Marco Polo is a historical epic centering on the exploits of the famed Italian explorer and his encounters with Kublai Khan, imperial ruler of the Mongols. It had its run from 2014 with two seasons, and was labeled as one of the most expensive TV shows. And even with a $200-million budget, the show failed to reach an audience that Netflix pulled the plug after the 2nd season.
For those hungry for period epics in the same vein as Marco Polo, there is a large plethora of shows available there. Here are ten of them (none of which are Vikings):
10 Beecham House
Co-created by Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha, Beecham House tackled the lives of a British family residing on a colonial period of India. Placing culture clash as the centerpiece for its social commentary, this ITV drama series utilized the talents of its ensemble cast, with Tom Bateman leading them as the head John Beecham.
Harkening the style of Downton Abbey but portraying two historical cultures, this is a must-see for history enthusiasts.
9 The White Princess
Based on Philippa Gregory’s Tudor dynasty novel that followed The White Queen, The White Princess depicted Elizabeth of York and her attempts to salvage the kingdom with her marriage with Henry VII and her resolve over the Wars of the Roses.
As Elizabeth, Jodie Comer showed both frailty and tenacity as a figurehead over a tense period of Britain. And with that kind of standout performance, Comer established herself as a talent to behold.
8 Britannia
Still about Britain's history, Britannia is set during the Roman quest of the Isles when two Celtic leaders strike an unlikely alliance to cut off the invasion set by Aulus Plautius.
Balancing the action set pieces with political intrigue, this Prime Video epic series embraced its own identity of peculiar mythos, outlandish characters and fantasy sequences that wield its history bending to creative gusto. The cast are game for the strangeness, which is still epic.
7 Kingdom
Speaking of strangeness, this Netflix series from South Korea blends two genres, centering on a prince investigating a mysterious plague that turns its victims into zombies.
While the blending of genres is fulfilled with seriousness, the strength of Kingdom lies in the execution of the action scenes and the production design (which is a staple on Korean TV shows). The realism of the zombie-like plague is truly effective that it blends well with the history.
6 The Last Kingdom
For all the attempts to recapture the levels of Game of Thrones or even Vikings, here is one about a Viking-raised Saxon who had to choose between honoring his birthright or consider the implications that his ancestry had caused.
A co-production between BBC and Netflix, The Last Kingdom lays a gritty outlook of the Anglo-Saxon period before the British kingdoms united. And as the central character, Uhtred of Bebbanburg is a rough yet compelling figure.
5 The Pillars of the Earth
Based on the best-selling novel by Ken Follett, The Pillars of the Earth is a rousing epic that places focus on the construction of a cathedral during a conflicted period between the kingdoms of England and Normandy.
Pitting two prominent empirical figures on an ethical battle over ethical ingenuity and resolve, this Golden Globe-winning miniseries portrayed the perseverance to keep a legacy running over a tumultuous period and the resulting events that came with it.
4 Knightfall
Just as Marco Polo is rendered as a charismatic but flawed figure, Knightfall portrays the central character, being a warrior (played by Tom Cullen) haunted by his exploits in the Crusades yet motivated by the news of the Holy Grail, in the same vein.
Though the quality does not strike the same way as the entries of this list, this History Channel series added more layers to portray the complex history of the Knights Templar.
3 Troy: Fall of a City
This is not exactly neither a direct adaptation of Homer’s epic Iliad nor a re-adaptation of that Brad Pitt movie. It is more of a reimagining of the conquests of Achilles to the ancient city of Troy, with the perspective more on Paris.
While nothing original in context, Troy: Fall of a City boasts well-executed battle scenes, political intrigue and more grounded representations of the characters. It also gave a unique take on Greek mythology.
2 Spartacus
Like many famed historical warriors, Spartacus received the miniseries treatment with this gritty epic that recalled many of its inspirations like Gladiator and 300.
The course of its three seasons outlined the rise of Spartacus as a prominent gladiator who led a Thracian slave uprising but contended with governing over his peers. As the titular figure, both Andy Whitfield (who died in 2011) and Liam McIntyre embodied an altered, grittier persona of the titular hero.
1 Rome
Finally, arguably the most successful of the entries of this list, Rome is HBO’s hidden gem of epic proportions. Booted for just two seasons, this series encompassed the transformation of the renowned city from a republic to an empire.
At its center are two soldiers, the principled Lucius Vorenus (played by Kevin McKidd) and the reckless Titus Pullo (played by Ray Stevenson), who lived out different periods of Rome. With its intricate production design and artful depiction of its historical events, Rome is a moving period epic that pays off its $110 million production budget that deserves a second look.
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