December 12, 2016

The adventure is over for Marco Polo. Word is in this evening that Netflix has cancelled the historical drama after just two seasons, marking the first time one of its original scripted series has gotten the axe before making it to Season 3.

Marco Polo premiered in 2014 as the streaming service's first US-developed series intended for the global market. Its story followed the early years of the titular Venetian explorer, whose travels in Kublai Khan's court are beset with rivalry, greed, and betrayal.

The show initially garnered a good amount of attention, though its critical reception was decidedly lukewarm. Season 2 released this past summer to considerably less fanfare, which likely could not continue to sustain its sizable budget going forward. The series ends after a total of 20 episodes plus one Christmas special.