The Manipulated: When will episodes 7-8 release, and what to expect

Disney+ released the next two episodes, 5 and 6, of The Manipulated on November 12. The next batch of episodes 7 and 8 is set to arrive on November 19 at 5:00 pm KST. The crime-thriller stars Ji Chang-wook as Park Taejoong.

He is an ordinary man who is falsely incriminated in a brutal crime and sent to prison. While incarcerated, he discovers the fall was engineered by An Yohan, played by Do Kyung-soo. The narrative follows Taejoong’s calculated drive for revenge.

---

What's ahead in episodes 7 & 8 of The Manipulated?

The Manipulated (Image via X/@DisneyPlusKR)

The next chapter of The Manipulated is likely to expose the full scope of Yohan’s experiment and the motives driving his violent game. Taejoon’s near escape sets the stage for a confrontation. He now knows enough about the facility’s layout and Yohan’s behavior to plan something bigger. His survival instincts are sharpening, and his defiance will probably turn from escape to revenge.

Yohan's interest in “fun” is psychological warfare. The next episodes will likely dig into his backstory or reveal who funds his cruel experiments. Baek Do-kyung’s presence as a “VIP guest” also suggests that there’s an audience behind these games. These could be people with money, influence, and a taste for bloodsport.

The show's upcoming episodes may also uncover Yohan’s past. He’s seen sculpting a figure of a woman (actress Lim Hwan-yeon), marked with scars. Since actress Lim is in her forties, she could be playing Yohan’s mother. The scars on the sculpture might reflect her pain, suggesting his art is drawn from trauma rather than creativity. This connection could explain his obsession with control, turning his experiments into reflections of his own damaged history.

---

The Manipulated episodes 5 & 6 brief recap

Episodes 5 and 6 of The Manipulated push the story into darker territory. Baek Do-kyung’s secrets come undone as he murders the woman connected to Taejoon’s false charge. Meanwhile, following Yohan’s orders, the inmates are brought to a new facility. There, they’re first served an elaborate meal before being moved to separate rooms.

Soon after, they are issued identical white uniforms marked with numbers. Each number links to a garage with a vehicle. The setup leads to Yohan’s latest experiment, which is a no-rule race with a grand reward of 5 billion won. Refusal means death. Baek Do-kyung watches as Yohan’s guest while he himself oversees the event with calculated calm. From there, Taejoon makes a failed escape attempt and is soon caught.

The next day, Do Gang-jae proposes an alliance with Do-kyung, seeking long-term gain. Meanwhile, Deok-su requests a different prize: permission to kill Taejoon himself. Tempers erupt when the inmates compete for better cars. Gang-jae targets the sports car in Garage 10.

Taejoon manages to protect his car through a high-speed chase. As the situation intensifies, guards intervene. The car overheats from excessive use, leaving it unsuitable for the upcoming race. Yohan later meets Taejoon face-to-face. Asked for his motive, Yohan calls the deadly contest “fun.” Taejoon stays silent, observing the room and memorizing the layout.

Not long after, Yohan plants a handgun inside Gang-jae’s car, turning the upcoming race into a trap. When the race finally starts, violence erupts. Cars collide and bodies fall as each inmate seeks victory. Taejoon switches to a motorbike as his car fails. Yohan heightens the tension, promising 10 billion won to anyone who catches the biker.

Deok-su confronts Taejoon, leading to a knife fight. Both bleed, but Taejoon breaks free with a bike, igniting a gas cylinder to create chaos. Flames rise behind him as he speeds off. Yohan picks up a rifle and shoots at Taejoon, ending The Manipulated episode on a cliffhanger over whether Taejoon escapes.

---

The Manipulated has received critical praise for its storyline and cast performances. Currently, it holds an 8.6 rating on IMDb.

Edited by Shreya Jha