Ep 2. The Wolf and the Deer

In Marco Polo (2014) season 1 episode 2 titled "The Wolf and the Deer," Marco Polo continues his journey through the vast empire of Kublai Khan, the ruler of China. He finds himself in heated political tensions as the empire is divided between those who wish to maintain traditional values and those who want to modernize and adopt foreign practices. Marco Polo falls into the latter category, as he begins to introduce Western ideas to the people he encounters along the way.

As he travels through China, Marco Polo's skills as a trader continue to impress Kublai Khan, who begins to rely on him as a valuable asset in his expansion strategy. Meanwhile, the Khan's wife, Empress Chabi, takes an interest in Marco Polo's potential and decides to test his loyalty to the empire. She assigns him a secret mission to gather information on who among the Khan's advisors and allies may be working against him.

In carrying out his mission, Marco Polo is torn between his loyalty to the Khan and his growing admiration for those who advocate for change in the empire. He questions the ultimate goals of the Khan and his desire for power and wealth, as he sees the suffering and poverty of the common people. This internal conflict comes to a head as Marco Polo is forced to confront a deadly assassin known as the Blue Princess, who has been sent to eliminate him.

As the tension between different factions in the empire reaches a boiling point, Marco Polo must use all his wit and skill to navigate the dangerous political landscape. He must also confront his own beliefs and decide where his loyalties lie, whether it is with the traditional values of the empire or with the modernization and progress that he hopes to bring to China.

"The Wolf and the Deer" is an exciting episode that delves deeper into the complex characters and political machinations of Marco Polo's world. With stunning visuals and engaging storytelling, viewers are taken on an epic journey through a fascinating period in history.