Introduction
In the world of Money, My Love, love is never simple, wealth comes with dangerous consequences, and trust can disappear in an instant. This Thai lakorn dives headfirst into betrayal, ambition, romance, and emotional chaos, creating a story that is both glamorous and emotionally intense.
Drama Info
Drama title: Money, My Love (Native title: ก็รักมันปักใจ)
Alternative title: Ko Rak Man Pak Jai
Genres: Romance, Melodrama
Aired: 4 Feb, 2026 - 9 Apr, 2026
Episodes: 20 | Duration: 60 min.
Director: Nay Saratswadee Wongsomphet (นาย สรัสวดี วงศ์สมเพ็ชร)
Screenwriter: Buay Nuntawan Rungwongpanich (บ๊วย นันทวรรณ รุ่งวงศ์พาณิชย์)
Adapted from the novel " Ko Rak Man Pak Jai" (ก็รักมันปักใจ) by Maipie (ไม้พาย).
Where to watch: Netflix (may need VPN)
OSTs
My Love by Kongthap Peak (กองทัพ พีค) – Opening theme
ก็ไม่(ปฏิเสธ)นะ [I (Don’t) Refuse] by Kaykai (เก๋ไก๋ ณัฐธิชา นามวงษ์) – Ending theme
Trailer
Synopsis
Trai, the only son of billionaire Tritot, returns to Thailand and discovers that Darin, a woman he once truly loved, is set to marry his father. Betrayed and refusing to leave, Trai is attacked but saved by Pakbung, a poor but clever young woman who loves money dearly. Their differences lead to daily verbal clashes: Trai sees her as greedy, while Pakbung thinks he’s a pampered rich kid. However, living together gradually opens their hearts.
When Tritot is mysteriously murdered, Trai takes over the family business and seeks the killer, suspecting his adoptive brother Rachain, billionaire Mookmanee, and an anti-corporate activist. Pakbung works for Rachen, causing Trai to doubt her motives, while Darin tries to reconcile with him. Amid threats and complex relationships, Trai and Pakbung question whether true love can exist in a materialistic world. (Source: modified/fixed from MyDramaList)
Characters
Main Characters
Kongthap Peak (กองทัพ พีค) as Trai
Kaykai Nutticha Namwong (เก๋ไก๋ ณัฐธิชา นามวงษ์) as Pakbung
Supporting Characters
Rachen (Pop Thakoon Karntip) – Trai’s adoptive brother
Darin (Care Chattarika Sittiprom) – Trai’s ex-girlfriend
Tritot (Sam Yuranunt Pamornmontri) – Trai’s father
Khana (Gap Jakarin Puribhat) – Pakbung’s brother
Yongyut (Big Sarut Vichitrananda) – Pakbung’s father
Mookmanee (Um Apasiri Nitibhon) – Be Rich board member
Mika (Gap Chanoksuda Raksanaves) – Mookmanee’s daughter
Ruj (Mac Pawish Wiengnont) – Rachen’s secretary
Lee (Palm Nha Suwanon) and Prarop (Shane Attharut Kongrasri) – Trai’s bodyguards
Samli (Jaja Dandao Yamapai) – Pakbung’s bestie
Niu-niu (Cine Phatrakorn Bussarakwadee) – Pakbung’s bestie
Phet (Lift Supoj Janjareonborn) – Pakbung’s friend and boss
Review
Themes and Messages
Themes
Money Cannot Buy Genuine Love
The central theme of Money, My Love revolves around the conflict between wealth and emotional sincerity. Nearly every relationship in the drama is influenced by money, status, or power. Characters often use wealth to manipulate others, gain control, or secure their future. Yet the story repeatedly shows that, despite money attracting people, it can also create dependency. But money cannot guarantee loyalty, trust, or happiness.
Love Can Grow in Unexpected Places
The romance between Trai and Pakbung begins with practicality rather than destiny. Their relationship develops through survival, conflict, and emotional vulnerability. Their relationship feels believable because both characters slowly learn to trust each other despite their flaws.
Message
True happiness comes not from wealth or status, but from finding people who genuinely stand by you when power and luxury disappear.
Story and Plot
Story
Romance
I think Trai and Pakbung’s romance acts as the emotional anchor of the story. Without their relationship, the drama would easily become overwhelmingly dark. Their connection develops through shared struggles, which makes the romance feel more grounded despite the melodramatic setting.
What makes their dynamic interesting is that, as their relationship starts from practical needs, neither Trai nor Pakbung fully trusts the other at first. Instead of instant romance, the story focuses on gradual emotional dependence.
Pakbung especially serves as a contrast to the wealthy world. She understands survival and financial insecurity differently from Trai. Their difference gives their relationship emotional tension beyond simple attraction.
Melodrama
Money, My Love is a typical Thai lakorn with its melodramatic traditions: dramatic reveals, emotional confrontations, extreme coincidences, and high-stakes family conflict.
Rather than aiming for realism, the story prioritizes emotional intensity. This style works well because the drama wants viewers to feel emotionally overwhelmed, frustrated, excited, and invested all at once. Although excessive, if you like lakorn-style storytelling, the heightened emotions are part of the appeal.
Relationships
The drama shows that wealth complicates human relationships and power weakens emotional trust. However, genuine loyalty becomes rare in competitive environments.
My favorite relationships, besides the romance between Trai and Pakbung, are:
- Pakbung and her brother Kanah.
- Pakbung and her friends.
- Trai and Rachen
- Pakbung, Kanah, and their father
- The duo of bodyguards Lee and Prarop
- The barbeque gatherings
The drama portrays family as both emotionally necessary and emotionally dangerous, while friendships become fragile sources of comfort in a world dominated by manipulation and ambition.
Ultimately, the series suggests that the relationships that survive are not the ones built on money or status, but the ones built on emotional honesty, sacrifice, and trust.
Plot
Rather than relying on a simple romantic plot, the drama layers romance with mystery, family conflict, and corporate rivalry. This combination keeps the story emotionally intense while maintaining suspense.
The plot of Money, My Love follows a classic melodramatic structure built around betrayal, downfall, power struggle, and emotional healing.
Characterization and Acting
Characterization
Trai
Trai’s role is the emotional center of the narrative. His journey is less about gaining wealth and more about understanding who truly cares for him. He begins as someone protected by privilege but emotionally naïve. The betrayals around him force him to mature and become more emotionally independent.
Pakbung
Pakbung represents survival and practicality. Her obsession with money is not portrayed as greed alone — it comes from insecurity and lived hardship. Her development is important because she slowly learns that emotional trust can matter more than financial stability.
Acting
As Trai, Kongthap Peak delivered a performance centered on emotional restraint mixed with gradual emotional collapse. At the beginning of the drama, Trai appears confident, privileged, and somewhat emotionally sheltered. However, after the betrayals surrounding him, the actor’s performance shifted noticeably. His body language became more guarded, and his expressions grew more suspicious. Trai’s emotional scenes rely on silence and tension, but he never becomes completely emotionless. The actor balanced anger, hurt, vulnerability, and determination without making the character feel overly dramatic.
Kaykai Nutticha was a newcomer in lakorn. However, she gave the most layered performances in the drama because her character constantly balances practicality with hidden emotional softness.
At first, Pakbung appears money-focused, tough, opportunistic, and emotionally defensive. The actress gradually revealed Pakbung’s emotional complexity through subtle changes in tone and expression. Her performance worked particularly well because she didn’t portray Pakbung as simply a greedy character. Instead, viewers understand that Pakbung’s obsession with money comes from insecurity and survival instincts.
The strongest acting element in Money, My Love is the chemistry between the two leads. Their dynamic works because Trai and Pakbung’s emotional styles contrast with each other. However, their conflict scenes felt believable while the romantic tension developed gradually.
While Money, My Love is primarily centered on Trai and Pakbung, the side characters play an essential role in shaping the drama’s emotional tension, suspense, and themes of greed, betrayal, and ambition. Most supporting characters are designed to either challenge the protagonists emotionally or represent different attitudes toward money and power.
Although some side characters are more symbolic than deeply developed, they still contribute significantly to the story’s addictive and chaotic atmosphere.
Visuals
One of the reasons Money, My Love feels immersive and emotionally intense is because of its strong visual presentation. The drama uses cinematography, costume design, makeup, set design, and filming locations to reinforce its themes of wealth, power, romance, and emotional instability. Even when the story becomes melodramatic, the production elements help maintain the drama’s glamorous and emotionally charged atmosphere.
Overall, the production succeeded because every visual element supports the drama’s emotional and thematic goals.
The series effectively uses:
- Cinematography to emphasize emotional tension
- Costumes to reflect class and personality
- Sets to symbolize isolation and power
- Makeup and styling to balance glamour with vulnerability
Even though the story relies on familiar melodramatic tropes, the polished visual presentation helps elevate the viewing experience and keeps the drama visually engaging throughout.
My Rating
I used my rating system with additional scores of:
+1.0 for story and plot.
+1.0 for characterization and acting.
+0.5 for visuals
Total rating 8.5/10.
Conclusion
In conclusion, what makes Money, My Love stand out is how it balances glamorous escapism with emotional drama. It may use familiar tropes like rich heirs, revenge, and “love triangles”, but it executes them with enough energy and chemistry to keep viewers hooked.
Spoilers
Is it really a love triangle?
No. Before she married his father, Trai and Darin had separated with no contact for three years when he went to the U.K. In reality, it was a former relationship. Their love is not deep enough to render a romantic reunion.
Trai’s father married Darin for a reason other than love.
Also, no obsessive second lead.
Who killed Trai’s father?
Ruj.
Motif?
Revenge. His father was Tritot’s driver.
What is the ending? [short answer]
Wholesome happy ending.
How does it end? [long answer]
Ruj was shot dead by the police. Mika died from an automobile accident. Mookmanee went to jail. Lee got together with Samli, and Prapop with Niu-niu. Darin got a start over.
Trai proposed to Pakbung and accepted.
