Back to All News
Seeing is Believing: How The Believers' Delivered a Gripping Exploration of Faith and Finance
Entertainment
04 April 2024
GlobalThailand
Link copied to clipboard
Exploring faith, finance and societal issues, The Believers effortlessly soared to the No. 1 TV spot in Thailand within just a week of its release, based on viewing hours from March 25 to 31.
Keeping the faith: The making of The Believers
The journey to the top for The Believers has been a five-year journey of meticulous research, script refinement and artistic dedication. Helmed by director Wattanapong Wongwan, his debut series sets out to examine the complex interplay between faith and finance within the context of Buddhism. As Thai society becomes more accepting of the kind of doubts he has, Wattanapong is able to turn those into a thought-provoking narrative through finely crafted characters and storylines.
James-Teeradon Supapunpinyo, who plays Win, leapt at the chance to explore a topic close to his heart."I decided to take on the role after reading the synopsis, he says. Here was finally a team willing to delve into the commercialization of Buddhism in a meaningful way.
Peach-Pachara Chirathivat, who takes on the role of Game, added, "Many might think that discussing religion is inappropriate, but I believe that as Buddhists, we have to ask these questions to help make things right.
To infuse her portrayal of Dear with authenticity, Ally-Achiraya Nitibhon drew from her personal experiences. "I feel that having faith to keep yourself grounded is a good thing, she says. Personally, when I encounter problems and am unsure which direction to turn, I resort to a prayer to hope for the best.
Transforming physically and spiritually
The news that singer Pup-Patchai Pakdeesusuk had been revealed as Monk Dol quickly went viral, sparking a flurry of memes and establishing his character an instant standout in the series. Viewers unanimously praised Pup for his ability to embody the role with a performance that radiated serenity and reverence, despite never undergoing ordination himself. On top of that, The Believers Pup's debut in a long-form series.
Pup-Patchai revealed in an interview that he meditated for at least 30 minutes before each scene. Moreover, he had the chance to visit Chiang Rai with the director and Petch-Paophet Charoensook (portraying Monk Ekachai) to immerse themselves in the rituals and duties of dedicated monks who live in relative isolation. Both actors even shaved their heads during filming to fully commit to their roles. This was particularly important for Pup as the character of Monk Dol needs to exude both humanity and the serene tranquility associated with forest monks.
On Petch's part, his career has taken him from roles such as a psychology and criminology professor to a prominent LGBTQ+ character, making the portrayal of a monk a significant departure. From actually staying at a temple to thoroughly studying the principles and practices of monastic life, Petch put in the work to recreate the experience on screen.
Colorful characters loved by viewers
Not to be overlooked are the standout performances of other actors, who brings a unique perspective to their character. Tik-Channarong Khantheethao was lauded for his role as Tang, the caretaker of Phummaram Temple, reemerging as a beloved figure. Similarly, the portrayal of Father Kiw by the legendary film director Surasee Phantham solidified this series as his final artistic legacy before his passing.
Additionally, Michael Shaowanasais portrayal of Luang Jay cemented his reputation as an artist known for challenging societal norms and brought an additional unexpected twist to the show. In fact, the role echoes his own provocative artwork "Portrait of a Man in Habits 1" from 2000.
With its thought-provoking themes and beloved characters, the question on everyone's mind is whether a second season is in the cards. Intrigued by all this excitement? Tune in to watch all 9 episodes of The Believers, only on Netflix!
Download the images here.
#TheBelievers #NetflixTH
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
12/01/2026
Sports and Music Unite: A Look Back at the Operationally Ambitious FIFA Club Wor...
12/01/2026
Nielsen Panel Discussion Highlights World Cup Impact for FOX, Telemundo, MetLife...
12/01/2026
FIFA President Infantino Highlights How AI Will Impact 2026 FIFA World Cup and B...
12/01/2026
Baltimore Ravens' Jack Dana on Telling a Better Story With Media Management ...
12/01/2026
FOX Sports' Brad Cheney on Spectrum Debate's Impact on the Sports-Produc...
12/01/2026
Spotify's new co-CEOs, Alex Norstr m and Gustav S derstr m, start off the new year with a message of renewed leadership, creative responsibility, and what&#...
12/01/2026
At Spotify, we listen to a lot of music. And every year, our global editors and artist partnerships teams come together to spotlight the emerging voices we beli...
12/01/2026
Spotify's global editors and Songwriter & Publisher Partnerships team spend their days immersed in new music, tracking the writers behind the songs breaking...
12/01/2026
Nominations open for the fifth Australia for UNHCR - SBS Les Murray Award for Re...
12/01/2026
Australia and New Zealand VP Alan Clements shares L3Harris' leadership insig...
12/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
12/01/2026
Berklee International Folk Festival Celebrates 40 Years Featuring Grammy-winning alumna Arooj Aftab, the milestone concert and weeklong festival marks four de...
12/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
12/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
12/01/2026
X-Rite and Rhopoint Launch Rhopoint PANTORA Aesthetix to Streamline Creation of...
12/01/2026
12 Jan 2026
VEON's Kyivstar Launches 5G Pilot in Lviv Lviv, January 12, 2026 - VEON, a global digital operator (Nasdaq: VEON), today announces that Kyivsta...
12/01/2026
Monday 12 January 2026
The ultimate betrayal: Harry and Jamie Redknapp, Paul Me...
12/01/2026
Rohde & Schwarz opens larger office in Japan to increase its support for the Jap...
12/01/2026
Back to All News
WWE By the Numbers: Celebrating One Year on Netflix
From left to right: Rey Mysterio, Intercontinental Champion John Cena and Sheamus celebr...
12/01/2026
Welcome to the AVECO team: introducing new members of management
At AVECO, we are continuing to implement our #newAVECO strategy, which aims to build an even s...
12/01/2026
For the first time in the nine-year history of Dancing with the Stars, the first...
10/01/2026
By Bailey Pennick
One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festi...
10/01/2026
This year, podcasts are making their Golden Globes debut with a new category honoring the medium's leading shows and creators. To mark the occasion, Spotify...
10/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
10/01/2026
Back to All News
Connection and Youth Defined: The Ramparts of Ice Brings a Hea...
09/01/2026
Rock-It Sports' Deron Brown & Laura Rowlands on Launching a New Brand, Suppl...
09/01/2026
Warner Bros. Discovery's Chris Brown on the Broadcaster's First French O...
09/01/2026
NFL Playoffs 2026: CBS Sports Travels to Jacksonville With Packed Arsenal of Pro...
09/01/2026
NFL Playoffs 2026: NBC Sports Is Set To Roll Out New Scorebar, Insert Graphics T...
09/01/2026
NFL Playoffs 2026: Prime Video Production Team Caps Historic Season With Iconic ...
09/01/2026
NFL Playoffs 2026: FOX Sports Kicks Off Postseason Slate With Two-Game Wild Card...
09/01/2026
NFL Playoffs 2026: ESPN's Run Brings Monday Night Football' Flagship Op...
09/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
09/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
09/01/2026
SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, today introduced the board officers and regional governors who will serve terms beginning...
09/01/2026
Globecast, the leading provider of broadcast, media and entertainment managed services, today announced the appointment of Chris Pulis as Group Chief Technology...
09/01/2026
The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) today announced several updates to its board of directors. As part of HPA s annual governance cycle, new leadership...
09/01/2026
SDVI, the leading platform provider for cloud-native media supply chains, today announced that Simon Eldridge has been appointed chief operating officer. In thi...
09/01/2026
Cobalt Digital, the leading designer and manufacturer of award-winning ST 2110 and SDI signal processing products, and a founding partner in the openGear initi...
09/01/2026
iWedia, a global leader in connected TV software solutions, announces that its market-proven ATSC 3.0 software stack is powering the broadcast functionality of ...
09/01/2026
Amino, a global leader in enterprise video and digital signage technology, today announced a strategic partnership with Xibo, a leading global digital signage s...
09/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
09/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
09/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
09/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
Back to All News
