Episode 2 of Season 2 of "The Recruit" kicks off with Owen finally regaining consciousness. Jang Hyun-kim escorts him to Yomgsan Garrison, the very place where Owen's father breathed his last. Owen is taken aback and wonders if Jang Hyun-kim is attempting to tug at his heartstrings. However, Jang Hyun-kim's true intention is to jog Owen's memory of his loss, hoping it will illuminate the rationale behind his extortion scheme against the CIA.
It transpires that the Korean woman abducted in the premiere episode is none other than Jang Hyun-kim's wife, Nan-hee. Now, Jang Hyun-kim desperately seeks the CIA's assistance in locating and rescuing his beloved. He dares not disclose his wife's plight to his own agency, fearing they might suspect him of being compromised. Unbeknownst to Nan-hee, her husband serves at the NIS.
Nan-hee, an NGO worker dedicated to repatriating stranded Koreans from the island after Russia's takeover, pays the Korean Mafia, known as Jopok, for protection and island access. Though Jang Hyun-kim hasn't received any ransom demands, he knows his wife is missing.
Owen endeavors to dissuade him from his extortion plot, but Jang Hyun-kim remains unperturbed. He possesses a dead man's switch, which, upon his demise or betrayal, will automatically unleash a deluge of dark secrets he holds on the CIA. Given the close collaboration between the CIA and NIS, Jang Hyun-kim wields a treasure trove of sensitive information. He gives Owen a 48-hour ultimatum to find his wife; otherwise, he vows to spill the beans like Wendy Williams!
Meanwhile, in Port Louis, Mauritius, Dawn is acclimating to her new surroundings but is not prepared to witness the demise of her career. This exotic locale serves as a grim final destination for agents whose careers are terminated. Yet, Dawn harbors a sinister plan to eliminate Owen and reclaim her former glory.
Back in Korea, Owen returns to the hotel and briefs Janus on the latest developments. Janus contends that this case surpasses their operational capacity and urges them to report to Nyland and allow him to deploy the necessary resources. Owen concurs to return to Langley, but an assassin lies in wait, intent on ending his life. Fortunately, Owen narrowly escapes the assassination attempt and boards his plane, narrowly averting disaster.
Upon landing safely, Owen hastily borrows an elderly woman's phone to reach out to Jang Hyun-kim. Despite Jang Hyun-kim's categorical denial of any involvement in attempting to end Owen's life, he vows to delve into the matter. It dawns on him that Owen's demise would spell nothing but trouble for him. In the meantime, Janus indulges in some much-needed pampering before embarking on an in-depth probe into Jang Hyun-kim's affairs. Conversely, Grace Cho orders Jang Hyun-kim to conduct a thorough investigation into both Owen and Janus, skeptical of their excuses and yearning for truthful answers.
Elsewhere, Hannah's fury knows no bounds when her mother fails to show up for dinner, instead sending a family mediator. The mediator clarifies that Hannah's mother is deeply disturbed by her daughter's recent reckless decisions and has decided to sever ties. Enraged beyond measure, Hannah charges everyone's lunch to her mother's account. Among the diners, Jae approaches Hannah to express his gratitude. Their conversation veers into his business endeavors, leading Jae to hire Hannah to assist him with his contracts.
After tidying himself up, Owen convenes with Nyland to brief him on the latest developments. Owen is astonished by the collective indifference towards his near-fatal encounter. Nyland reminds him that any operational scrutiny into the matter might attract CEG's attention. They contact Janus and strategize on how to handle Jang Hyun-kim, acknowledging the gravity of his threats. Nyland instructs Owen to concentrate on Nan-hee while operations focus on uncovering and neutralizing Jang Hyun-kim's "dead switch." Until then, Nyland tasks Janus with trying to recruit Jang Hyun-kim, merely as a stalling tactic, as he harbors no genuine intentions of aiding him.
At the office, Amelia alerts Owen to CEG agents on his trail, probing into Max's demise and seeking clarification on his involvement. With quick thinking, Owen manages to slip away by assuring them of a forthcoming meeting. He departs to resume his investigation, only to bump into Jae and Hannah at the Department of State office.Back in Korea, Jang Hyun-kim finds himself engrossed in unraveling the mystery behind Russia's abduction of his wife. He seeks answers from his contact within the Jopok, yet even this informant remains in the dark. Similarly, Owen embarks on a quest to discover why Nan-hee was taken by Russia, only to encounter a wall of silence and reluctance from those he approaches. Desperate for assistance, he ultimately resorts to calling Lester, whom he implores for help. With visible reluctance, Lester agrees to lend a hand, leveraging Nichka to gather intelligence, on the condition that Owen provides him with Dawn's assets. As their conversation unfolds, Owen becomes acutely aware of CEG agents tailing him and manages to shake them off swiftly.
Meanwhile, in Korea, an intriguing alliance takes shape as Janus and Jang Hyun-kim concoct a charade of recruiting each other. In a clever ploy, Jang Hyun-kim deceives Grace Cho by claiming that Janus has conditionally agreed to join forces, provided he receives $10,000 and VIP tickets to the highly anticipated BTS reunion tour. As a fellow Army member, I can certainly appreciate the allure of those elusive BTS tickets!
As the day draws to a close, Owen seeks guidance from Nyland, briefing him on his findings. Nyland is taken aback to learn that Owen never reached out to the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostages regarding Nan-hee's plight. Realizing this oversight, Owen promptly arranges an impromptu meeting with Tom Wallace, the head of the envoy, determined to press forward with his quest for answers.
In the meantime, Lester put Nichka into action, tasking her with gathering information about Nan-hee. Nichka, quick to seize an opportunity, demanded money in return. Lester, unyielding, rejected her demand and warned her of exposure to the Russians if she failed to cooperate. Undeterred, Nichka retaliated by calling Owen and Threatened to reveal his secret. Realizing that Owen was the one delving into Nan-hee's affairs, she struck a deal: $200,000 in exchange for swift answers. Driven by desperation and greed, Nichka embarked on a brutal spree of violence to obtain the information.
Elsewhere, Owen reached out to Dawn, attempting to persuade her that entrusting her assets to Lester would ultimately benefit her. He suggested that by giving Lester a helping hand, she could buy herself some precious time before facing CEG. However, Dawn was far from pleased with his proposition.
Later, Owen found himself on a plane, meeting with Tom, who was en route to rescue others. Tom confided that his relations with Russia were strained but that he was heading to meet someone who held sway with them. As the plane prepared for takeoff, Tom insisted that Owen join them, startling him by casually mentioning that he hadn't signed the waiver for death and dismemberment. Owen, perplexed, inquired about the necessity of such a document. Tom, without hesitation, revealed their destination: a meeting with the Taliban.
