# Ruthless (TV series)

Ruthless is an American drama series created, executive produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry. The series is produced under Perry's overall deal with Viacom/CBS. It is a spin-off from the BET drama The Oval. The first season of 24-episodes premiered on March 19, 2020, on BET+. Starting on February 23, 2021, the show began airing on BET following new episodes of The Oval. Season 2 premiered on March 11, 2021. Season 3 premiered on March 10, 2022. Season 4 premiered on April 20, 2023. In April 2024 the show was renewed for a fifth season, which premiered on August 8, 2024.

## Plot

In a backdoor pilot during the first three episodes of The Oval, Ruth Truesdale (Melissa L. Williams) kidnaps her daughter Callie to join her and the sex-crazed members of the Rakudushis cult. Ruth is a devoted member of the Rakudushi cult. After helping to severely punish her rebellious, best friend Tally, she becomes an "Elder," a high-ranking member of the cult. However, in order to be initiated into the position of Elder, she was required to be gang-raped by seven high-ranking cult members, including Andrew and Dikhan, in the presence of The Highest. After being gang-raped, Ruth no longer wants to be a member of the cult and began planning an escape, along with her best friend, Tally.
The leader of the Rakudushis is "the Highest" (Matt Cedeño). The Highest has long hair and is always wearing white. His demeanor is very calm, peaceful, and welcoming. This is to cover up the fact that he is a sexual sadist. He uses drugs to make newcomers black out and lose all memory in order to violently rape them. He himself is also a drug addict.
Dikhan (Lenny Thomas), is a high-ranking cult member who is the right hand to The Highest. He is the overseer of everything that happens on the cult's property. Dikhan is very handsome and loyal to The Highest, but he is also extremely invasive and stern. It is revealed in Season one, episode seven, that Dikhan and The Highest have been in a homosexual relationship for twelve years. However, Dikhan is bisexual. He has been having a secret affair with Ruth and is also attracted to Lynn (Nirdine Brown). Dikhan has fallen in love with Ruth, however, Ruth is only using him to plan her escape from the cult. Dikhan is under the impression that Ruth is pregnant with his child. He has to hide his feelings for Ruth because of his relationship with the Highest. It is also against the rules of the cult. The Highest becomes suspicious about Dikhan and Ruth, after smelling Ruth's soap on him. The Highest's fondness of Andrew and River causes Dikhan to become jealous and insecure. Members of all ranks of the cult fear Dikhan. Dikhan reports all wrongdoing of the cult members to The Highest and often recommends and inflicts their punishment.
The Rakudushi cult was infiltrated by undercover FBI agent Andrew (Blue Kimble) who eventually converted his beliefs into that of the religious sex cult and is in the process of becoming a high-ranking member of the Rakadushis. Andrew is married to Sarah and they have one son. After infiltrating and becoming an unwavering believer of the Rakadushi religion, he began a secret, forbidden, sexual affair with Tally (Yvonne Senat Jones), who is also a member of the Rakadushi cult. Andrew falls in love with Tally, and eventually gets her pregnant. Tally does not know that Andrew is an undercover FBI agent who is also married. Andrew is a very loyal member and believer of the Rakadushi cult and its beliefs. However, he is frequently torn between his beliefs and his love for Tally, when Tally is severely and continuously punished for her mistakes and rebellious behavior. Tally questions Andrew's love for her after finding out Andrew was one of the seven men who gang-raped Ruth. Andrew had homosexual sex with The Highest one time, proving his loyalty to the cult, but causing friction between him and Dikhan, due to Dikhan being in love with The Highest.

## Cast and characters
### Main

* Melissa L. Williams as Ruth Truesdale
* Matt Cedeño as The Highest/Tyrone Luckett
* Lenny Thomas as Anthony/Dikhan (seasons 1-5)
* Yvonne Senat Jones as Tally (seasons 1–2)
* Baadja-Lyne Odums as Marva
* Jaime M. Callica as Brian Rollins (Seasons 1-4)
* Nirine S. Brown as Lynn (Seasons 1-4)
* Blue Kimble as Andrew
* Stephanie Charles as Sarah (Seasons 1-3)
* Herve Clermont as Mack (Seasons 1-4)
* Anthony Bless as Malcolm Green
* Bobbi Baker James as Cynthia (Seasons 1-3)
* Stevie Baggs, Jr. as Oliver (Seasons 1-3)
* Colin McCalla as River
* Samantha L. Thomas as Paula
* Michelle Nuñez as Zane
* Alise Willis as Lacey (seasons 1-5)
* Jael Pettigrew as Clark (Seasons 1-2)
* Nadège August as Joan (Season 3 - Present, recurring seasons 1–2)
* Joshua Adeyeye as Manny (Season 3 - Present, recurring season 1)

### Recurring

* Kelvin Hair as Boboconati Smith
* Zephaniah Terry as William
* Robert Craighead as Sheriff Walker Conley
* Derek A. Dixon as Dale
* Ashleigh Morghan as Melinda (Seasons 1-3)
* Jeremy Palko as Deputy Billy Poke (Seasons 1-2)
* David Bianchi as Lilo
* Rhonda Stubbins White as Agnes (Seasons 1-3)
* Steven G. Norfleet as Lewis (Season 4 - Present)
* Pierre V. Johnson as George (Season 4 - Present)
* Alex Cubis as Aaron (Seasons 4-5)
* Ekeobong as Laura (Seasons 4-5)
* Gissette Valentin as Desiree Walton (Season 4 - Present)
* Rocky Myers as Kal (Season 4 - Present)
* Jason Alan Carvell as Obadiah (Saison 5)
* Dakota Kruz as Glitch (Season 5)
* Telvin Griffin as Heat (Season 5)

## Production
### Development

The series was picked up by BET+ on November 7, 2019, with 24 episode order. The first season was shot over the course of 13 days in Atlanta. As production began during the height of the COVID pandemic, it was filmed in a quarantine "bubble" at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

### Casting

Melissa Williams plays the lead role, after previously appearing on The Oval. New series regular cast members were announced in October 2020 to appear from the second season. Kelvin Hair was announced as a recurring cast member in March 2021.

## Episodes
### Series overview

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 24 | 12 | March 19, 2020 (2020-3-19) | June 4, 2020 (2020-6-4) |
| 1 | 24 | 12 | November 26, 2020 (2020-11-26) | January 28, 2021 (2021-1-28) |
| 2 | 19 | 9 | March 11, 2021 (2021-3-11) | April 22, 2021 (2021-4-22) |
| 2 | 19 | 10 | November 25, 2021 (2021-11-25) | January 13, 2022 (2022-1-13) |
| 3 | 22 | 11 | March 10, 2022 (2022-3-10) | May 5, 2022 (2022-5-5) |
| 3 | 22 | 11 | December 8, 2022 (2022-12-8) | February 2, 2023 (2023-2-2) |
| 4 | 22 | 10 | April 20, 2023 (2023-4-20) | June 15, 2023 (2023-6-15) |
| 4 | 22 | 12 | February 1, 2024 (2024-2-1) | April 4, 2024 (2024-4-4) |
| 5 | 17 | 8 | August 8, 2024 (2024-8-8) | September 12, 2024 (2024-9-12) |
| 5 | 17 | 9 | March 13, 2025 (2025-3-13) | April 24, 2025 (2025-4-24) |

### Season 1 (2020–21)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | BET air date | U.S. linear viewers (millions) |
| Part 1 ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 19, 2020 (2020-3-19) | May 6, 2020 | 0.82 |
| 2 | 2 | "The Precious Jewel" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 19, 2020 (2020-3-19) | May 13, 2020 | 0.73 |
| 3 | 3 | "The Holy Ground" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 19, 2020 (2020-3-19) | May 20, 2020 | 0.58 |
| 4 | 4 | "Waiting For Tomorrow" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 26, 2020 (2020-3-26) | March 16, 2021 | 0.45 |
| 5 | 5 | "The Chosen" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 2, 2020 (2020-4-2) | March 23, 2021 | 0.43 |
| 6 | 6 | "Lost" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 9, 2020 (2020-4-9) | March 30, 2021 | 0.47 |
| 7 | 7 | "The Outsiders" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 30, 2020 (2020-4-30) | April 6, 2021 | 0.45 |
| 8 | 8 | "Heaven On Earth" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | May 7, 2020 (2020-5-7) | April 13, 2021 | 0.47 |
| 9 | 9 | "To Be Chosen" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | May 14, 2020 (2020-5-14) | April 20, 2021 | 0.58 |
| 10 | 10 | "The Closer" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | May 21, 2020 (2020-5-21) | April 27, 2021 | 0.47 |
| 11 | 11 | "The Devil's Brew" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | May 28, 2020 (2020-5-28) | May 4, 2021 | 0.45 |
| 12 | 12 | "Wicked Acts" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | June 4, 2020 (2020-6-4) | May 11, 2021 | 0.62 |
| Part 2 ||||||||
| 13 | 13 | "An Angel From Heaven" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | November 26, 2020 (2020-11-26) | January 11, 2022 | 0.60 |
| 14 | 14 | "The Restful Sleep" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | November 26, 2020 (2020-11-26) | January 18, 2022 | 0.64 |
| 15 | 15 | "On Assignment" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | November 26, 2020 (2020-11-26) | January 25, 2022 | 0.52 |
| 16 | 16 | "Quid Pro Quo" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 3, 2020 (2020-12-3) | February 1, 2022 | 0.53 |
| 17 | 17 | "Unnatural Acts" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 10, 2020 (2020-12-10) | February 8, 2022 | 0.55 |
| 18 | 18 | "Drinking My Scotch" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 17, 2020 (2020-12-17) | February 15, 2022 | 0.48 |
| 19 | 19 | "The Purge" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 24, 2020 (2020-12-24) | February 22, 2022 | 0.48 |
| 20 | 20 | "The Dark Walkers" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 31, 2020 (2020-12-31) | March 1, 2022 | 0.43 |
| 21 | 21 | "Two Days" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | January 7, 2021 (2021-1-7) | March 8, 2022 | 0.55 |
| 22 | 22 | "Into the Woods" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | January 14, 2021 (2021-1-14) | March 15, 2022 | 0.53 |
| 23 | 23 | "Live Bait" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | January 21, 2021 (2021-1-21) | March 22, 2022 | 0.51 |
| 24 | 24 | "Out of Time" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | January 28, 2021 (2021-1-28) | March 22, 2022 | 0.42 |

### Season 2 (2021–22)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | BET air date | U.S. linear viewers (millions) |
| Part 1 ||||||||
| 25 | 1 | "The Outhouse" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 11, 2021 (2021-3-11) | October 11, 2022 | 0.42 |
| 26 | 2 | "Over The Barrel" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 11, 2021 (2021-3-11) | October 18, 2022 | 0.36 |
| 27 | 3 | "Holding On By A Thread" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 11, 2021 (2021-3-11) | October 25, 2022 | 0.42 |
| 28 | 4 | "Duplicity" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 18, 2021 (2021-3-18) | November 1, 2022 | 0.43 |
| 29 | 5 | "Agitators" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 25, 2021 (2021-3-25) | November 8, 2022 | 0.37 |
| 30 | 6 | "Trust No One" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 1, 2021 (2021-4-1) | November 15, 2022 | 0.33 |
| 31 | 7 | "The Code" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 8, 2021 (2021-4-8) | November 22, 2022 | 0.39 |
| 32 | 8 | "Small Little Lies" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 15, 2021 (2021-4-15) | November 29, 2022 | 0.36 |
| 33 | 9 | "The Ritual Bath" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 22, 2021 (2021-4-22) | December 6, 2022 | 0.37 |
| Part 2 ||||||||
| 34 | 10 | "My Brother's Keeper" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | November 25, 2021 (2021-11-25) | January 3, 2023 | 0.37 |
| 35 | 11 | "Secrets of the Garden" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | November 25, 2021 (2021-11-25) | January 10, 2023 | 0.41 |
| 36 | 12 | "Masquerade" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | November 25, 2021 (2021-11-25) | January 17, 2023 | 0.41 |
| 37 | 13 | "Evil Deeds" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 2, 2021 (2021-12-2) | January 24, 2023 | 0.42 |
| 38 | 14 | "Prophecy" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 9, 2021 (2021-12-9) | January 31, 2023 | 0.41 |
| 39 | 15 | "Caged Birds" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 16, 2021 (2021-12-16) | February 7, 2023 | 0.38 |
| 40 | 16 | "Retribution" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 23, 2021 (2021-12-23) | February 14, 2023 | 0.44 |
| 41 | 17 | "Into the Woods" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 30, 2021 (2021-12-30) | February 21, 2023 | 0.48 |
| 42 | 18 | "Precious Armor" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | January 6, 2022 (2022-1-6) | February 28, 2023 | 0.37 |
| 43 | 19 | "The Raku Way" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | January 13, 2022 (2022-1-13) | March 7, 2023 | 0.45 |

### Season 3 (2022–23)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | BET air date | U.S. linear viewers (millions) |
| Part 1 ||||||||
| 44 | 1 | "The Calming" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 10, 2022 (2022-3-10) | TBA | N/A |
| 45 | 2 | "Uncharted Territory" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 10, 2022 (2022-3-10) | TBA | N/A |
| 46 | 3 | "Prepare the Throne" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 10, 2022 (2022-3-10) | TBA | N/A |
| 47 | 4 | "The Highest To Be" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 17, 2022 (2022-3-17) | TBA | N/A |
| 48 | 5 | "Proving Grounds" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 24, 2022 (2022-3-24) | TBA | N/A |
| 49 | 6 | "Punishment and Games" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 31, 2022 (2022-3-31) | TBA | N/A |
| 50 | 7 | "The Strangers" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 7, 2022 (2022-4-7) | TBA | N/A |
| 51 | 8 | "A Masterful Plan" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 14, 2022 (2022-4-14) | TBA | N/A |
| 52 | 9 | "Does The Highest Know" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 21, 2022 (2022-4-21) | TBA | N/A |
| 53 | 10 | "The Law of Obedience" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 28, 2022 (2022-4-28) | TBA | N/A |
| 54 | 11 | "Late Supper" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | May 5, 2022 (2022-5-5) | TBA | N/A |
| Part 2 ||||||||
| 55 | 12 | "Troubling Revelations" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 8, 2022 (2022-12-8) | TBA | N/A |
| 56 | 13 | "The Great Escape" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 8, 2022 (2022-12-8) | TBA | N/A |
| 57 | 14 | "Dilapidated" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 8, 2022 (2022-12-8) | TBA | N/A |
| 58 | 15 | "The Pencil Sharpener" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 15, 2022 (2022-12-15) | TBA | N/A |
| 59 | 16 | "Lessons Learned" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 22, 2022 (2022-12-22) | TBA | N/A |
| 60 | 17 | "Just Keep Breathing" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | December 29, 2022 (2022-12-29) | TBA | N/A |
| 61 | 18 | "No Mercy" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | January 5, 2023 (2023-1-5) | TBA | N/A |
| 62 | 19 | "When the Tables Turn" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | January 12, 2023 (2023-1-12) | TBA | N/A |
| 63 | 20 | "Dance and Punishment" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | January 19, 2023 (2023-1-19) | TBA | N/A |
| 64 | 21 | "Just One More Time" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | January 26, 2023 (2023-1-26) | TBA | N/A |
| 65 | 22 | "Enough Is Enough" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | February 2, 2023 (2023-2-2) | TBA | N/A |

### Season 4 (2023–24)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | BET air date | U.S. linear viewers (millions) |
| Part 1 ||||||||
| 66 | 1 | "A Matter of Time" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 20, 2023 (2023-4-20) | TBA | N/A |
| 67 | 2 | "What's Done in the Dark" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 20, 2023 (2023-4-20) | TBA | N/A |
| 68 | 3 | "Behind Closed Doors" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 27, 2023 (2023-4-27) | TBA | N/A |
| 69 | 4 | "Eager Little Flower" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | May 4, 2023 (2023-5-4) | TBA | N/A |
| 70 | 5 | "Close Call" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | May 11, 2023 (2023-5-11) | TBA | N/A |
| 71 | 6 | "Disappearing Act" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | May 18, 2023 (2023-5-18) | TBA | N/A |
| 72 | 7 | "You Have to Play the Game" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | May 25, 2023 (2023-5-25) | TBA | N/A |
| 73 | 8 | "Eye for an Eye" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | June 1, 2023 (2023-6-1) | TBA | N/A |
| 74 | 9 | "Wicked Intentions" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | June 8, 2023 (2023-6-8) | TBA | N/A |
| 75 | 10 | "Tonight Is the Night" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | June 15, 2023 (2023-6-15) | TBA | N/A |
| Part 2 ||||||||
| 76 | 11 | "State of Emergency" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | February 1, 2024 (2024-2-1) | TBA | N/A |
| 77 | 12 | "The Art of Secrecy" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | February 1, 2024 (2024-2-1) | TBA | N/A |
| 78 | 13 | "Keep Fighting" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | February 1, 2024 (2024-2-1) | TBA | N/A |
| 79 | 14 | "Now You See Me" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | February 8, 2024 (2024-2-8) | TBA | N/A |
| 80 | 15 | "Do Or Die" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | February 15, 2024 (2024-2-15) | TBA | N/A |
| 81 | 16 | "Plan In Action" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | February 22, 2024 (2024-2-22) | TBA | N/A |
| 82 | 17 | "Crossing The Line" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | February 29, 2024 (2024-2-29) | TBA | N/A |
| 83 | 18 | "Hot On Their Tail" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 7, 2024 (2024-3-7) | TBA | N/A |
| 84 | 19 | "The Ticking Clock" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 14, 2024 (2024-3-14) | TBA | N/A |
| 85 | 20 | "Lamb To The Slaughter" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 21, 2024 (2024-3-21) | TBA | N/A |
| 86 | 21 | "Make Or Break" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | March 28, 2024 (2024-3-28) | TBA | N/A |
| 87 | 22 | "Fistful of Greed" | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry | April 4, 2024 (2024-4-4) | TBA | N/A |

### Season 5 (2024–25)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | BET air date | U.S. linear viewers (millions) |
| 88 | 1 | "Children of the New Paradise" | Armani Ortiz | Mansa Ra | August 8, 2024 (2024-8-8) | TBA | N/A |
| 89 | 2 | "Il Fin Di Chi Fa Mal" | Armani Ortiz | Meagan Daine | August 8, 2024 (2024-8-8) | TBA | N/A |
| 90 | 3 | "The Night is Long" | Armani Ortiz | Osokwe Tychicus Vasquez | August 8, 2024 (2024-8-8) | TBA | N/A |
| 91 | 4 | "Death Will Bring Death" | Armani Ortiz | Osokwe Tychicus Vasquez | August 15, 2024 (2024-8-15) | TBA | N/A |
| 92 | 5 | "The Measure" | Armani Ortiz | Branyon Davis | August 22, 2024 (2024-8-22) | TBA | N/A |
| 93 | 6 | "Soup Du Jour" | Armani Ortiz | Dui Jarrod | August 29, 2024 (2024-8-29) | TBA | N/A |
| 94 | 7 | "Revelations" | Armani Ortiz | Meagan Daine | September 5, 2024 (2024-9-5) | TBA | N/A |
| 95 | 8 | "Of Mothers and Sons" | Armani Ortiz | Meagan Daine | September 12, 2024 (2024-9-12) | TBA | N/A |