Good TV.

Father, a tradesman always on Road.  Leaves wife in Italy, comes home to discover that when he last left her for his trading travels, she had been pregnant and now he is father of a bright boy, Marco Polo.  Father takes boy on his trade route East to Asia and the adventure starts. Many substories evolve into a wonder big story. Brainfood.

edit after finishing S1: 

Back after commenting on the first couple episides. This is replaces previous post. I completed S1 this afternoon while partially delirious from unk middle America virus.

I eagerly look forward to S2 tonite. I've upped all my ratings after finishing season 1.  there is not just one story to comment on with this series. (to help you calibrate my review: this series is similar to the  Americans with it's complexities. An excellent production that successfully interelates layered overlapping substories, FYI this is a positive comparison, I put the Americans on top of my current personal rankings of recent tv views, Netflix's Marco Polo is great TV but not quite as good as the Americans.) it is a complex, insightful multilevel overlapping set of stories within an awesomely Big Story about Mongol Expansion in Asia. Very entertaining with much brainfood if you let yourself get into it, I love it so far. However all is not great here, be forewarned: it will be so-so avg tv (boring even, if the complex interrelated substories are ignored. This is true even though I do like the  Marco substory of a westerner surviving  within the Mongols in their heyday.  So...some realistic advice, I think,  is: if you are looking for a quick entertaining hour or two, don't waste your time.  The other reviewers are accurate and in sync with my thoughts early-on in this series.   

That said, this  IS worthwhile bingeable TV.  The things that make this show worth watching I did not fully appreciate until I finished S1.  I would say the Story of Marco as well as the many other sub stories within the series' Big story  about the the post-Genghis Mongol's ambitious efforts to conquer every society within their world. It is the broad and ambitious Big story as well as the excellent integration of a complex web of substories that make this good brainfood. The producers entertainingly portray Mongol society and values. it ranges wide across:  Tao-Buddha-Christ  as well as East-West overlaps and straight forward War and Peace, Loyalty Sex Women's roles Asian geopolitics the Silk Road, it's these complexities and their seamless integration into a huge Overall story that make this worthwhile and Bingeable. Quality TV for me. But a waste to those who don't have much time and seek a short sweet comfortable view.  

a few more observations: The Marco story stops and starts as it is surrounded by so many substories.  Quality historical fiction, though I have no idea if it is historically accurate. 

sum up the sound here

Fine

below is a note after viewing episodes 1-4 of season 1.

As far as the lead: Marco is curious and capable in all facets of life.  He makes the show good from multiple perspectives, but especially from a multicultural view, I like it.   The depth of Marco's character is quite transparent in the 1st episode and I would expect that to develop well as I continue watching. Will return with more comments after more viewing, Good start. Onwards to a few more episodes. 

keeps me returning for more of the story, that's a good indicator. At start I try to ignore all reviews and somewhat randomly choose what to start watching  based on feedback from Friends with tastes I trust.  After episode 1, if I don't fall asleep, it's good, after episode 2, I wait.  After that my viewing is based on desire to see more.  I like brain stimulating material. right now:  I want to see more Marco Polo.