Marco Polo: Summary of Narrative

Episode one begins with Marco Polo’s first arrival in China. From the opening scenes we can already see the discipline and fierceness of the Mongol Empire who have ransacked a village loyal to the Southern Song before Marco and his travelling companions consisting of his father Niccolo and uncle Maffeo are captured and taken before Kublai Khan. In front of court Kublai berates Niccolo and Maffeo on their failure to bring a Vatican priest before him while Marco also displays his penchant for quick witted replies and observation before Kublai and his advisors – much to Kublai’s delight. Ultimately Kublai decides to banish the “Latins” from his domain, but in a surprising move Maffeo trades the service of his son to allow himself and Niccolo to continue trading along the Silk Road.

In a flashback scene we see that Marco has never met his father as Niccolo has been overseas for over 15 years but has only temporarily returned to Venice before heading back to the East. Niccolo bans Marco from coming, but somehow Marco sneaks on to his and the flashback continues with the Polo’s travels eastwards to Cambulac. Present time in Kublai’s court, Kublai and his ministers discuss the problem of the Southern Song when Kublai’s brother Ariq arrives and we can immediately sense the tension between Kublai and Ariq. Eventually Ariq and Kublai’s song Jingim agree to take on Wuchang together, a Southern Song outpost while Marco acclimatizes to his new life as the Khan’s servant. Meanwhile in the court of the Southern Song ambitious chancellor Jia Sidao is aggressively attempting to control the court following a power vacuum with the Emperor’s health in great decline. His sister Mei Lin also serves in the court as the Emperor’s favourite concubine and the mother of the Emperor’s daughter. As Jingim’s army arrives at Wuchang and begins the fight Ariq is nowhere to be found with his reinforcements. The Chinese deal a heavy defeat to the Mongols and Jingim scurries back to his father’s side.

Episode two sees Jingim return to the court in disgrace. Meanwhile Marco has slowly started to rise in position in the Khan’s court and now serves as the assistant to a tax collector and has also developed a love interest in the form of Kokachin the Blue Princess. Kublai send Jingim and Marco to visit Ariq to figure out just what happened the night of the battle. Ariq tries to convince Jingim of his loyalty while also turning Marco against Jingim. Back at court that disagreement manifests itself with Marco openly disagreeing with Jingim’s assertion that Ariq is ready to invade Xiangyang the Chinese capital and insinuates that the only thing Ariq is ready for is rebellion. Meanwhile in the Southern Capital the Emperor has passed giving away to his heir – his six year old son. Jia Sidao has his sister Mei Lin purged from court and takes his daughter from her as hostage. Meanwhile Kublai has personally paid a visit to Ariq to investigate the situation and the confrontation ends in the two brothers fighting in single combat with Kublai putting Ariq to death by the sword.