This week’s episode of Ruthless delivers its most harrowing chapter yet—an explosive cocktail of psychological warfare, misplaced devotion, and rising desperation, all wrapped in the eerie silence of the Rakudushi compound.
The Calm Before the Bomb
The FBI’s tense standoff with the Rakudushis drags into uncharted waters. Negotiations are ongoing, and everyone’s waiting for The Highest to make his move. Then—just as hope begins to flicker—the compound doors slowly creak open.
Out walks a child.
But any hint of relief is shattered when agents notice a bomb strapped to the boy’s torso. Silence falls. Horror sets in. This isn’t just a cult anymore—this is terrorism wrapped in ritual. The child is chanting "All hail the Rakudushis," like a robotic vessel of devotion, while the FBI stares in disbelief.
Inside the command van, the team scrambles for options. The leader’s mental state is under fire—“This guy isn’t just dangerous… he’s unhinged,” one of the agents mutters. Their new approach? Feed his ego. Make him believe he's outsmarting the FBI. It might be the only way to manipulate him into a vulnerable position.
"Lead Them to the Other Side"
Back in the compound, The Highest is in full god-complex mode. He entrusts Marva with a divine task—lead the flock to the other side. She organizes a mass prayer session, her voice trembling as she tries to mask fear with faith. The chants rise, the compound buzzes with dark energy, and The Highest sends out a note: prepare for battle.
Meanwhile, the tension is boiling in private quarters. Ruth confronts Andrew in a raw, emotional moment. She accuses him of allowing this nightmare to fester—“It was your job to shut this shit down!” she yells. Andrew, weighed down by guilt, opens up about his past. A story of a lost wife, a love he couldn’t save. But Ruth isn’t here for sympathy—she wants out. “I’m leaving this hellhole, with my daughter. That’s all that matters now.”
Andrew tries to throw her choices back at her—“Why bring her into this in the first place?”—but it’s clear: Ruth has made up her mind. She’s done being a pawn.
A Deadly Offer
Back at FBI HQ, the agents regroup. This time, they plan to sneak a man inside the compound while keeping The Highest distracted with negotiation. It’s a tightrope walk over a landmine. But the call doesn’t reach The Highest. Instead, River answers.
River—clearly at his breaking point—begs for help. He wants out. But the FBI can’t promise immediate extraction. They ask him to convince the leader to speak directly with them. River tries. The Highest initially scoffs—“They still don’t know who I am,” he sneers—but River pushes. And finally, the ego bites. The Highest picks up the phone.
Agent Miller makes the offer: “Tell us what you want. Spare Ruby. We’ll give you anything.” For a moment, there’s stillness. A chance. A flicker of hope.
But then chaos strikes.
A Ruthless Detonation
As the FBI begins a risky maneuver to save Tally, The Highest notices an agent moving toward her. His eyes flare. Without a second thought, he detonates the bomb. Tally is blown into pieces. Screams erupt from the compound. Inside the FBI command tent, silence gives way to stunned horror.
The Highest? He calls it a “joyous occasion.” Another soul has, in his words, “crossed to the other side.”
The explosion, shockingly, becomes a signal for something darker. Dozens of new cult members flood the compound under the cover of chaos. Instead of scattering in fear, the Rakudushi faithful rally closer. The cult has grown stronger.
Midnight Escape and Brutal Betrayal
As the episode winds toward its end, River takes action. He sets his escape plan into motion, contacting the FBI for a midnight extraction. He’s determined to save Ruth. But just as he tries to slip away, the Headmaster intercepts him—and smashes River in the face, leaving him bloodied and possibly unconscious.
Escape has failed. Ruth’s fate hangs in the balance. And with each move the FBI makes, The Highest becomes even more unhinged.
Final Verdict
Episode 17 is a masterclass in tension and emotional warfare. From children strapped with explosives to explosive confrontations and bitter betrayals, this chapter reminds us just how far The Highest is willing to go—and how dangerous blind faith can become.
The FBI is fighting a war of minds, not just firepower. Ruth is clinging to the hope of freedom. And the compound? It’s on the verge of becoming a full-blown war zone.
