THE BELIEVERS 2 สาธุ ๒ — 2025, dir. Ek Eakasit Thairaat, Jax Wattanapong Wongwan
for @spoonfullofdream
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THE BELIEVERS 2 สาธุ ๒ — 2025, dir. Ek Eakasit Thairaat, Jax Wattanapong Wongwan
for @spoonfullofdream
俺真的很多东西劈里啪啦讲//
Messy Reactions and Thoughts re: Sathu ep 1- VERY early 4
Okay. So this is just me giving unhinged, messy reactions and thoughts while watching because I'm starting to worry that I've been bothering Claire too much. Nonetheless, GET BOTHERED, CLARE! Tagging YOU AAHHAHAHHAAH @clairedaring!
Stray observations and thoughts! I can't be the only one watching Sadhu with a ton of commentaries in my head, right? IF YOU JUST WANNA SEE SOMEONE YAP ABOUT THIS, COME ON! Hell, REBLOG AND ADD YOUR THOUGHTS!
This messy ass ramble contains random parts/spoilers from The Believers (สาธุ) Season 2, ep 1 - 4. ☸️
1.06 — Beelievers
The Believers (2024) dir. Wattanapong Wongwan
PUP PATCHAI PAKDESUSUK as MONK DOL
THE BELIEVERS 2 สาธุ ๒ — 2025, dir. Ek Eakasit Thairaat, Jax Wattanapong Wongwan
LYNDIS!
WHY ARE YOU WEAPONISING MY OWN GIFS AGAINST MEEEEEEEEEEEE 😭
In all seriousness, I think the moment Dol truly felt like he could be just another ordinary person was that last moment in the car when Dear asked him to join her abroad. The slight smile on his face and that look of hope in his eyes, followed by him buying that rose for her 🥀 Absolutely criminal of the writers to do this to both me and Dol 🥲
Netflix Ignites a New “Faithquake” with ‘The Believers 2’ Trailer, Premiering December 4
In a world where faith can be traded and power can be bought, every act of devotion carries a price. Netflix today released the official trailer and key art for The Believers 2, offering a high-stakes glimpse into the next chapter of Thailand’s provocative thriller-drama.
Returning on December 4, the new season plunges viewers back into the moral crossfire faced by three friends who once turned religion into a business, only to find themselves ensnared in a far more dangerous game. As blurred lines between belief and corruption tighten around them, every choice becomes a test of loyalty, survival, and redemption.
After a breakout first season that made history as the first Southeast Asian Netflix Original series to be renewed, The Believers 2 deepens its exploration of how faith and politics intertwine in modern Thailand. Director Wattanapong Wongwan raises the intensity to new heights, crafting a story that’s darker, sharper, and more emotionally charged than ever before.
Faith Meets Power in a Dangerous “Mega Merit Project”
This season, the trio of modern-day merit-makers — Win (James-Teeradon Supapunpinyo), Game (Peach-Pachara Chirathivat), and Dear (Ally-Achiraya Nitibhon) — find themselves drawn back into the world they tried to leave behind. Under the command of Ae (Donut-Manatsanun Phanlerdwongsakul), a powerful local politician whose ambitions straddle the spiritual and the corrupt, they are forced to take part in a new “Mega Merit Project.”
Ae’s scheme transforms Nong Khan Temple into what she calls a “merit bridge,” a massive temple redevelopment designed to attract vast donations, serving as a front for large-scale money laundering. What began as a scheme to dig themselves out of debt becomes a desperate fight for survival.
“The Believers 2 tells the story of a group of people who try to play with the system, but ultimately, the system strikes back,” says Director Wattanapong. “We continue to keep Buddhism as the central theme, but expand the story into local politics. These two worlds — religion and politics — share the same instruments of power used to sway people’s hearts.”
The acclaimed cast returns alongside a roster of new faces. Petch-Paophet Charoensook, Joey-Phuwasit Ananbhornsiri, Neng-Sarun Naraprasertkul, Pearypie Amata Chittasenee, and Farose join the mission, adding even more depth and intrigue to the story’s web of deceit.
Fan-favorite Monk Dol (Pup-Patchai Pakdeesusuk) also makes a striking return, but no longer as a monk. Having left the monastic life, he must navigate life beyond the temple for the first time, confronting his faith and identity in a world driven by temptation and corruption.
The Believers 2 premieres on December 4, only on Netflix.
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About The Believers 2 DIRECTOR: Wattanapong Wongwan PRODUCER: Somprasong Srikrajang WRITERS: Wattanapong Wongwan, Aummaraporn Phandintong, Eakasit Thairaat and Chanathip Amonpiyaphong CAST: Teeradon Supapunpinyo, Pachara Chirathivat, Achiraya Nitibhon, Manatsanun Phanlerdwongsakul, Patchai Pakdeesusuk and Paophet Charoensook CONTENT PARTNER: Deluxe Production Company Limited STREAMING DATE: December 4, 2025
pinging my number sattu enthusiast friend Lyn @kafkaoftherubble who will probably be happy to see Netflix themselves acknowledging Monk Dol is in fact our best and most beloved.
PUP PATCHAI PAKDESUSUK as (MONK) DOL
THE BELIEVERS 2 สาธุ ๒ — 2025, dir. Ek Eakasit Thairaat, Jax Wattanapong Wongwan
Okay, like, you saw the picture Netflix used for Monk Dol, right?
That's a supermarket uniform. I didn't get to see that more clearly when it was on the trailer, but YO. "He works at a supermarket now! "Hypermarket."
What do you think he's gonna go through in this coming season?
I can imagine a dude who's been sheltered as a young monk confronting unwritten social rules molded and shaped by late-stage capitalism. Now that I think about it... Capitalism is really the undercurrent of The Believers' critique too, isn't it?
I have a really dear friend of mine whose behavior and mindset is hella similar to Dol's (not surprisingly, he's my senpai in Buddhism. Also not surprisingly, man has expressed some interest in getting ordained), and so when I was reading the post you made with Netflix's promotional materials and saw this:
Having left the monastic life, he (Dol) must navigate life beyond the temple for the first time, confronting his faith and identity in a world driven by temptation and corruption.
I can immediately imagine what might happen to Dol. It's definitely shit my friend would get in trouble for if no one stops him.
A scenario I imagined was this: when Best Bro goes out of his way to help someone during work. Maybe some guy comes in and tells Dol he's got no money to buy food, but him and his family are so fucking hungry, man, and Dol just finds it easy to let the man take whatever he needs without paying. And that causes a loss to his boss and/or it looks like Dol is allowing people to steal from the store, and he gets reprimanded over it. Maybe Dol even tries to justify what he does with, say, the brahmavihara such as "metta" (friendliness, loving-kindness). And for that effort (or even him accidentally launching into a Dhamma talk, WHICH WILL BE SO HILARIOUS), he gets chewed the fuck out.
I could even imagine if this same boss later shows up, like a quiet cameo, on one of those massive merit-making events in a temple. That could be a sharp critique on how commodified Buddhism has become in a supposedly devout country. It's all pragmatic and not an important karma when you're helping someone out by giving out several hundred baht worth of stuff because you might be scammed, but it's super important and good karma when you're donating hundreds of baht to a temple, which "definitely cannot" be a scam.
What do you predict might happen to Dol?
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In Season 1, Dol's role as a foil to corrupted, failing monks was one of the best things in the series for me, especially because I've seen some folks claiming the show to be anti-Buddhist or anti-religion. Dol being the Buddhist center in the entire show was the biggest counterargument to that.
Now, with the premise of him disrobing himself and joining the mundane world, he will get to serve as a foil to the larger, capitalistic modern Thai society!
Using an innocent, upstanding man who's never come into contact with the wider world and its many layers of hidden rules, to create clashes between him trying to practice Buddhist values and the "pragmatism" of everyone else, is genius. It's a wonderful use of the character instead of for pure fan service. He will STILL be the Buddhist center in all of this!!!
And I know I (and my friend) will be really gripped by whether he gives up on adhering to his strictest principles because he's under pressure and/or he needs to do that to survive in society, or if he keeps at it diligently... at a greater and greater cost.
GODDAMN I am so EXCITED. AND THIS IS JUST MONK DOL'S PART.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT THE SHENANIGANS WIN AND GAME ARE UP TO, OR WHAT DEAR IS GONNA DO!!!
What, in general, are you hoping to see in Season 2?!
Hi Lyn 😭🥺
Yes! Monk Dol is really back to us. Would you believe me if I told you my immediate first thought after watching the trailer was going back to THIS and THIS ask/exchanges of ours we had, following the end of Sathu S1.
I feel like we were pretty off base 😭 But also very in line with what is generally happening in S2????????
A scenario I imagined was this: when Best Bro goes out of his way to help someone during work. Maybe some guy comes in and tells Dol he's got no money to buy food, but him and his family are so fucking hungry, man, and Dol just finds it easy to let the man take whatever he needs without paying. And that causes a loss to his boss and/or it looks like Dol is allowing people to steal from the store, and he gets reprimanded over it. Maybe Dol even tries to justify what he does with, say, the brahmavihara such as "metta" (friendliness, loving-kindness). And for that effort (or even him accidentally launching into a Dhamma talk, WHICH WILL BE SO HILARIOUS), he gets chewed the fuck out.
Wait, I love this scenario. I haven't thought this far but that sounds exactly what we might get on-screen. I do honestly look forward to seeing Dol struggling with fitting in with everyday life though. Honestly you could put Dol on my screen doing groceries and I'll find it interesting. I mean just the thought of a guy who never had to struggle with concepts paying monthly utility bills, apartment rental, credit scores, insurance, and taxes like. I'm pitying him already just thinking about it.
I don't feel like Dol will rejoin the monastery by the end of season 2 though. Perhaps, he'll take a job that's closer to the monastery (PERSONALLY THOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM TEACHING KIDS). As for my personal expectations on Season 2 overall, I hope to see how Thai local politicians leverage religion in general and Buddhism specifically in their campaigns. The only other show I've watched this year that had a brief intersection of Buddhism/politics was Mandate where they had a character, who was Former PM and caught in corruption scandal, go into monkhood as a temporary means of fleeing from law enforcement, before he was disrobed.
And because I really like Win and Game as characters, hopefully we get clearer goals and motivations behind their actions and plans. I feel like Win's background wasn't explored very in-depth last season and I would like for them to pick up the thread on his dad's involvement with the temple's funding management.
I'm extremely excited for S2 to portray Monk Ekkachai in his full 'antagonist form'. Surely, the show will aim to make some commentaries in relation to the corrupted monks, sex and money embezzlement scandals in the last year or so. Netflix Thailand has always been brave in their social commentaries so I don't doubt they'll go all in with the jabs at corruption in politics as well and the exploitation of Buddism for political advantages.
But all in all, I try not to harbour any expectations for this show because even if I have a tiny bit of hope for more than 5 minutes of Monk Dol, I just know I'll be disappointed.