Well, what a pity: what an enthralling landscape and tapestry of culture, what incredibly dull writing and stiff directing. In short, a sadly missed opportunity. It's like they took the writers from Game of Thrones and couldn't think what else to do but add sex and intrigue to the same ho-hum medieval England thought processes, rather than mine the real historical material of Asia for great stories. Marco is a comely lad who is constantly grim-faced in what ought to be an awesome adventure story. He ought to be having a great time, getting a free education in language and martial arts, free travel around a vast country; and if he has to protect himself, well, sheez, be clever and witty about it. Instead, all he is is grim.
The producers need to take a look at Korean sageuk, the genre of medieval historical TV drama series, in which the hero(ine) is smart and spunky, and stories move damned fast. Intrigue does not require sex and killing, but instead clever wordplay, research, legal maneuvers, manipulation of popular opinion, economic games, and, c'mon! -- the forbidden love interest that keeps the audience delighted and yearning!
I recommend the producers watch the Korean "The Jewel in the Crown" and "The Great Queen Seondeok." These are set amid read history, with plenty of murder and intrigue, but the writers are just plain clever and fun in filling in the blanks of the history through plot twists, giddy suspense, and skin-of-the-teeth scrapes for the hero(ine) (saved by wit) -- and a few endearing romances between historical figures that are made rather plausible! Yes, of course, a story about the Mongols can't avoid a lot of blood, since they were barbarians, but instead of making Marco so grim, how about making him the astonished observer who is drinking in history? How about making him a bright, quick-witted fellow who is always narrowly saving his skin through his entrancing storytelling to Kublai Khan? Read also Italo Calvino's "Invisible Cities" for more ideas.
As for the character Kublai Khan, all he is made out to be is a barbarian and who rules by fear, and he really has no personality. Just another Game of Thrones character. In reality, there's a reason he managed to command a vast empire and establish a dynasty, and that's because he was in fact pretty intelligent, curious, and liked to keep smart people around him (who weren't just grim and boring and without personality), spanning wide areas of learning from the arts through the sciences of the times. The producers ought to take a look at how Forrest Whittaker portrayed Idi Amin (and also how he took a liking to James McAvoy's hapless character): Idi Amin was a terrifying butcher, but he was also a charismatic egomaniac, sharp-minded, spoke several languages, and had a way of gaining loyalties. This series has every opportunity to show Kublai Khan as far more interesting and complex, and not just Jabba the Hutt!
And for those reviewers who think somehow it's accurate to have Asian actors appear stiff, baloney! Watch Korean sageuk and a few kung fu flicks -- the actors are quite engaging and lively, I assure you. And does every single woman have to be nude? This reminds me of some of the crap they sell to Western tourists in China: drawings of native ethnic girls with big boobs and tiny waists, which no Asian would want to buy. Also, here's a big TV series with opportunities for Asian actresses, and they still wind up being prostitutes, because that's the only way Westerners can manage to see them. Sigh. Could they hire some Asian writers to improve this show?
Meh, not a single clever plot twist after 3 episodes, so I think I'll beg off. Marco has not smiled once. What a big budget, great settings, cinematography, costumes, but boring and unimaginative writing for such an historical adventure.
The producers need to take a look at Korean sageuk, the genre of medieval historical TV drama series, in which the hero(ine) is smart and spunky, and stories move damned fast. Intrigue does not require sex and killing, but instead clever wordplay, research, legal maneuvers, manipulation of popular opinion, economic games, and, c'mon! -- the forbidden love interest that keeps the audience delighted and yearning!
I recommend the producers watch the Korean "The Jewel in the Crown" and "The Great Queen Seondeok." These are set amid read history, with plenty of murder and intrigue, but the writers are just plain clever and fun in filling in the blanks of the history through plot twists, giddy suspense, and skin-of-the-teeth scrapes for the hero(ine) (saved by wit) -- and a few endearing romances between historical figures that are made rather plausible! Yes, of course, a story about the Mongols can't avoid a lot of blood, since they were barbarians, but instead of making Marco so grim, how about making him the astonished observer who is drinking in history? How about making him a bright, quick-witted fellow who is always narrowly saving his skin through his entrancing storytelling to Kublai Khan? Read also Italo Calvino's "Invisible Cities" for more ideas.
As for the character Kublai Khan, all he is made out to be is a barbarian and who rules by fear, and he really has no personality. Just another Game of Thrones character. In reality, there's a reason he managed to command a vast empire and establish a dynasty, and that's because he was in fact pretty intelligent, curious, and liked to keep smart people around him (who weren't just grim and boring and without personality), spanning wide areas of learning from the arts through the sciences of the times. The producers ought to take a look at how Forrest Whittaker portrayed Idi Amin (and also how he took a liking to James McAvoy's hapless character): Idi Amin was a terrifying butcher, but he was also a charismatic egomaniac, sharp-minded, spoke several languages, and had a way of gaining loyalties. This series has every opportunity to show Kublai Khan as far more interesting and complex, and not just Jabba the Hutt!
And for those reviewers who think somehow it's accurate to have Asian actors appear stiff, baloney! Watch Korean sageuk and a few kung fu flicks -- the actors are quite engaging and lively, I assure you. And does every single woman have to be nude? This reminds me of some of the crap they sell to Western tourists in China: drawings of native ethnic girls with big boobs and tiny waists, which no Asian would want to buy. Also, here's a big TV series with opportunities for Asian actresses, and they still wind up being prostitutes, because that's the only way Westerners can manage to see them. Sigh. Could they hire some Asian writers to improve this show?
Meh, not a single clever plot twist after 3 episodes, so I think I'll beg off. Marco has not smiled once. What a big budget, great settings, cinematography, costumes, but boring and unimaginative writing for such an historical adventure.