MovieChat Forums > Marco Polo (2014) Discussion > s1 > s2

s1 > s2

posted 9 years ago by taxman10
13 replies | jump to latest

Season 2 was a bit of a let down for me.

The absence of the "cricket minister" made me realize the gap that exists between the ability of the actors. He was a highlight. Too bad they didn't drag his role out across a few seasons. Not sure how well the show tracked history there.

Some things were confusing. Like the severed heads in ep1. The ghost Christian army or whatever that was. Guess it gets explained in S3? The way they did it didn't make it mysterious as much as baffling.

And maybe the writing was never great, but it seemed to really take a dive in S2 so far as the dialogue. "Suck my c*ck!" Late night in the writer's den and they just gave up and put whatever on the page?

Lots of things dragged. Like the endless birthing scene.

[–] meltinzone 9 years ago

We could be friends in real life. Literally, I have the exact same problems. This season Jingims performance improved greatly, and Tom Wu seemed to continue his scene stealing ways again! So apart from that, everything about season 1 was greater than season 2.

I agree as to the confusion. The overall story arcs weren't there. Things that dragged for an entire season, Ahmad and Nergui should have gone 3 episodes max, before they moved on. The whole Khan at the end mourning what he lost and an epic funeral type scene was missing. Things we wanted more of weren't there (Wu, Jingim, action) while things we couldn't care for (talking, emotions in -every- -single- -episode-, Nergui, Jesus) were there way too much.

I took no note of the writers in season 1, but upon a rewatch I will be paying attention. As this season a lot of women wrote or co-wrote episodes. The 'suck my cock thing' also blew me away. Not in a wow, I wasn't expecting that, but a way that made me feel like a modern saying you'd see in internet porn had somehow built itself a time machine and gone back and become language of then. Terrible writing, again. So I'm not sure if women writing was what ruined it this season, after all the start of episode 9 was epic, but the rest of the episode sucked and that was written by a woman.

Someone else also pointed out the lack of nudity, and I believe the drug trip scene from season 1, the best ever filmed on screen, was missing. The climb to the mountain made me feel Marco and Khan were going to do drugs and we were in for another epic scene, but it went a predictable route and felt disappointing.

As for the severed heads, they were from the killings when they knocked down the wall. But until that was explained by the Khan in another episode (much much later the same episode???) it had confused me too. And there were several things like that because the show was so full of nonsensical, irrelevant, pointless talking this season. I'm really curious about the writing staff difference this season. Season 1 was what percentage of male to females compared to this season. Rewatching and paying attention to the credits in season 1 is something I will get around to. I feel violence just comes so easily to men, and we're so happy just chilling and watching action that this seasons lack of over arching story arks and war games style strategies has a lot to do writing team changes. Not saying women can't write gruesome, bloody war, look at episode 9s first 20 minutes, however overall this season severely lacked what made season 1 so epic and had me so eagerly waiting this last 18 months.

At least Tom Wu delivered and didn't let me down with his epic martial arts speeches.

[–] taxman10 9 years ago

Yes, Tom Wu is excellent. I wish the Hundred Eyes prequel was longer, maybe multi-episode.

Also agree with Jingim. Much better this season. Giving him a beard improved things. In season one he looks androgynous. Maybe that was intentional. Mongols would take this guy seriously? No way!

The bastard brother... acting is not strong with him. He reminds me of an extra from Xena Warrior Princess or something.

[–] meltinzone 9 years ago

Hahahaha, yes! I felt the bastard brother needed a stronger plot. He needed to be seen killing people with his hands. I'm not sure if his acting was bad, I'd assumed it was the bland script/director/etc that had no direction and thus the character was flat because the actor had no way to know how he was meant to be portrayed. So I entirely see what you're saying ;-)

I'd LOVE, LOVE to see a Hundred Eyes show/prequel. Even if it ran for a single season. Tom Wu, I'd literally watch him eat an apple and he'd make it so we could feel how he felt. They could even make a movie, Pre-Bullet Proof Monk. Imagine his sublime comedic genius going through a world either guarding and training potential people, or having so much insight into the universe that he trains sean william scott without sean willaim scott even knowing he's being trained. The comedic shenanigan potential there would be amazing. Either way, I want more Tom Wu. Much, much more!

[–] Dejay 9 years ago

I binged watched season 1 some time ago but either forgot how awesome this show is or I really enjoyed season 2 MUCH more. This season was fantastic! I loved the plot and scene. Gonna have to watch season 1 again though.

[–] meltinzone 9 years ago

Are you a woman?
I ask because season 2 was filled with so much drama compared with the first, and in my mind, superior season.
As a 28yo dude, Hundred Eyes and Prince Jingim were the best parts of this season, by far.

[–] Dejay 9 years ago

If you mean character drama, then yeah I liked that too but it wasn't the main driver. I thought the scenes that show how Jingim stays by his brothers side, that idiot son of Kengri and his family drama and almost submission to his superior sister, how Hundred Eyes struggles and the reason why he serves Kublai, all this stuff was well written.

But what really made S2 more epic was to see where the story goes, what battles will be won and who will come out on top. I think they done a good job at making you care about the epic events and how they will play out.

I don't remember season 1 being that good, but like I said I have to rewatch.

PS: No I'm not a women lol.

[–] meltinzone 9 years ago

I'm surprised you're not a lady :p

The whole idiot son and that family were dismal in comparison to the 'insect guy' and his plots from season 1. And as for battles, wasn't there really only one action/battle/mission this season? Compared with at least 3 action/battle/mission from memory last season?

You should definitely give season 1 a re-watch. I'm going to leave it a month then re-watch the whole lot. Maybe I'm mistaken and season 1 wasn't as awesome as I remember it. However I've found so many shows that come out, you genuinely enjoy the hell out of the first season, then many take a nosedive on the second season because you're expecting so much of it after their epic debut season. Bloodline and Nathan For You are some of the only shows in recent years (yet to watch season 2 of UnReal) where season 2 didn't leave me feeling disheartened. I really hope Mr. Robot doesn't fall into that category of so awesome then super let down. And it's not prone to just dramas or sitcoms, it's literally most new shows. I believe they realize they have a hit, then want to draw it out for x-number of seasons, instead of just giving us solid seasons for 3-4 years, they want to use fillers of all kinds to make the same content last 4-8 years.

Silicon Valley is a prime example. Original season was 8 episodes, and it was a comedy. It nailed it. No dead spots, just jokes. Season 2 jumped to 10 episodes, so rather than jokes for 8 episodes, the same number were then expanded into 10 episodes. On top of that they realized they had a hit and drew it our even further and stopped taking chances like they did that made season 1 so great. So now you basically have the same original jokes for 8 episodes in a single season, expanded into 20 episodes over season 2 and 3. They have no choice but to write mediocore jokes and filler drama, just to fill in time. Not only does this filler *beep* ruin the pace of the show, but it means a comedy became a drama.

In much the same way I feel this season of Marco Polo, bar a few things, were drawn out for many episodes. What could have happened in 3 episodes took 10 episodes. Considering most of these shows have around a year between seasons, I find it lazy and not good enough to the loyal viewers that are part of the reason they even got picked up for a second season. It's all about money and catering to the biggest audience possible. Netflix never used to be like that, I hope it's just a one of....

[–] Dejay 9 years ago

Lol stop being sexist ;)

Yeah I have to rewatch. Maybe I just "rediscovered" the show. Binge watching can be tricky. It's possible I watched the whole season 1 in one big gulp while staying up all night, couldn't stop, and couldn't really appreciate it being tired, or really remember it in detail.

I don't know, I really think a lot happened in season 2. There was a lot of suspense for me on how things, battles and confrontations turn out. Like "will he kill the boy?" etc. There was not a single moment where I thought "oh this is getting boring". I was more invested in the characters and the stakes, while I feel like season 1 was more of a journey with new characters and themes every episode.

Just watched the pilot for Bloodline, but wasn't too captivated. Does it get better?

[–] meltinzone 9 years ago

Yeah I just wish more of those moments happened. Like many more. Imagine how quiet malls would be at christmas if Kublai was santa to the children :p :p hahahaha

As for Bloodline, it gets so good. So good. I'm kind of jealous of people who get to go through both seasons back to back. I had to wait a year...

I'll be rewatching Bloodline again before I get to Marco Polo. If you ever watched Damages, it's made by the same people, and that's a highly regarded show that ran for 5 or so seasons. I'm a big fan of anything Linda Cardellini is in and Ben Mendelsohn, well if I put him and Tom Wu in a line up and tried to pick the best most unknown/underrated actor, I'd be there for days. The cast is super solid. Season 2 builds on season 1s foundation. If one of the actors from this show was in a new show, I'd check it out, that's how terrific they all are at playing their part.

Definitely recommend sticking with it for a few more before you decide it isn't your cup of tea. ;-)

[–] Acid_Reflex 9 years ago

I can't even finish it. It is garbage. First garbage Netflix has made yet in my opinion (dramas)

*All they make are unwatchable movies from unreadable books.

--Clarence Worley

[–] xystophoros 9 years ago

Jia Sidao was the cricket minister, played by Chin Han.

And yes, Marco Polo missed him sorely. IMO he was right up there with Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus in Gladiator, and King Joffrey from GoT, as one of the most despicable and excellently-played villains.

[–] Acid_Reflex 9 years ago

He definitely made season 1 watchable

*All they make are unwatchable movies from unreadable books.

--Clarence Worley

[–] Exar-Sama 8 years ago

Yes...though not completely IMO.

Season 1 rounded out superior to 2, once season 2 was over for me. I'd say the best episodes were second half of season 1 (those with story and lacking long sequences of naked women for no reason other than giving the pussy quota), and the first 2 or so of season 2.

Cricket Minister was played by a tremendously talented actor and should have been utilized more. I also though the same of Nayan, another great actor in that role, though the character could have been so much more (and not a pedo) as a Christian Mongol Prince. Total lost potential there in favor of shock value.

Anyhow season 2's storylines of false parentage, rape with the forced stableboy leading to pregnancy of the next heir, Jingim's wife is dead before her time, she wasn't even a princess (I was fine with that for her twist but then the rest got heaped on), and so on. It was a trainwreck. They totally gutted the Blue Princess's character in under 3-4 episodes, dragged her into the dirt, then had her off herself. I guess she couldn't be happy post white-savior...she couldn't go on, she couldn't just have a child with Jingim like in history and serve as mother to the next Khan. (And people complain the second season was feminist? FFS...)

ANYWAY...
That storyline was an absolute convoluted mess and the kind of dreck you'd find on Maury. It's melodrama of the worst order and along with Ghost Christians/nasal British crusaders, has brought this show down from an 8 to a 7 for me.

People got more 100 Eyes which I think they all wanted, but some of the dialogue, characters, and storylines all took a major hit in the end.