Tarot: Seven Stories (2024): Tarot K-drama Review

Tarot: Seven Stories is a 2024 horror-thriller K-drama where tarot cards dictate fate, with each episode unearthing a new twist. Sounds like a recipe for binge-worthy greatness, right? In practice, the show bounces between flashes of brilliance and full-on facepalms. This review covers what the series gets right (mostly the acting), where it falls apart, and whether it belongs in your queue.

Watch the trailer: Tarot: official trailer

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The setup: a deck of fate and frustrations

The premise is juicy:

• Each episode centers on a tarot card tied to a character's fate.
• Their suffering unfolds as the card's meaning plays out in ways poetic, painful, and occasionally absurd.

On paper, it's a goldmine. In practice, it's like watching someone shuffle a loaded deck and then forget how to deal. Some episodes (cough Episode 3 cough) deliver the eerie goods, but others feel like hastily scribbled filler that leaves you scratching your head. By the end, you're mostly screaming, "But WHY?"

• Episode 2 breaks the show's own rules by skipping the tarot theme entirely.
• Backstories get teased but never fully explored, leaving gaping holes in the story.
• The show dangles mysteries in front of you like a carrot, then yanks them away before the payoff.

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The acting: the true MVPs

Let's be real: the cast is this show's saving grace.

• Dex absolutely crushes it. For a debut performance, he's shockingly good: funny, tragic, and downright terrifying. Episode 5 is a masterclass.
• The child actors deserve their own awards. Episode 7 is heartbreaking in the best way, thanks to their raw, haunting performances.

It's maddening, because the acting is top-tier while the material feels like it was written on a coffee break. Watching this much talent wasted on half-baked scripts is like watching Michelin chefs try to elevate instant noodles.

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The horror: lukewarm at best

Is Tarot a horror series? Technically, sure. But if you're expecting sleepless nights, lower your expectations.

• Episode 3 is the only real standout, with a genuinely unsettling atmosphere and the kind of tension the show desperately needs more of.
• The rest plays more like a psychological thriller with mild creepiness sprinkled in.

The tarot card concept begs for grotesque, visceral horror, but the show plays it safe. The suspense fizzles out.

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The WTF moments

Every show has flaws, but Tarot makes some genuinely baffling choices:

• Unexplained suffering: Who is pulling the strings here? The series hints at karmic justice but never clarifies why these characters are being punished.
• Unnecessary nudity: The cheating subplot leans hard on gratuitous nudity that cheapens the story.
• Inconsistent tone: It careens from heartfelt drama to absurd comedy to lackluster horror, leaving you dizzy and annoyed.

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The highs: twists and tarot aesthetics

It's not all bad. Some elements do work:

• The tarot visuals are striking and add mystique even when the writing doesn't.
• The end-of-episode explanations are a nice touch, though they often feel rushed.
• The plot twists keep you guessing, even if half of them make you roll your eyes.

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Final verdict: a creative idea lost in chaotic execution

Tarot: Seven Stories feels like a first draft: brimming with potential but bogged down by messy pacing, unresolved plotlines, and rushed storytelling. The acting is phenomenal and the concept is strong, but the execution never catches up. The frustrating part is that the show's best moments tease what it could have been if someone had tightened the screws.

Rating: 7/10. If you like dark, twisty dramas and don't mind playing detective to fill in the gaps, shuffle Tarot: Seven Stories into your queue. Just don't expect satisfying answers, and don't cancel your therapy session trying to make sense of it.

More tarot on screen: our Tarot (2024) horror movie review. And if the drama's cards spooked you, here are the 10 worst tarot cards to pull in real readings.