Season 2 Episode 6
'Serpent's Terms' is an episode of political machinations that is also perhaps Marco Polo's most disturbing episode to date. I cannot with this subplot of Ahmad pushing Ling Ling to Prince Nayan; this is abhorrent. I am choosing to focus instead on Mei Lin cooly and craftily playing along with Ahmad's plotting, whilst the truth of her fury was evident in her eyes. Even her conversation with Prince Nayan, forced upon her by Ahmad, became a way for her to find out where the Prince intended to take her daughter. Her voice low and almost grateful, there remained a determined promise there that, as Prince Nayan suggested, she would pay them a visit.
Ahmad pushed Ling Ling to Prince Nayan as a way to convince him to back Kaidu in his upcoming showdown with Kublai. Kaidu may have been a reluctant enemy to Kaidu, but his mother Shabkana carried deep wounds against Kaidu's house. Khutulun worried about where her grandmother was leading her father toward and, after a brief fight, convinced her brother Orus that they needed to be by their father's side. The Kaidu who left Cambulac, however, was no longer the fond father who chose Khutulun as his heir. When Khutulun questioned him, he responded with a harsh slap.
Away from Cambulac, in the royal hunting grounds outside Xanadu, Kublai managed to awe Arban and the other assembled clans with a rousing speech punctuated by a display of fireworks. It was a triumphant performance that could very well convince his reluctant people to join him in his campaign for the West. Unknown to Kublai (and to Jingim), there was an upheaval in their very house. Kokachin was falling apart. She thought the real Kokachin, the Blue Princess, blinded the Khan's best horses so she could escape. When she came to Marco, however, her hands were still stained with blood. Marco wisely sent for Empress Chabi, who quietly took care of Kokachin.
Strays
▪️Kaidu's wife died giving birth to Khutulun.
▪️There was a Mongolian camp that appeared to have been attacked by a Christian army.
▪️Chulun was Kaidu's retired loyal general. His tribute to the Khan was a beautiful woman who performed for the assembled guests, and who later became Marco's lover.
▪️There was such a change in Marco and Jingim's relationship here, when compared to their relationship in the first season. Jingim was very clearly enamoured with his fourth wife.
▪️ Kokachin told Empress Chabi that she had been seeing the Blue Princess around.
▪️ Byamba saw another waggon laden with black powder. He was certain that, contrary to what he was told, the black powder was not headed for Cambulac. He beat up his commander who tried to stop him from deserting the army; he had decided to track down exactly where those waggons were going.
Ahmad pushed Ling Ling to Prince Nayan as a way to convince him to back Kaidu in his upcoming showdown with Kublai. Kaidu may have been a reluctant enemy to Kaidu, but his mother Shabkana carried deep wounds against Kaidu's house. Khutulun worried about where her grandmother was leading her father toward and, after a brief fight, convinced her brother Orus that they needed to be by their father's side. The Kaidu who left Cambulac, however, was no longer the fond father who chose Khutulun as his heir. When Khutulun questioned him, he responded with a harsh slap.
Away from Cambulac, in the royal hunting grounds outside Xanadu, Kublai managed to awe Arban and the other assembled clans with a rousing speech punctuated by a display of fireworks. It was a triumphant performance that could very well convince his reluctant people to join him in his campaign for the West. Unknown to Kublai (and to Jingim), there was an upheaval in their very house. Kokachin was falling apart. She thought the real Kokachin, the Blue Princess, blinded the Khan's best horses so she could escape. When she came to Marco, however, her hands were still stained with blood. Marco wisely sent for Empress Chabi, who quietly took care of Kokachin.
Strays
▪️Kaidu's wife died giving birth to Khutulun.
▪️There was a Mongolian camp that appeared to have been attacked by a Christian army.
▪️Chulun was Kaidu's retired loyal general. His tribute to the Khan was a beautiful woman who performed for the assembled guests, and who later became Marco's lover.
▪️There was such a change in Marco and Jingim's relationship here, when compared to their relationship in the first season. Jingim was very clearly enamoured with his fourth wife.
▪️ Kokachin told Empress Chabi that she had been seeing the Blue Princess around.
▪️ Byamba saw another waggon laden with black powder. He was certain that, contrary to what he was told, the black powder was not headed for Cambulac. He beat up his commander who tried to stop him from deserting the army; he had decided to track down exactly where those waggons were going.
Director: Jon Amiel
Writer: Noelle Valdivia
Original Air Date: 1 July 2016
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