Two countries—the US and South Korea—are involved in a secret race to gain control of a biological weapon—named “The Tyrant Project”—that can enhance human abilities. Intelligence agencies work undercover on a mission in this new action thriller Korean series ‘The Tyrant.’

However, things go wrong when an unknown assailant steals the sample.

,‘The Tyrant’ delves into themes of power dynamics, politics, deceit, and greed across four riveting episodes. Featuring a talented ensemble cast including Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho, Kim Kang-woo, and Jo Eun-soo, the series is primarily shot in shadowy alleys and dimly lit rooms.

This setting underlines the secrecy of the events taking place and suggests that death and violence are unimportant, and that the bloodshed and senseless killings depicted have no consequences.

Watch the trailer here:

There is so much bloodshed, action and violence throughout the drama that it overpowers the script. With the flood of political action thrillers in the last two years, it is hard to find anything new here, but excellent editing helps keep you hooked till the end. The biggest highlight of the drama is Kim Seon-ho, who last appeared in the drama ‘Hometown Cha Cha Cha’ and the film ‘The Child’.

Unlike his previous drama roles, the actor plays Director Choi, a secret national intelligence officer, in ‘The Tyrant.’ He delivers a powerful performance as Choi, showcasing his impressive versatility. One notable scene sees a character declare, “You’re not a hero; you’re a villain,” which shows Choi’s complex nature. He’s deliciously grey, and it’s a treat to watch Seon-ho play it with conviction.

Cha Seung-won plays Lim Sang, a former agent tasked with eliminating those involved with this secret project, while Kim Kang-woo plays Paul, who works for the US intelligence agency. The tension and power dynamics between each character are quite interesting, but it loses steam in the middle.

‘The Tyrant’ is interesting, but not necessarily different in the spy-thriller genre. It is available on Disney+ Hotstar.