In Episode 6 of Season 2 of "The Recruit," Lee-jin masterfully navigates his team to Vladivostok, Russia, their destination safely reached. Meanwhile, Nichka, posing as a Russian operative dispatched by a Russian gang, infiltrates the Yamakazi clan with the pretense of overseeing their operations. She demands a slice of their profits from the deal to sell Nan-hee and insists on seeing proof of her life. Mr. Nakano accedes to her demands, acknowledging their vulnerability in Russia, where they operate under the mercy of the Russian gang.
After confirming Nan-hee's alive status, Nichka informs Owen of the situation but emphasizes the fortified nature of the compound, rendering a direct rescue impossible. Owen, ever strategic, devises a plan to entice the Yamakazi clan to a sea rendezvous, exploiting the illegality of K&R companies operating on Russian soil.
It transpires that Nan-hee's kidnapping was a bid to silence her after she inadvertently overheard a drug deal. Now redundant to the clan following the deal's conclusion, they see selling her as a lucrative alternative to termination.
Back at Langley, Nyland and Director West brief Amelia, tasking her with compiling a report that disclaims any sanction of the Russian mission. In Korea, Grace Cho's supervisor threatens to charge her with treason should she fail to extract information from Janus and secure Jang Kyung-kim's return.
The rescue mission unfolds with tension as Owen persuades Mr. Nakano to meet them at sea. Dawn assembles a crack team to neutralize Mr. Nakano's men, while they devise a ruse involving packing books into a suitcase with a mere facade of cash to deceive the Yamakazi clan. With all pieces in place, Jang Kyung-kim and Owen disembark from Lee-jin's boat to confront Mr. Nakano aboard his yacht.
Upon finally laying eyes on Nan-hee, Jang Kyung-kim subtly cues her to feign ignorance of his presence. Tragedy strikes as Dawn and her team prepare to strike; the Russian coast guard arrives unexpectedly. To prevent an international uproar, Dawn and Lester reluctantly retreat. Lee-jin, desperate to intervene, is inmated in the bathroom as the boat is steered away.
Abandoned and outnumbered, Owen and Jang Kyung-kim battle for survival on the yacht. In a daring move, Owen plunges into the sea, while Jang Kyung-kim is shot and apprehended. Heartbroken and powerless, Owen fails to rescue his wife, and both are whisked away. Nichka, feigning loyalty to Russian interests, harbors ulterior motives; it emerges that she betrayed Owen and the Americans, having bribed the Russian coast guard to intercept them at the crucial juncture.In the aftermath of the mission's failure, Nyland and Amelia grapple with the dire decision to pin all the blame on Owen. Amelia, her heart shattered, watches the mission unfold through a video feed only to witness its tragic collapse. She conveys the disappointment to Nyland, who, in turn, mandates her to shield the agency's reputation by reassigning the entirety of the blame onto Owen.
Meanwhile, in South Korea, Violet confronts Grace and persuades her to release Janus from custody. Grace, eager to salvage her career, agrees to frame Owen for everything. She sets Janus free but imposes a ban on his ever returning to Korea.
Dawn and Lester, mistakenly believing Owen and Jang Kyung-kim to be deceased, drive away from the scene. Unbeknownst to them, Owen manages to swim to safety and hides in a boathouse occupied by Russian soldiers. He awakens to find two soldiers arriving and, with sheer determination, overpowers them. He reaches out to Lester for assistance, resolute in his determination to rescue Jang Kyung-kim and Nan-hee, despite Lester and Dawn's opposition.
Reluctantly, Lester agrees to send Nichka to assist Owen. Upon her arrival, Nichka executes the soldier that Owen had spared. She then trains her gun on Owen, revealing her treacherous plan to surrender him and Jang Kyung-kim to the Russians. Her men are currently guarding Jang Kyung-kim and his wife at a nearby military airport. Upon discovering Nichka's betrayal, Owen retaliates swiftly, knocking her unconscious. He confines her in the car trunk and proceeds to the military airport. He informs Lester of his actions but refuses to rendezvous at the extraction point.
Lester receives a call from Director West and Nyland, informing them of Jang Kyung-kim's capture and Owen's pursuit. Director West is incensed, knowing that capturing Jang Kyung-kim renders the dead switch disarming efforts futile. Dawn volunteers to terminate Jang Kyung-kim if granted the Moscow position and a clean slate. Director West assents, prompting Nyland to exit the room due to his opposition to the plan. After Nyland's departure, Director West issues orders to neutralize Owen.
Simultaneously, Jang Kyung-kim braces his wife for the impending torment and suffering. He has abandoned all hope of rescue and succumbs to a bleak future. Nan-hee, however, clings to hope and is comforted by Owen's covert entry.
How does the thrilling conclusion of "The Recruit" season 2 unfold? Owen stealthily infiltrates the airport, making a covert beeline for Jang Kyung-kim and his wife, amidst the chaos and hustle of travelers. Simultaneously, on the boat, Dawn dispatches Dodge with a grim task: to eliminate Lester and Lee-jin, while she personally takes charge of confronting Jang Kyung-kim and Owen. Miraculously, Lee-jin manages to slip away through a narrow toilet window, her heart pounding with adrenaline. With a swift reversal of fortune, she returns to confront Dodge and Lester, overpowering them with a fire extinguisher and securing the boat under her control. She then pilots the vessel towards Owen's location, her resolve unshaken.
Elsewhere, Nichka breaks free from the confines of the car trunk like a phoenix rising from its ashes, her determination burning brighter than ever. She sets her sights on Dawn first, dispatching her swiftly before rushing to Owen, Jang Kyung-kim, and Nan-hee's side. Fortunately, the trio manages to plunge into the ocean, their strokes propelling them towards safety. Lee-jin arrives on the scene just in time, and they hastily board the vessel, their hearts pounding in unison.
However, their escape is far from over, as the Russian Coast Guard relentlessly pursues them, their ships slicing through the waves with menacing intent. Suddenly, a savior arrives on the horizon: an American Navy submarine, emerging from the depths to defend them. At the sight of the American Navy's formidable presence, the Russian coast guard hesitates, eventually retreating under the weight of superior force.
Once safely aboard the American Navy submarine, Jang Kyung-kim and Owen share a heartfelt, candid conversation. Jang Kyung-kim expresses his gratitude to Owen for his unwavering support, and Owen, emboldened by their shared experiences, attempts to recruit him into the CIA's fold. To everyone's surprise, Jang Kyung-kim accepts the offer, but a lingering question remains: does Owen truly have the authority to recruit for the CIA, given his tumultuous past and current standing?
