Marco catches the eye of a virgin warrior, and Jia wins the respect of the army.
Two rival leaders are battling that impression, accused of the unforgivable sin of unmanliness.
Two different approaches to a similar dilemma.
Credit: Phil Bray/Netflix
Its time to man up.
There is little for Kublai to celebrate after his convincing victory over his brother Ariqs uprising.
His battered body is recuperating, but his conscience is lagging further behind.
That is the last we shall speak of my brother.
Except he cant stop talking about it.
To Marco, who reluctantly obeys Kublais command to recite the Biblical story of Cain and Abel.
To his wife, whom he shares his haunted dreams.
He decides its time to demonstrate that hes not just the power behind the throne.
In full view of the soldiers, Jia masterfully incapacitates the warrior, taunts himPraying mantis kung fu?
Curious little hobby?and then snaps his neck for good measure.
Jia is not only in chargehe is both Sen. Palpatine and Darth Sidious.
Jia is purposely taunting Kublai as well.
At the banquet, Kaidu humiliates Jingim at every turnfor his failed battlefield leadership and for his Chinese upbringing.
Untainted, a true Mongolman… or woman.
Well, that horse has left the barn, so to speak.
She already tangled with Marco, and he clearly wasnt her first conquestwhich is what it was.
Her Pale Flower, as she called him, best be careful, though.
Even the Blue Princess seemed to notice the sparks between them.
Like Khutulun, the Blue Princess Kokachin is also prized as a potential match for ambitious men.
Hundred Eyes tells Marco, who remains infatuated by her, that she is the last of her tribe.
But shes not a spy, sending signals to the enemy.
She is leaving buried jewels for the young man, Tulga, who feels like blackmailing her.
Tulga didnt seem like the sort who traveled in royal circles.
Women are forced to do much worse things than lie to survive in Mongol-dominated China.
Mei is proficient in the art of arousal, but perhaps too much so.
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When Marco returns from Kaidus feast, Kublai summons him for his report.
This time, Marco liesin part to protect Jingims honor.
But this is a test.
Kublai already knows about his sons humiliation, and he cant stand deceit from Marco.
After all, if Marco isnt his fresh eyes, what good is he to Kublai.
A lie can cost innocence lives, he rants.
Such lies should be punished!
He is your scapegoat, Kublai tells Marco.
For at least the third time, Marco begins an attempt to escape.
Marco investigates and digs up the treasure.
This time, though, its not jewelry that he finds.
A deadly snakes lashes at him from the bag.
Who put the snake there, and was it intended for Marco?
Or is the snake just a metaphor for Marcos romantic obsession, and where it will lead?
But after three episodes, I feel almost the opposite aboutMarco Polo.
