In this Disney+ series, a thrilling chase ensues between members of different government agencies when a dangerous bioweapon created by the South Korean government to enhance human abilities is stolen by an unknown assailant during the handover process between the USA and South Korea. Resulting in a race against time, Director Choe asks his agents Chae Ja-gyung and Yoon Mo-yong to retrieve the specimen, while US secret agent Paul is on the same hunt. Following them is Lim Sang, a former agent who is tasked to eliminate anyone associated with The Tyrant Project.
The action-spy-thriller series, also known as 폭군, has 4 episodes, each with a runtime of around 40-50 minutes. The series exists in the same universe as The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion.
The Tyrant TV Show Director & Writer
Park Hoon-jung
The Tyrant 2024 Cast
Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho, Kim Kang-woo, Jo Yoon-su
The Tyrant Review
This Korean thriller series takes place in the same universe as 2018’s The Witch, a movie that I thoroughly enjoyed watching. The 2024 Disney+ series, however, feels like it doesn’t have anything to say, and it is just a few people running around to find the last bioweapon sample that can bring out superhuman abilities in those being injected. The Americans want it gone, the Koreans want to get it back in order to continue to experiment and then there’s a hitman who wants to take out those associated with this mess.
I am absolutely lost on what this series is supposed to be because there certainly are no thrills here. It’s just a lot of bloodshed (which is great no second thoughts there) and chasing around. For four episodes we don’t learn anything new or find something interesting that adds anything to the already existing lore. It’s just some people running after the last vial. However, it’s Chae Ja-gyeong’s introducing that adds something scary to the series. Jo Yoon-su is fantastic in this role and you can’t look away from the screen whenever she is there. She is thrilling to watch and sometimes scary and has some really cool action sequences that she nails.
As I mentioned previously, this series seems to just be a ton of bloodshed and gore and a little running around to find the last vial of the Tyrant. However, I didn’t find anything more in the first three episodes, which just show a ton of people getting murdered as they search for Ja-gyeong and Mo-yong. Sure, these moments are pretty great, but they are only made greater thanks to the fantastic cinematography by Kim Young-ho and writer-director Park Hoon-jung’s great direction. These moments are intense and the dark and depressing vibe goes well with the copious amounts of blood that is shed throughout the runtime of this series.
Yet, in spite of these great kills, we are left to wonder what the first three episodes give us. The fourth episode is interesting and engaging because there is something being said that adds to the narrative. However, before that, if people are not being killed, the head honchos just sit around mildly threatening each other. it’s not even good threats – the ones that give you goosebumps or something. It’s several boring conversations between people who clearly know that they can’t kill one another… at least for the time being. I felt like the series was missing a storyline that had something more in it other than going on a wild (and bloody) goose chase.
Either way, I enjoyed the USA vs South Korea storyline here. That’s quite refreshing and Kim Seon-ho is great. Again, a lot of boring conversations, but he commands the screen throughout the runtime. His gripe with the USA interfering in their research when others are doing the exact same thing is quite an interesting plot point that can be explored further. Cha Seung-won as Lim Sang is fantastic as well. His character doesn’t really have a backstory or anything but he’s quite funny and delivers some great kills.
Final Thoughts
The Tyrant is a dark and gritty sci-fi thriller that feels more like it’s made for the sensational blood and guts being spewed everywhere than anything else. Now, don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed that aspect of it and the direction is phenomenal. Plus, coupled with the fantastic performances from everyone, it’s quite an enjoyable watch. But the series didn’t leave me feeling thrilled much and other than the last episode, I found myself questioning the odd threats that the head honchos seem to love giving each other. It’s a straightforward series, one that will make you want to watch The Witch Part 1 again.