“To My Beloved Thief” made a fiery entrance, instantly blowing away the lukewarm ratings left behind by Last Summer. As Taxi Driver 3 continues its steady run at the top of the ratings race, this week’s spotlight belongs to Cashero, who unexpectedly took the crown of buzz and popularity by propelling Lee Junho to the title of hottest actor of the week.
Last week, Taxi Driver 3 (SBS) saw a modest increase in viewership, with its final two episodes recording ratings of 12.8% and 14.2%. After dismantling an online scam ring, the Rainbow Taxi team heads to Samheung Island to take down a sophisticated crime consultancy syndicate. With only two episodes left, the upcoming confrontation with the latest villain played by Kim Jong Soo as Oh Won Sang, set in a military setting, should push the drama towards an explosive climax.
Meanwhile, Pro Bono saw a slight slowdown, with episodes 9 and 10 posting ratings of 6% and 8.6%. However, expectations remain high that audiences will recover in the final episodes, as betrayals and unpredictable alliances surrounding Kang Da Wit (played by Jung Kyung Ho) come to light.
The Judge Returns also got off to a promising start, debuting with ratings of 4.3% and 4.4%. While Ji Sung is no stranger to legal roles, his portrayal of Judge Lee Han Young feels distinctly fresh and avoids any sense of repetition. With its reincarnation-driven narrative, the drama is widely expected to become a showcase of Ji Sung’s acting prowess in the episodes to come.
The biggest news of the week, however, was To My Beloved Thief. Nam Ji Hyun plays Hong Eun Jo, a woman who lives a double life: by day she is a healer, by night a righteous thief who steals from the corrupt rich to help the poor. Born from a forbidden relationship between a nobleman and a slave, Eun Jo deeply understands the suffering of common people. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she steals not only valuables, but also the first kiss of Prince Yi Yeol, played by Moon Sang Min.
The drama opened with ratings of 4.3% and 4.5% for the first two episodes. Compared to last summer, which averaged just 1.5–2%, this marks a particularly strong and energetic start. The story was praised for its light but engaging tone. Reactions to the main couple’s chemistry are divided, however some viewers find the pair irresistibly charming despite the five-year age difference between the actors, while others feel that Nam Ji Hyun appears a bit mature alongside Moon Sang Min.
In the weekly ranking of the most influential dramas and actors in the fourth week of December 2025, Cashero rose directly to number one upon release, pushing Taxi Driver 3 to second place. This change also elevated Lee Junho to the top of the actor rankings, marking the most dramatic change of the week.
As is often the case with OTT releases that release all episodes at once, the buzz tends to peak quickly before fading away. Industry watchers are predicting another reshuffle in early January 2026, with Taxi Driver 3 likely to regain the top spot, but for now To My Beloved Thief and Lee Junho are undeniably stealing the show.
Sources: HHT
