Mighty Whitey: Enforced Trope. Kublai wants Marco to be this to make him worthy of being around, the only thing Marco has going for him at the start is his poetic language. Bayan implies that every foreigner Kublai keeps around must prove themselves or die.
The notion is spelled outright to Marco's face in the second episode, and explained in several moments with Kublai. The Khan of Khans is less concerned with other people's beliefs or origins - believing that by the Mandate from Heaven, he has to unify the world - so long as they serve loyally and make themselves useful. Its quite apparent that he has several foreigners serving his court, presumably because of their skill.
Also subverted. Marco does provide the insight to finally break the siege of Xianyang (and save the empire) but only after his blunder nearly doomed them all.
The show seems to scrupulously avoid Mighty Whitey. Marco learns Asian ways, but he never surpasses the locals. He's always playing a supporting role to the other bigwigs. In all, we're supposed to be impressed that Marco manages to find any place at all in Kublai's court.
Removed:
The show seems to scrupulously avoid Mighty Whitey. Marco learns Asian ways, but he never surpasses the locals. He's always playing a supporting role to the other bigwigs. In all, we're supposed to be impressed that Marco manages to find any place at all in Kublai's court.