From the way The Believers began, one might have thought it was just about three friends trying to sort out a failed business by taking advantage of people’s religious beliefs. But as the story progressed, it grew into something much deeper and layered, with many twists that weren’t obvious from the start.
What looked like a basic plan to clear off a bad loan ended up blending religion, crime, and business in very unexpected ways. After their NFT-based gaming business collapsed, Win, Dear, and Game found themselves under heavy pressure from Yossaphat, a ruthless loan shark who had funded the venture.
Desperation pushed three friends into holy trouble (Photo: The Believers/Orion Pictures)With no better idea in sight, they shifted focus to something very unconventional – reviving an old Buddhist temple to generate quick money. Their idea was to rebrand the worn-down Phummaram Temple and draw in a younger crowd, hoping to raise enough funds to clear their debt.
They picked Phummaram Temple, which was not doing well at all, being watched over by Tang, a caretaker with a shady character, and a sickly Abbot. Tang had been misusing donation money long before the trio arrived, so he had no problem jumping on their idea.
To increase their chances of success, they also convinced Monk Dol, who already had a little fame, to join in and help attract attention. But everything didn’t go as they expected. Trouble started when Monk Ekachai came back from Bangkok and noticed that the Abbot’s condition was getting worse.
At the same time, Tang began using the temple space for dodgy events involving his drinking friends, some of which included an underground drug operation. Soon enough, the temple started attracting the attention of law enforcement, especially an officer named Yod.
As the reputation of the temple fell apart and money stopped flowing in, Tang, who had been on the run, came back and tried to blackmail Game. Not long after, he died under strange conditions, and Yod eventually discovered that Win had been illegally trading religious amulets.
Who Killed Tang?
Tang’s death didn’t come across as a big shock due to the kind of things he was involved in. What stood out was the identity of the person behind it – it turned out to be Ekachai. But his reasons weren’t random.
Ekachai had his plan, which was to push the message of Buddhism as far as possible, and he was ready to do whatever it took to make that happen. To carry out his vision, he needed total control of the temple and a strong public presence.
This mission put him on the same path as Win – both of them wanted the temple full of people but for different gains. While Win focused on cash flow, Ekachai fed off the influence and power that came with being a respected monk.
He wasn’t just waiting for the Abbot to collapse – he was actively pushing it along. Tang was a threat because of the noise he was making and the kind of attention he was attracting. So taking him out was a way for Ekachai to keep things running smoothly and remove someone who could have easily exposed everything.
What Becomes of Win, Dear, and Game?
Eventually, the way the three friends were moving started catching up with them. When Ekachai appointed Game as Monk’s Assistant, it created a direct connection between the shady temple dealings and the trio.
From failed NFTs to fake faith the hustle kept evolving (Photo: The Believers/Orion Pictures)Even though they avoided clear illegal actions and tried not to leave any evidence, there was still enough to allow for their arrest. Yet, something strange happened. Yod’s superior called off the case all of a sudden. Win and Dear were allowed to go – but it wasn’t exactly freedom.
Instead, they were introduced to a political figure who had been secretly supporting the temple with generous donations. This politician had a personal interest in the temple’s success and believed the trio could repeat the same trick in other places.
So, rather than returning to the mercy of Yossaphat, the three of them found themselves working for someone equally dangerous, just dressed in more respectable clothes.
What Next? A Possible Second Season
There’s still plenty left hanging by the time The Believers wraps up its first season. The story is far from over, and new questions have now entered the picture, especially about Win’s father, who has mysteriously gone missing.
Yod, clearly frustrated with the outcome of his investigation, tries to convince Win and his team to expose the political figure’s connection to the temple scandal. In return, he offers them information about what happened to Win’s father.
On top of that, Win also stumbles across a lead pointing him towards more answers about the disappearance. All of this sets the stage for a possible second season, where the drama could grow even deeper.
