Marco Polo Episodes 3-6 Recaps: Dont Mess With Mei Lin

Six episodes in and the pace of the show has finally picked up. The various story lines and characters are all converging. And I'm really starting to enjoy the show. I'l report back after viewing the entire first season to see if I feel the same. Here's the latest happenings in the cities of Camulac and Wuchang.

Praying Mantis Kung Fu Is The Best

Hundred Eyes schools Marco on kung fu. "Kung fu means supreme skill from hard work. A great poet has reached kung fu. The painter is said to have kung fu. Even the cook, the one who sweeps steps can be said to have kung fu." Meanwhile over in the Song stronghold of Wuchang, the Cricket Minister (Jia Sidao) is also schooling someone. He defeats Whirlwind Tiger with his praying mantis kung fu. I really enjoyed that scene. Best of the series so far.

A new batch of prospective concubines arrives to serve in the Hall of Five Desires. They include Mei Lin. The empress hand picks those who will serve her husband. There is a naked lineup. Uncomfortable! Mei Ling is of course beautiful and skilled. She will be one of the Khan's concubines (and quickly becomes his favorite). Empress Chabi is jealous and offers to find the Khan someone more exotic such as an Indian or a Slav. Chabi later has sex with Mei Ling to see what he's raving about.

Marco asks Hundred Eyes about the Blue Princess (Kokachin). She is the last of the Bayaut clan. The rest of her people were killed but she was spared because she has royal blood. Za Bing is her faithful sidekick.

Khutulun is Kick Ass

Back at court, Cousin Kaidu will inherit dead brother Ariq's land and people. There will be a feast to celebrate but the Khan has gout so sends his son and Marco in his place. At Kaidu's camp Marco meets Khutulun (who is Kaidu's daughter). She is a spitfire. I like her. They have sexy times. In other news Kaidu insults the Khan's son. Jingim tells his Daddy. Kublai tells Jingium to act like a Prince. Otherwise the Khan will kill him with his own bare heads. Kublai asks Polo what he thought of the visit. Marco lies. The Khan beats a servant who was standing nearby to death (so no one could hear his son was disrespected).

What's A Nice Tree Like You...

Marco ventures outside the gates at night to go to the tree where the Blue Princess hides her treasures. He is bitten by a Five Step Serpent and nearly dies. He dreams of the Blue Princess because his is obsessed with her. Jingim warns him to tread lightly or he will have permanent sleep. He is jealous of Marco because the Khan likes him best. Basically no one likes Marco except for Kublai Khan and the ladies.

It turns out the Blue Princess is working with Tulga (who is also Bayaut). He was not stealing her gems. He was selling them for her. He is in love with her and thinks they will be married. They will plan their escape when the war begins.

Marco Has It Bad For The Blue Princess, Tulga Will Not Be Happy

Daddy Polo returns. It turns out the Polos are smugglers of silk worms (among other things). Now Marco, his father and uncle are in shackles. The penalty for such acts is death. Khan meets privately with Marco. He could not have transported the silk worms since he never traveled to that region of China. Marco is spared. Khan makes him determine the fate of his father and uncle. After returning from the Old Man, Marco brands their hands as punishment. They will never be allowed back into the Imperial City and no longer have the Imperial pass (so no one will help them). Better to be branded than dead though.

The Empress Dowager works behind Jia Sidao's back to negotiate peace with the mongols. He foils her plans by having the peace ambassadors and returned hostages killed (and then blaming the mongols). They declare war.

Jia also talks to the young Ling Ling (Mei Lin's daughter) about foot binding. I still dont understand this custom (unless its just to keep women from running off). Jing Fei (Mei Lin's friend and nanny to the girl) tries to stop him but is unsuccessful. He breaks her feet. It's important here to draw the distinction between Chinese and Mongolian culture. They are not the same. Many times throughout the show you see the Mongolians refer to something as the Chinese way of thinking/doing. You also see the same thing in Wuchang when they refer to the Mongolians as barbarians.

I Sense Trouble With The Force

Khan and Marco are attacked while playing what looks like chess. The Khan is hit with a poisonous arrow (from the yellow scorpion). Hundred Eyes arrives and promptly dispatches with two of the villains. They determine these men are hashshashin (mercenaries trained by the Old Man In The Mountain). Let's just call them ninjas (since that's easier to spell). Off goes Marco and a team to their stronghold. They are joined by Byamba (who is the bastard son of the Khan). The Old Man is finally located. There's an interested (Im not sure what to call it) orgy scene shot in red with what appears to be a kaleidoscope. It ends with a blue scene of Marco and the blue princess in an embrace. Must be some good poppy they're smoking. Paradise appears to only come in two flavors-- red or blue. Back in reality, the Old Man gives them a map indicating that the traitor is someone in the Khan's court. Hmmm. The mystery deepens.

Mei Lin she is sending her brother secret messages. I originally thought she was sent to the brothels as punishment but now I think she was ordered by Jia to kill the Khan (or she would never see her daughter again).

I've Determined You're Not Really A Princess So I'm Leaving To Stalk Someone Else

Flashback to when the mongols attacked. It turns out the Blue Princess is not a princess at all. She disguised herself as such when the real Kokachin committed suicide so as not to be part of the Khan's harem. Psych!

Khutulun arrives in Camulac. She says her father sent her as protection for the Khan. The Khan thanks her but doesnt need any additional protection. It's time for the Festival of the White Moon.In somewhat related news, Chabi says its time for Jingim to take another wife and she has the blue princess in mind.

Don't Be Fooled By The Empress' Calm Exterior, She'll Put A Cap In Your Ass If The Need Arises

In Wuchang the Dowager Empress is still intent of getting rid of Sidao. We'll see how that works out. Meanwhile Sidao has sent Mei Lin tiger root in order to kill the Khan. She puts in her lipstick and approaches the Khan in bed. First we think he's a goner, then it looks like Chabi is a goner but nope. It turns out its her fellow concubine (sorry I dont remember her name). Next Mei Lin makes another attempt at the White Moon festival. She dispatches with several guards before Chabi shoots her in the shoulder with an arrow. Two great scenes. I really hope they dont kill Mei Lin. She's one of my favorites.

Is Ahmad The Traitor?

Who is your guess as to the traitor in the court? Is it Yussef (the Vice Reagent, right now I'm going with "no") or Ahmad (the Minister of Finance who is always calling Jingim "brother", right now my vote is for him) or the Blue Princess or someone we've not even thought of?

Episodes:

Episode 3: "Feast"
Episode 4: "The Fourth Step"
Episode 5: "Hashshashin"
Episode 6: "White Moon"

Favorite Quotes:

"Kung Fu we say one hand lies. The other hand tells the truth."- Hundred Eyes to Marco.
"Kung fu means supreme skill from hard work."- Hundred Eyes to Marco.
"Have you ever sampled the third sex Latin?"-Za Bing to Marco. I think that means Za Bing is a eunuch?
"All of my life I have waited for the great adventurer to offer me a place at his table. I finally got what I wanted."- Marco to his daddy.
"Ego, not armies, destroys empires."- Yusef to Ahmad.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). I'm enjoying the story now that the pace has picked up. Sure its a little heavy on philosophy from Hundred Eyes but who cares. The sets and costumes are beautiful. There are some kick ass women. There is amble nudity. I'm surprised at this point when anyone keeps their clothes ON. The characters are compelling-- Kublai Khan, Mei Lin, Hundred Eyes and Jia Sidao are my favorites thus far. The into is also great. It definitely puts you in the right frame of mind. One negative though, some of the scenes are so dark I can barely see them. Is it just me or is anyone else having the same issue?