The Believers (2024)

Temple of Deceit: Unraveling Faith, Fraud and Fortune in The Believers

Religion, business, temple and politics, i never imagined these four elements could converge to create such an interesting drama. This show was a surprise for me as i hadnt experienced anything like it before and i thoroughly enjoyed what it offered.

The three protagonists of the drama take over an abandoned temple to run it and repay their debts after failing in their gaming business. Essentially, they resort to selling faith to believers making them essentially scammers. They embark on renovating the temple, organizing various activities and even hiring famous monks to attract the local public. Their deception extends to creating amulets from sacred objects and attempting to sell them through advertising. This deception forms the crux of the storyline.

However i loved how the creators executed and handled the narrative, delicately addressing sensitive issues throughout. One notable subplot involved a monk genuinely falling in love with FL character and deciding to leave monkhood. I empathized with him when FL rejected him, realizing she was also exploiting him for money. The drama also delves into a drug scandal, murder and other elements typically found in crime thrillers, all set within the unique context of religious business.

The final reveal of the villain was pretty good, i never really imagined that guy to be the villain. I mean, i didnt really think the series would take a different turn in the last two episodes and there would be some big conspiracy going on behind everything.

Overall, it was a pretty good drama, tackling a bold subject matter with finesse. I commend the makers for their courage in exploring such a controversial topic, knowing the potential risks associated with it.

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interesting experience

The Believers" is exceptional and original; at least I've never seen anything quite like it. The acting is incredibly good, particularly James's expressions, which gave me goosebumps.

As someone who has hardly ever encountered Buddhism, I feel like I've truly understood and learned a lot. The beautiful Buddhist teachings that appear in the episodes were genuinely interesting, and I feel like I've learned a great deal after watching. It sparked various thoughts about life in me, and I feel a genuine desire to listen to Buddhist teachings.

I was also moved by the very emotional storyline of the monk who never knew life outside the monastery. His relationship with Dear and how genuinely good and honest he was truly touched my heart.

However, I started watching the series mainly because of James, whom I greatly admire as an actor. And I wasn't disappointed. His acting truly captivated me, and I believe he was the perfect person for this role.

Win was the most enigmatic character. We don't know why he is the way he is, we don't know if he is sick or stressed, but the ending still explains a lot, despite being open-ended.

The whole series makes sense; every storyline is explained, and the plot twist is very interesting. Each character has a distinct personality, which is a huge plus. "The Believers" also shows the reality of what is happening in the world today. I highly recommend it - it's an interesting experience for everyone, even though not much happens in the first few episodes, as there's a lot of criminal action waiting for us later on.

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