What do House of Cards, Arrested Development, and Orange is the New Black have in common? Yep, they're all amazing. Oh, and to a slightly lesser extent, they're all made by Netflix.
Wait a minute! Surely this can't all be coincidence. Stay with me a minute, could there be a link between Netflix making a show, and the quality of the programme. Three out of three ain't bad, but it'd be great to have conclusive proof.
Ok, let me apologise for leading you in like that. See Netflix have actually announced a new show, and it looks amazing. But now that you're all excited, have a listen to the plot.
The show is Marco Polo, and it revolves around the adventures of the famous explorer while in Kublai Khan's court in China during the 13th century.
Mmm, we're not sure what adventures they are exactly, mainly because we didn't pay too much attention during history class, but the cast and crew looking amazing, which is enough to get us up off our seats, and subsequently sit back down again to watch the show.
The lead will be played by a relatively unknown Italian, Lorenzo Richelmy, while Cloud Atlas' Zhu Zhu will be his love interest Kokachin. Joan Chen of Twin Peaks glory and Benedict Wrong, who you may have seen in that little film Prometheus, will play Empress Chabi and Kublai Khan.
Quite an interesting idea for a show, and might be slightly more high-brow than the blood and boobs approach frequented by most popular period actions. Still, with Harvey Weinstein as an executive producer, as well as Dan Minihan(director of every show you've ever seen, including Game of Thrones, True Blood and Homeland) fulfilling the same role, as well as directing two episodes, we're pretty confident the show will be a big hit.
But try and contain the excitement, because "Marco Polo" won't premiere until 8:01am, very precise timing there, on 12 December 2014. Saying that, for those who miss Spartacus, and can't wait for the new season of Vikings or Game of Thrones, we think we've found you something to binge on over Christmas.
