Tarot Reader Told Him That His GF Will Cheat, And The Only Way Is To “Make Her Dependent”

Baking A Murder

The hosts recount a twisted South Korean drama episode centered around the tarot card 'The Hermit.' They follow the story of Min, who encoun

Key takeaways

• The protagonist, Park Min-chun, discovers a business card for a 'couple manager' in a wedding restroom.
• The couple manager uses psychological manipulation to predict and influence the relationship between Min and Jin Ellie.
• Min uses a USB device to spy on Ellie's private group chats with female colleagues.
• A hiking trip in South Korea serves as the setting for Ellie's affair and her subsequent near-fatal fall from a cliff.
• The story concludes with the couple together but both physically injured and emotionally miserable.

Main topics

• South Korean drama analysis
• Tarot card symbolism (The Hermit)
• Infidelity and cheating dynamics

Notable quotes

Marriage is reality.

Conclusion

The episode provides a dark commentary on how greed and the desire for

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:00) I bought a bean butter, bam. Do Speaker 3 (0:02) you remember the last episode of Bam We Did? It's a show called Tarot. Every single episode is based off of a different tarot card. Speaker 2 (0:10) That was like two years ago? Speaker 3 (0:11) Okay, it was two years ago, however, you guys really liked it, and it's Halloween, and I wanted to get into some thrillers next, but I need to knock out a tarot one, because this episode has been living rent-free in my mind, and I don't know if it's for the good reasons. It's kind of- messed up. It's kind of twisted. It's kind of when I think too long about it, I'm like, now what was that? But now I need to tell you about it because it is one of, I think the more viewed episodes of tarot in South Korea. It's a South Korean show. And like I said, every single episode is based off of a tarot card. Let's just jump right in to Min. That's our main character. Min is at his best friend's wedding. He's like a groomsman. And he's watching them take photos, the bride and the groom. They're looking awkward. They look like they could be five feet apart and be a little bit more comfortable. This does not feel like a happy wedding. The cameraman is even saying, Mr. Groom, could you please smile a bit more? Okay, here we go. One, two, three. Okay, now how about the friends join in for a moment? Ah, groom's friend, what was your name? Mint? Don't just stand there awkwardly. Come on, join in. And everyone starts inching a little bit closer in their little trench coats. Okay, now smile. One, two, one, two, three. Okay, they get the shot. Speaker 1 (1:28) And Min and the groom are finally outside walking around. And it's just such a surreal moment. He just got married. This is Speaker 3 (1:34) a big deal. But why does he look so miserable? Hey, what's wrong? Why do you look like that? Hello? And the groom starts dry heaving in the middle of the banquet. And he starts booking it. He's Speaker 1 (1:47) running it to the restroom. Speaker 3 (1:49) Min is chasing after his best bud. And they enter into this. You know, like those bar restrooms that are dark and gloomy and it just looks kind of vintagey, but in the best way possible. Nobody else is in there. The groom runs into the one of the stalls and he's just throwing up. Min doesn't really care that much. He's just checking himself out in the mirror. Hey, are you really that nervous? It's not because I'm nervous. I just feel like I need to Speaker 1 (2:15) throw up. That's all. Speaker 3 (2:16) Oh, geez. Well, I guess that's what happens, right? Because you're married and your life's over, isn't it? Isn't that what it is? Speaker 1 (2:22) You're a married man. That's crazy. A married man. The Speaker 3 (2:27) groom wipes his mouth, walks out of the stall, and he starts washing his hands. You're going to marry Ellie, right? When are you planning on getting married? I should set a date this year after meeting her parents, but it's just been really busy. Hey, before you set a date, I would say make sure to get some counseling. I hear there's a lot of services these days. Speaker 1 (2:47) A lot of services? What does that mean? Speaker 3 (2:50) Counseling services. Speaker 1 (2:51) Oh, like, okay. Speaker 3 (2:53) Yeah. And he's like, what kind of counseling? He looks over at the groom. Look, the groom grabs little paper towels. He's wiping his hands. Marriage is reality. You know, you really need to be on your toes. I guess I'm going down the road first, but see you after the wedding. And he walks out. Min is like, that is so weird. He's like, okay, I'll see you out there. And he starts fixing his hair again in the bathroom mirror alone in this little moody bathroom. His friend is having a life crisis over getting married. Meanwhile, he's over here fixing his long coat. He looks like Sherlock Holmes. You Speaker 1 (3:30) want some snacks? Speaker 3 (3:32) That's crazy. He literally is trying to crawl over for some snacks. He's trying to crawl over for me because I'm the snack. Inappropriate. Okay. He's over there fixing his long coat. He looks like Sherlock Holmes. And he's talking to himself. I mean, I guess the guy's got no guts, right? And he's about to walk out when he looks to his left. And there's this weird... painting in the bathroom and it looks like a winged creature helping a woman. It's weird. And on the ledge, there's this red velvet business card, which is kind of like a marketing queen, eye-catching genius. All it says on there, it has an address, it has a phone number, and it says, couple manager. Couple manager. Speaker 1 (4:20) It's so weird. Speaker 3 (4:21) Min checks his watch. Oh, shit, I got to go. And he leaves. The tarot card he received, couple manager. It means, honestly, I don't know what the fuck it means because it's not a real tarot card, but we're about to find out. So Speaker 1 (4:33) it was a tarot card. It wasn't a business card. Speaker 3 (4:36) Oh, I'm so sorry. It was a business card. You're right. Yeah, you're right. Okay, so Speaker 1 (4:39) he Speaker 3 (4:40) takes the business card and he pockets it. And I guess after the wedding, he's kind of intrigued. He just wants to check it out. And maybe the address is on his way home. He ends up at this couple manager's place. Speaker 1 (4:52) And I thought it was going to be Speaker 3 (4:54) like a cute little office, but it looks more like a museum. It's glassed down on all sides. There's a Greek headless statue. There's classical music playing. There's artwork just leaned up on the floor against the wall. And he starts staring at this large painting of a man holding. a lamp. It's like a man holding a lamp, getting guided through the dark. And a woman in a pantsuit walks up behind him. Her heels are clacking. She's got long hair and this sleek back pony. She looks maybe middle-aged, 50s, 60s. She's wearing sparkly earrings, makeup. She's not what I was expecting. She looks like she's an attorney that came to serve. A motion to dismiss your honor. Being ugly on the inside is, in fact, a federal crime. Yeah. That's what it feels like. Her voice booms and echoes throughout this office. Speaker 1 (5:48) That's a painting called The Hermit. He Speaker 3 (5:51) whips around. Oh, um, you're the couple's manager, right? He's looking a little nervous because she looks so intense, right? She looks very scary. It's about a person trying to gain enlightenment in the dark corners of the world. Look, he's using a lantern to eliminate the world at his feet. Speaker 3 (6:08) I'm a person of faith. I have a religion. I'm not really into fortune telling. Religion and fortune telling are not very different. They're one of the same. If you know the cause and effect of everything, the future would be predetermined like fate, would it not? Isn't that what we think is God's work? Min does not look very convinced. In fact, he looks kind of offended. Like, how are you comparing the two? He looks upset, but he goes into her darkly lit office anyway. And he's sitting inside this cushy little armchair. It looks like a therapist's office. If your therapist wants to drive you crazy, everything is too clean. It's a glass coffee table. Imagine one fingerprint game over and now you're stressed. And now the therapy session is over because all you can think about is how do I Speaker 1 (6:50) wipe the thumbprint off the coffee Speaker 3 (6:52) table without like, how do I do? it in a casual way what Speaker 1 (6:56) do you mean like it's all glass and it's super yeah Speaker 3 (6:59) it's reflective Speaker 1 (7:00) yes Speaker 3 (7:00) like if you've ever been in a therapist office they try to make it a little bit busier because you know it doesn't want to be too bland you want to feel a little bit homey everything is reflective i feel like if i got a little mug to drink coffee Because the therapist offered it to me and I put it down and then a coffee stain and then I got to wipe it. And I would just be so stressed. It's like a very daunting. The place looks expensive and you just feel like you have to sit prim and proper. And Min looks a little bit intimidated. And she goes through his little application. Mr. Park Min-chun, you graduated from a four-year university in Seoul, 34 years old, office worker. And your girlfriend, Jin Ellie, is your junior from university. 29 years old, a new employee at a public financial corporation. Is that correct? Am I reading that correct? Yes, that is correct. Speaker 1 (7:50) We have a much more Speaker 3 (7:52) sophisticated writing system than public information agencies. Your girlfriend's age and job make her the most preferred. grade in the market in the marriage market if you will when it comes to family background education future prospects appearance and likability you men are rather ordinary compared to your girlfriend miss ellie yeah but we've already decided to get married so Speaker 1 (8:17) i'm not sure why we're talking about these credentials Speaker 3 (8:20) when we should be talking about the relationship Speaker 3 (8:24) And Min, I don't know if you're mistaken, but in the end, marriage follows the credentials. Everything will be turned upside down in a marriage if you guys are not on the same page. Min is kind of pissed off by this. Like, what do you mean? Like, you're telling me right now. I'm paying for this session, lady. And you're telling me my girlfriend is a better catch than me. Are you out of your mind? Like, what are you saying right now? He tries to get up. Excuse me. Isn't this a place supposed to provide a wedding consultation? Is this place Speaker 1 (8:54) to ruin marriages? Is that what you're doing here? Speaker 3 (8:57) I Speaker 1 (8:58) am the person who will solve the Speaker 3 (8:59) problem that you are currently facing. There's no problem. I shouldn't have even come here. Maybe that's the problem. He puffs out his coat and he starts to walk off and she doesn't even look at him. Wait, I haven't even started talking. If you leave like this now, it will be irreversible. What is this lady talking about? Now, we don't know if Min stays. We just know the next day he's at a little coffee shop with his girlfriend, Ellie, and she's on her phone and he's just staring at his coffee, probably thinking about everything that the couple manager just said to him last night. Oppa, I heard there's a new Chinese restaurant. Should we go there to eat? Ellie, um, about the whole wedding thing, like the gifts and the dowry, don't you think that we should talk about it ourselves before we meet with the parents? Speaker 3 (9:46) Ah, the wedding stuff. But have you talked to your father about it? He said he might sell the house in the countryside and get us a place, right? Honestly, I don't really want to start marriage life with a rental. Yeah, I could talk to him about it. Okay, because my friend Hyewon, she moved into a brand new apartment that she owns. I'm kind of envious of her. And then we get a flashback to the night before. Wait, so Speaker 1 (10:12) the conversation is he's asking her what is her family bringing to the marriage in terms of dowry? Is that what he's asking? And then she's asking him like, oh, no, are you prepping a house? Is that the conversation about? Speaker 3 (10:29) No, I think he's saying, hey, you and I should discuss what we are going to tell our parents about the wedding dowry and all these things before we meet with the parents. And she's like, oh, let's not even do that because you said your dad was going to sell a house, right? Speaker 1 (10:41) Which Speaker 3 (10:41) is like very, it was a lot. It's intense. Speaker 1 (10:44) So for Koreans, similar, like for weddings, both family will like bring a lot of money, right? Like for dowry and stuff. I Speaker 3 (10:54) think. I don't Speaker 1 (10:56) know. Okay, but there's some dowry, some money involved. Yes, I think Speaker 3 (11:00) some more traditional leaning couples do. I think maybe some couples don't these days. Speaker 1 (11:07) Right, right, right. So he asked that. And her first thing was like, oh, you need to get a house. Because Speaker 3 (11:13) I don't want to live in a rental right after we get married. Speaker 1 (11:16) Got it. And Speaker 3 (11:17) that's exactly what the couple manager said last night. With her dark eyeliner, her nostrils flaring right after Min sits down like a little lost puppy, intense fucking stare into his soul. Your girlfriend has entered a public corporation and a financial one at that. This is when she will be the most vulnerable to temptation. If you bring up the topic of wedding gifts or a dowry, she will deflect the conversation to the issue of a newlywed home. which is like the biggest obstacle in Korea because homes are so expensive. I mean, here too, but it's very expensive. She would deliberately mention conditions that are near impossible for you. And now Min is sitting back at the coffee shop thinking about that comment. Uh, but that aside, Ellie, I'm planning to make reservations at a Korean restaurant next Saturday. Is that okay? It's better to have a meeting with our parents sooner than later, right? Speaker 1 (12:05) Why are you rushing? Speaker 3 (12:07) It's going to be hard to book a wedding hall even two months from now. I think it'd be better to do it after the summer. Rushing? We've been talking about making wedding plans for a while now, no? But you Speaker 1 (12:17) know, looking at my friends these days, some are living unmarried and are just dating freely. Sometimes when I hear them talk about it, I feel envious. Speaker 3 (12:26) There's another flashback to the couple manager. Last night she said, when you mention a specific wedding date, she'll brush it off as a joke. Wasn't it your girlfriend who was more eager to get married when you were job hunting? Oppa. I'm not saying that I want to do that and live unmarried and free like my friends. I mean, you know how free-spirited my friends are, right? But just, it's so much right now. Why are you acting like this? The next night, Min is back at the manager's creepy office because what the fork is that? Everything she said was going to happen just happened at the coffee shop. The manager walks in wearing blood red. So I was right. Yeah, so what do I do now? Don't worry, I'll make sure that what you're worried about will never happen. Please be specific. What are you going to do? The condition of me contracting with you is that you don't ask that question. I have my ways, so you just trust me and follow along. What's certain is that I will make sure that the two of you will be walking hand