The Emmy-nominated FX series Shōgun is not only an incredible series, but a massive improvement over Marco Polo, Netflix’s historical epic from 10 years ago. Although the series trace vastly different historical moments in their respective settings, both Shōgun and Marco Polo are large-scale dramas that pit ambitious men against ech other — one an outsider and one entrenched in the ongoing upheaval. With a staggering 25 Emmy nominations under its belt, the Japanese-language Shōgun has made TV history. However, the series made its mark before the awards season as, arguably, the year’s most talked-about show.

Although Shōgun is loosely inspired by a true story, the historical fiction epic centers on the cunning Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a powerful daimyo with many political rivals; John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), a bold English maritime pilot who becomes stranded in Japan; and Lady Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a determined woman who must prove herself — and her allegiances — as she serves as the translator between Toranaga and Blackthorne. Between Shōgun‘s incredible cast of characters and rich period-piece world-building, it’s easily one of TV’s most compelling historical epics, reiterating what Netflix’s Marco Polo could’ve been.

FX’s Shogun & Netflix’s Marco Polo Share Many Similarities

Both Historical Epics Navigate Similar Themes & Character Dynamics

 

Like Shōgun, Netflix’s Marco Polo is a big-budget historical epic. However, despite some powerhouse performances from screen legends like Joan Chen (The Last Emperor, Twin Peaks), Marco Polo only gestures at being true prestige television. The show’s first outing was universally panned, saddling Marco Polo with a dismal 33% aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes. Fortunately, the historical drama turned the tides in its sophomore season, which still boasts a 100% fresh rating. Given the series’ massive budget and uneven output, Netflix canceled its HBO imitation, suffering a reported $200 million loss in the wake of Marco Polo season 2.

…the core premise of Marco Polo is that an outsider — in this case, a white Venetian merchant — plants himself in another country’s political sphere.

Looking back, it’s almost as if Marco Polo grafted some of the most troubling dynamics of author James Clavell’s Shōgun onto a different setting. Starring Lorenzo Richelmy as the title character, Netflix’s old-fashioned epic is loosely inspired by the true events of Marco Polo’s time in the court of Kublai Khan (Benedict Wong), the Mongol Empire’s Khagan and Yuan dynasty founder. Like Shōgun, the core premise of Marco Polo is that an outsider — in this case, a white Venetian merchant — plants himself in another country’s political sphere, only to clash with an equally ambitious leader.

Why Shogun Is A Much Better Show Than Marco Polo

Shogun Is One Of The Year’s Best Dramas But It Isn’t Without Its Issues

Compared to Marco Polo, Shōgun‘s impressive Rotten Tomatoes score — a 99% from critics and an equally impressive 92% from audiences — speaks for itself in many ways. In fact, Shōgun, which Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima dubbed “Game of Thrones set in 17th century Japan,” gets high marks for its ambitious scope, keen attention to period-piece detail and authenticity, and largely powerful performances. While FX’s adaptation does a much better job of centering its Japanese characters, it can’t completely escape the Eurocentrism of its source material, though Shōgun is certainly more self-aware than other historical dramas.

FX’s Shōgun season 1 is streaming on Hulu, while both seasons of Marco Polo are streaming on Netflix.