You know that feeling when a show just refuses to let you breathe? That’s basically the vibe of Tyler Perry's Ruthless season 4. Honestly, if you’ve been following Ruth Truesdale’s descent into the Rakudushis cult since 2020, you already know this isn't your average drama. It’s heavy. It’s dark. It's kinda stressful, to be real. But that’s exactly why we keep coming back to BET+ every time a new batch of episodes drops.
When season 4 kicked off on April 20, 2023, the stakes didn't just rise; they hit the ceiling. We aren't just talking about cult politics anymore. We’re talking about survival, FBI raids, and characters we've loved (or hated) facing actual, final consequences.
What Actually Happens in Tyler Perry’s Ruthless Season 4?
The fourth season split itself into two distinct halves, which is a classic Tyler Perry move to keep the suspense simmering. The first ten episodes landed in the spring of 2023, while the back half of the season didn't emerge until February 2024. Talk about a cliffhanger.
The core of Tyler Perry's Ruthless season 4 revolves around the absolute chaos at the compound. The Highest, played with a terrifying level of ego by Matt Cedeño, is starting to feel the walls close in. It’s not just the external threat of the law—it’s the rot from the inside. Ruth (Melissa L. Williams) is no longer just a victim trying to hide; she’s actively navigating a minefield of shifting loyalties.
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The Major Plot Beats You Might’ve Missed
- The FBI Presence: The introduction of new agents in town completely flipped the script for Sheriff Conley. He’s been playing both sides for way too long, and in season 4, that double-dealing starts to bite him.
- The Children’s Trailer Mystery: One of the most gut-wrenching moments involves Ruth realizing the children’s trailer is empty. If you’re a parent watching this, those scenes are almost impossible to stomach.
- Marva’s Brutality: Elder Mother Marva, played by Baadja-Lyne Odums, reaches new levels of "wicked" this season. Her treatment of Lacey and Laura is basically a masterclass in psychological horror.
- The Money: Everyone wants a piece of The Highest’s stashed cash. Ruth and River’s plan to make off with the money is what drives a lot of the late-season tension.
Honestly, the pacing in the middle of the season feels like a fever dream. You've got Mack getting sidelined, Andrew trying to burn evidence, and Aaron making desperate, failed attempts to escape. It's a lot.
The Dikhan Controversy: What Everyone Is Talking About
If you go into any fan forum or YouTube comment section about this show, one name comes up more than anyone else: Dikhan.
Lenny Thomas has been the backbone of this show’s intensity since day one. But Tyler Perry's Ruthless season 4 and the subsequent episodes leading into season 5 sparked a massive outcry. Without spoiling the absolute finality of it for those catching up, let's just say the way his character's journey was handled left a lot of fans feeling... well, betrayed. There was this feeling that his complex relationship with Ruth and his blind loyalty to The Highest deserved a more cinematic conclusion than what we got.
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Replacing that energy with River (Colin McCalla) was a bold choice. River is great, don't get me wrong. But Dikhan? He was the "it" factor.
Why This Season Hits Differently
Most TV shows about cults focus on the "how did they get there?" aspect. Ruthless is different. It’s about the "how do I get out without dying?" part.
In Tyler Perry's Ruthless season 4, the show leans hard into the "noir" elements. The lighting is darker. The music is more ominous. The dialogue feels punchier. You can tell the production value stepped up. It’s also one of the few shows that isn't afraid to let the bad guys win for a long, long time. That’s frustrating for some viewers, but it’s what makes the small victories for Ruth feel so earned.
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Cast and Character Dynamics in Season 4
The chemistry this year was off the charts. You’ve got:
- Melissa L. Williams (Ruth): She carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her performance is so subtle compared to the theatricality of The Highest, and that balance works.
- Blue Kimble (Andrew): Andrew’s arc this season is wild. Watching him navigate the pressure of the FBI while staying in The Highest’s good graces is like watching a tightrope walker in a hurricane.
- Yvonne Senat Jones (Tally): Even when she’s not front and center, her presence looms over the moral compass of the show.
How to Watch and What’s Next
If you’re looking for Tyler Perry's Ruthless season 4, your primary home is BET+. It’s also available through the BET+ channel on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
Interestingly, as of 2026, the show has already moved into its fifth and sixth seasons. If you’re just finishing season 4, you’ve got a massive binge-watch ahead of you. Season 5 actually premiered in August 2024, continuing the fallout from the explosive season 4 finale.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you've just finished the season 4 finale, "Plan in Action," here is how you should proceed to stay in the loop:
- Check the Episode Count: Make sure you’ve actually seen all 22 episodes of season 4. Because of the mid-season break, many people missed the "Part 2" drop in early 2024.
- Jump to Season 5: The transition between the end of season 4 and the start of season 5 is one of the smoothest in the series. No time jumps—just pure, immediate consequence.
- Watch 'The Oval': If you haven't seen the parent show, you're missing out on the backstory of how this all started. The crossover energy is real.
- Follow the Cast: Since some major characters depart around this time, following the actors on social media (like Lenny Thomas or Melissa L. Williams) gives a lot of behind-the-scenes context on the filming schedule and the "why" behind certain plot twists.
The world of the Rakudushis is a dark place, but for those of us who have been there since the beginning, there’s no turning back now.