The Tyrant – K-drama Episode 4 Recap, Review & Ending Explained

The Tyrant – Episode 4 Recap

The recap of The Tyrant Episode 4 begins with Ja-gyeong arriving at Song’s HQ. He has known her for a decade and reveals that the bounty was nothing personal, he was also asked to put one on Mo-yong. And while he can’t reveal who it is, he hints that it is linked to the government, suggesting that it may have been by Choi. 

Lim suddenly shows up and kills everyone except Ja-gyeong who he holds at gunpoint. She reveals that she always knew he killed Mo-yong’s men in Busan as he reeked of gunpowder and blood. While he is distracted, she pulls out her gun as well and they shoot at the same time. Both dodge as well and a fight ensues with both being shot. 

Why do Lim and Ja-gyeong team up?

As they catch their breath, she reveals that she only wants to kill Mo-yong. Just then, Lim gets a message from Choi’s men that Mo-yong has resurfaced and there is trouble. Lim offers a team up to get to Mo-yong first and Ja-gyeong agrees. 

Later, when Paul’s Alligator attacks Ja-gyeong, Lim is able to kill him. But in the melee, the sample’s vial breaks and the virus enters Ja-gyeong. She reveals that she had stolen it to ensure that Mo-yong would pay her. Lim is apologetic as he gets ready to kill her as the virus is dangerous. However, Ja-gyeong’s “brother” strikes a deal with Lim – they can use the virus to take down Paul’s men and kill Mo-yong. And after that, Lim and Ja-gyeong can resume their fight to the death. 

Does Paul get his hands on the last sample?

Director Sa is taking Mo-yong to a safe location when they are stopped by Paul’s Alligators aka superhuman agents. Tom rips open the car and takes Mo-yong and we see that Choi is Paul’s hostage as well. 

Ja-gyeong and Lim catch up and one of Paul’s Alligators is left behind to deal with them. The rest head to the base where Choi’s black ops team is operating. Tom takes down the guards with ease only to find that the vault is finally open but empty.

A furious Paul thinks Choi is playing him and starts killing off the last of his men. Mo-yong realises that Ja-gyeong has stolen it and at that moment, she and Lim fight their way in. Tom attacks an infected Ja-gyeong while Lim takes down Paul’s remaining men. Choi gives a cocky victory speech before Lim shoots Paul in the head. The assassin then shoots Mo-yong in the leg to honour his deal with Ja-gyeong. 

What happens to Ja-gyeong once she is infected?

As for her, she now has super strength and is able to keep up with Tom. While he is trained, the Tyrant virus is stronger and Ja-gyeong finally kills him and Mo-yong. Lim instantly shoots her but she barely flinches.

Choi hits the lights and she writhes in pain followed by an explanation from Lim – the Tyrant virus becomes difficult to control and is unpredictable the longer it is in the host. Its only weakness is strong light and no one can control it. Once it reaches the brain, the virus takes over the host. 

Lim then shoots her in the head but she wakes up and throws him. The men realise she has control despite the virus reaching her brain. Multiple voices in Ja-gyeong bicker and we realise that the virus has become her third personality and that’s how she was able to retain her own consciousness. Choi tells her to hide as the sun is rising and the NIS are arriving soon.

Is Director Sa with the NIS?

Director Sa and his men arrive to find Choi, Lim and the middleman surrounded by dead bodies. Choi is unperturbed as he knows the NIS will cover up the mess. He believes they should be grateful he eradicated Paul which means the NIS has one less competitor. 

With Sa barely looking disturbed, Choi realises that the men with Sa are not NIS. He rightly deduces that Sa is with Head One and one of his men kills the middle man. Realising that they won’t be making it out, Lim makes a run for it. He is shot multiple times but he jumps from the window and into the river below.

With Choi being the only one left from the program, Director Sa promises to torture him till he learns of the sample’s location. But with the Tyrant program being a success and to protect it, Choi kills himself. This infuriartes Sa who loses his last remaining lead on the sample.

Is Ja-gyeong a superhuman?

Meanwhile, Lim is about to pass out underwater when Ja-gyeong drags him. We then hear her speak as she passes the time by talking to her brother. She observes that the sun is strong and it will be a long day. She also wonders who the men with Sa are.

We also get a glimpse into her backstory with an epilogue to 15 years ago. A young and bloodied Ja-gyeong shows up at Mr. Chae’s place. With nowhere else to go, Chae adopts her. This can be construed as Ja-gyeong being one of Baeks’ test subjects from The Witch who escaped along with Ja-yoon.

If that is the case, Ja-gyeong was always a superhuman which can also explain how she survived Mo-yong’s bullet to her head, her quick reflexes and the constant fights despite being injured. And with that, we end The Tyrant Episode 4 recap and ending explained.

The Episode Review

The Tyrant Episode 4 finally brings an end to the K-drama. First things first, are these guys allergic to lights? How do you give us a 50-minute episode set in the night and not give us any light? We won’t sue for unnatural and dramatic lighting, it’s a show about superhuman viruses after all! But how do you expect us to follow an action-packed finale set in darkness if we cannot see anything? 

But apart from the annoying technical decision, the finale gives us an adrenaline-filled conclusion with back-to-back shocking plot twists and smooth action sequences that will have us thinking over the plot even after the credits roll. We always knew the show is linked to The Witch movies but the closer link to the movies’ protagonists makes it that much more interesting. 

It also explains the random choice of giving Ja-gyeong DID which did not amount to much in the previous episodes. But well, we should have seen it coming with the virus cohabitating with the host trope being quite popular in sci-fi. Then there is the whole bit about Director Sa being a double agent which leaves room for sequels and spin-offs now that the franchise is well established. We do wish any future instalment ties up with The Witch’s original story as well.