Drama Tyrant’s Chef Episode 8 review. A first-round showdown (Galbijjim vs. Kung Pao Chicken) thrown off by the disappearance of gochujan...
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from The Tyrant’s Chef |
1. A Missing Gochujang, A Twisted Start
The first task of the three-round contest is galbijjim. Yeon Ji-young intends to showcase Joseon’s flavor with gochujang and gochugaru, but she steps into the arena only to find the key ingredients gone. With clear signs of foul play, she pivots to a bold plan: a French-style galbijjim.
Meanwhile, Ming chef Abisu presents Kung Pao Chicken made with gochugaru. Ji-young tastes it and immediately calls it out. Senior Ming chef Dang Baek-ryong publicly reprimands Abisu, reminding him that a chef’s bout must be fought fairly. Abisu claims he received the chili powder from Prince Jesan, who in turn excuses himself by saying he removed the spices for the king’s health. To keep the peace, the king declares the round a draw.
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from The Tyrant’s Chef |
2. Knives and Threats: A Kitchen Stained with Blood
The second task is to recreate the other nation’s signature dish. Joseon prepares Peking Duck; Ming counters with lotus-root temple cuisine. But a darker game lurks backstage. Maeng Mansu is under Kang Muk-ju’s threat—disobey and his mother’s safety is in jeopardy; comply and he becomes a traitor to Joseon.
Trapped with no way out, Mansu lifts his knife and cuts his own hand, removing himself from the round. Ji-young also injures her hand and can’t slice the duck skin thinly enough—until Seo Geum-gil steps forward, deftly shaving the skin and stabilizing the kitchen. Only then do we understand why Mansu trained Seo so harshly: he was preparing for this very moment.
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from The Tyrant’s Chef |
3. Baek-ryong’s Past Comes to Light
Asked how he knows Joseon’s temple cuisine so well, Dang Baek-ryong answers in fluent Korean. As a wandering cook, he once collapsed at a Joseon temple and was nursed back to health; moved by the monk’s food, he spent five years learning temple cooking there. That is why he speaks Korean—and why he holds a warm regard for Joseon. Though a Ming chef, his principles led him to warn of danger and to chastise Abisu’s conduct, implicitly accepting responsibility for the round’s outcome.
 |
| Image Source: Screenshot from The Tyrant’s Chef |
4. Final Thoughts — Things Heavier Than Victory
Beyond the dazzling cooking, Episode 8 lingers on legitimacy and loyalty. The first round’s draw is a bandage for pride, whereas the second round unfolds amid threats and acts of devotion, revealing the heart of a craft that also raises people up.
The episode doesn’t reveal the second round’s final verdict, but it leaves us with questions: What truly decides victory? What do we seek to gain by winning? Is it to protect life—or to destroy it?
Episode 8 offers no answers. Instead, it passes the tension and foreshadowing to Episode 9 and heightens anticipation for what comes next.
Tyrant’s Chef is available on tvN, Netflix, and TVING.
※ This article is based on the broadcast episode and includes summaries and interpretations to aid understanding. Interpretations may vary by viewer.
※ This is original K-Bridge content. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is prohibited.
COMMENTS