kublai in the process. Back at Cambulac, Jingim, Hundred Eyes, and Byamba expertly pull off a raid that sees them take back control of the capital as Ahmad runs and hides. Unfortunately for him, Mei Lin is waiting for him in his room. She kills him and, in return, Jingim allows her to leave the capital freely, with Hundred Eyes offering to escort her back to her daughter. Thus, `` The Fellowship '' re-establishes Kublai as the Khan of Khans, and Ahmad, Kaidu, and the Blue Princess are dead. As Ahmad hangs from the entrance to Cambulac though, things are n't exactly peaceful. In fact, as the episode cuts to black, Byamba and Jingim look out at the empty camp where the Kurultai was meant to be held. The camera focuses in on a cross. Kublai may be back in full control, but the Christians are moving East. Reception 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. '' 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 ​ ⁄ 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. '' In 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. Fusco, himself, has described the series as historical fiction, based on the accounts of the Venetian traveler Marco Polo. Accolades Year Award Nominee ( s ) Result Ref. 2015 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music Daniele Luppi Nominated Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Main Title -- TV Show / Digital Series Daniele Luppi Nominated Australian Production Design Guild Awards Set Decoration on a Television Drama Christian Petersen Won SXSW Film Festival Excellence in Title Design Nominees Ben Smith Bryce Wymer Nominated 2016 American Society of Cinematographers Awards Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Series Vanja Cernjul Won Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Television Movie / Mini-Series / Pilot Romain Lacourbas Nominated 2017 Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing -- Short Form Sound Effects and Foley in Television Nominees Dave Paterson Rachel Chancey Glenfield Payne Damian Volpe Nominated See also Europeans in Medieval China Mongol conquest of the Song dynasty History of the Song dynasty References Jump up ^ `` Marco Polo TV series finishes shooting in Slovakia ''. The Slovak Spectator. Retrieved 7 July 2016. Jump up ^ `` Netflix 's ' Marco Polo ' Sets December Premiere Date ''. Deadline Hollywood. August 28, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Netflix 's ' Marco Polo ' Sets Its Cast ''. The Hollywood Reporter. April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014. Jump up ^ Fowle, Kyle ( July 1, 2016 ). `` A mega Marco Polo recap : Let 's talk about all of season 2 ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 6 July 2016. Jump up ^ `` ' Marco Polo ' Canceled at Netflix After Two Seasons ''. hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 13 December 2016. Jump up ^ Villareal, Yvonne ( 13 January 2012 ). `` Marco Polo to get the Starz treatment with new original series ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` The Weinstein Company, Seeking Hits, Shifts to TV ''. 25 November 2013 -- via The New York Times. Jump up ^ `` Netflix Is Creating One Of The Most Expensive TV Shows In The World -- Here 's Why It 's So Important ''. Business Insider. Retrieved 2016 - 01 - 07. ^ Jump up to : `` It 's Official : Netflix Orders Series ' Marco Polo ' From Weinstein Co ''. Deadline Hollywood. January 14, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Malaysia Airlines MH370 passengers include stuntman, honeymooners ''. 7 April 2014. Jump up ^ Mike Ayers. `` Inside ' Marco Polo, ' Netflix 's $90 Million Epic ''. WSJ. Jump up ^ `` Riding the Silk Road ''. Traveller. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 12. Jump up ^ `` Netflix Marco Polo Series ' Riddled With Historical Errors ' ''. January 29, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2016. Jump up ^ `` MARCO POLO : SEASON 1 ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 22, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Marco Polo ( 2014 ) : Season 1 ''. Metacritic. Retrieved December 22, 2014. Jump up ^ Jensen, Jeff ( January 7, 2015 ). `` Marco Polo Review ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 10, 2015. Jump up ^ Gliatto, Tom ( December 12, 2014 ). `` Netflix 's Fun New Marco Polo Is All About the Wrath of Kublai Khan ''. people.com. Retrieved January 10, 2015. Jump up ^ Bianco, Robert ( December 12, 2014 ). `` ' Marco Polo ' gets lost on the Silk Road to nowhere ''. USA Today. Retrieved January 10, 2015. Jump up ^ Newbould, Chris ( 28 June 2016 ). `` New season of Marco Polo to reveal the dark side of characters, says actor Lorenzo Richelmy ''. The National. Retrieved 4 June 2017. Jump up ^ Makinen, Julie ( 19 September 2014 ). `` ' Marco Polo ' brings the court of Kublai Khan to Netflix ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 June 2017. Jump up ^ `` Creative Arts Emmys : The Complete Winners List ''. The Hollywood Reporter. September 12, 2015. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015. Jump up ^ http://www.hmmawards.com/2015-music-in-visual-media-nominees/ External links Marco Polo on Netflix Marco Polo on IMDb Netflix original ended series Lilyhammer ( 2012 -- 14 ) Hemlock Grove ( 2013 -- 15 ) Turbo FAST ( 2013 -- 16 ) VeggieTales in the House ( 2014 -- 16 ) Marco Polo ( 2014 -- 16 ) All Hail King Julien ( 2014 -- 17 ) The Adventures of Puss in Boots ( 2015 -- 18 ) Richie Rich ( 2015 ) Bloodline ( 2015 -- 17 ) Between ( 2015 -- 16 ) Sense8 ( 2015 -- 18 ) Wet Hot American Summer : First Day of Camp ( 2015 ) Narcos ( 2015 -- 17 ) Terrace House : Boys & Girls in the City ( 2015 - 16 ) Popples ( 2015 -- 16 ) The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show ( 2015 -- 17 ) Care Bears and Cousins ( 2015 -- 16 ) Master of None ( 2015 -- 17 ) W / Bob & David ( 2015 ) Atelier ( 2015 ) Lost & Found Music Studios ( 2015 -- 17 ) Dawn of the Croods ( 2015 -- 17 ) Chelsea Does ( 2016 ) Love ( 2016 -- 18 ) Lego Bionicle : The Journey to One ( 2016 ) Netflix Presents : The Characters ( 2016 ) Marseille ( 2016 -- 18 ) Chelsea ( 2016 -- 17 ) Lady Dynamite ( 2016 -- 17 ) Hibana : Spark ( 2016 ) Paranoid ( 2016 ) The Get Down ( 2016 -- 17 ) Bottersnikes and Gumbles ( 2016 -- 17 ) StoryBots Super Songs ( 2016 ) Haters Back Off ( 2016 -- 17 ) Estocolmo ( 2016 ) Terrace House : Aloha State ( 2016 - 17 ) Gilmore Girls : A Year in the Life ( 2016 ) Captive ( 2016 ) White Rabbit Project ( 2016 ) Dirk Gently 's Holistic Detective Agency ( 2016 -- 17 ) Trollhunters ( 2016 -- 18 ) Crazyhead ( 2016 ) Chasing Cameron ( 2016 ) Edgar Rice Burroughs ' Tarzan and Jane ( 2017 ) We 're Lalaloopsy ( 2017 ) Abstract : The Art of Design ( 2017 ) My Only Love Song ( 2017 ) El Chapo ( 2017 -- 18 ) Disjointed ( 2017 -- 18 ) Five Came Back ( 2017 ) Girlboss ( 2017 ) The Keepers ( 2017 ) Gypsy ( 2017 ) Wet Hot American Summer : Ten Years Later ( 2017 ) The Defenders ( 2017 ) Alias Grace ( 2017 ) Godless ( 2017 ) VeggieTales in the City ( 2017 ) Damnation ( 2017 -- 18 ) Devilman Crybaby ( 2018 ) Collateral ( 2018 ) Everything Sucks ! ( 2018 ) The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale ( 2018 ) First Team : Juventus ( 2018 ) Seven Seconds ( 2018 ) Safe ( 2018 ) Evil Genius ( 2018 ) The Break with Michelle Wolf ( 2018 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marco_Polo_(TV_series)&oldid=853429512 '' Categories : Netflix original programming English - language television programs Cultural depictions of Marco Polo Cultural depictions of Kublai Khan Television series set in the Yuan dynasty 2010s American drama television series 2014 American television series debuts 2016 American television series endings Television series set in the Mongol Empire Television series set in the 13th century Television series by The Weinstein Company Hidden categories : Pages using infobox television with editor parameter Talk Contents About Wikipedia Azərbaycanca Català Čeština Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Հայերեն Italiano Nederlands Polski Português Română Русский Slovenčina Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська 中文 13 more Edit links This page was last edited on 4 August 2018, at 18 : 48 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: how many seasons of marco polo will there be
Answer: two seasons