Netflixdropped all 10 episodes of the second season ofMarco Poloon July 1.
There are two recaps per page, so feel free to dig in and read along while you watch.
It isn’t long before the day of celebrations is spoiled though.
Credit: Phil Bray/Netflix
There’s a confrontation on the horizon this season, and it’s taking place within filial boundaries.
As for Marco Polo, his first storyline of the season is lacking.
That leads them to a small house in the middle of the jungle where they believe the emperor is.
The season premiere ofMarco Polois lacking in action and heavy on the setup, but the setup is promising.
Marco Polo and Mei Lin are traveling through the jungle with the boy emperor in their care.
Meanwhile, Kaidu is doing everything he can to secure support for his claim to Kublai’s throne.
Back in the new capital of Cambulac, Kublai is taking advice from his wife.
Then, Marco and Mei Lin return with the boy emperor.
The return sparks all kinds of intriguing relationships and power struggles.
There’s Kublai asserting his power over Mei Lin, even as Marco asks for leniency.
Then there’s the issue of what to do with the boy emperor.
Note: Don’t trust this Ahmad (Mahesh Jadu) dude.
The rest of the episode is filled with small subplots that could have implications later.
The Blue Princess has a miscarriage, but Jingim is forgiving and understanding.
The whole episode revolves around a single decision though: Will Kublai kill the boy emperor?
Meanwhile, the Blue Princess is having one hell of a time.
That pressure leads to a truly sadistic moment from the Empress.
“The baby will have no royal blood,” she says, with pure menace.
While this is happening Jingim goes to Karakorum to help persuade people to side with his father.
This episode is all about the hike, though.
Marco and Kublai discuss death, responsibility, and fate, and come face-to-face with a wolf several times.
Kublai and Marco stare the wolf down and eventually shoot it when things get dangerous.
Kublai sees it as a sign.
He will stare down Kaidu’s claim until it becomes too dangerous.
EPISODE 4: “LET GOD’S WORK BEGIN”
Hey look, it’sGabriel Byrne!
The discussion is rather simple.
Meanwhile, the hunt is on for Jingim and Ahmad.
Kaidu is pissed at his son because of his actions, which have brought Kublai to his doorstep.
Together they all go out to search for the Khan’s missing sons.
Things get particularly heated when the insults start flying and Kaidu pulls his sword on Kublai.
The other dangling plot thread is that of the Blue Princess and her potential pregnancy.
It almost seems as if she’ll abandon her position, especially if Jingim isn’t found.
Sure enough, “Lullaby” begins with a set of bombings orchestrated by the Handmaiden.
Five rebels execute five different attacks and kill 300 Mongolians, as Ahmad informs the Khan.
“Lullaby” also spends a bit of time filling in Ahmad’s backstory.
The future for everyone is clearly about to get chaotic.
First, as the episode opens, we see Kaidu and his mother secretly finding their way to Cambulac.
They arrive in the middle of the night shrouded in hoods.
The purpose of their meeting in the capital is to discuss the overthrow of the Khan with Ahmad.
There are harbingers of death all around though.
Horses that were gifted to Kublai are attacked and found with their eyes carved out.
Marco and Jingim believe it’s the work of Kaidu, but Kublai doesn’t seem worried.
EPISODE 7: “LOST CRANE”
“Lost Crane” opens with a series of attacks.
The first is delivered in flashback.
The second attack is undertaken by Khutulun and Orus on the order of Kaidu.
Essentially he’s framing Kublai in the hopes of drumming up support for his ascension to the throne.
He’s asking for trust and Kublai gives it.
“Whitehorse” spends much of its running time unraveling Ahmad’s plans.
Essentially, “Whitehorse” is about bringing the conflicts to the forefront before the season’s climax.
And of course, Marco’s caught in the middle.
The episode opens with Kublai showing up at Nayan and Kaidu’s camp in the dead of night.
That fiery backdrop is also the stage for a number of individual moments.
Kaidu is sent to safety by Niccolo so as to keep the hope of dethroning the Khan alive.
Byamba and Marco fight side by side.
Then, there are the big moments.
Khutulun saves Byamba, showing that her love trumps her allegiance to her father.
Jingim bashes Orus' skull in, which Khutulun witnesses.
Then Marco lets his father escape as Kublai watches from a distance.
A lot of dead bodies revealed betrayals, and many more secrets lead us to the season finale.
EPISODE 10: “THE FELLOWSHIP”
For a season finale, “The Fellowship” is pretty slow-moving.
There are basically two stories that make up “The Fellowship.”
First, there’s Kaidu and Kublai giving speeches and hoping to be selected as the Khan of Khans.
Of course, the Kurultai doesn’t go down without a hitch.
Unfortunately for him, Mei Lin is waiting for him in his room.
As Ahmad hangs from the entrance to Cambulac though, things aren’t exactly peaceful.
The camera focuses in on a cross.
Kublai may be back in full control, but the Christians are moving East.
We’ll have to wait for season 3 to see the clash.
