“To My Beloved Thief” has made a fiery entrance, instantly sweeping away the lukewarm ratings left behind by Last Summer. While Taxi Driver 3 continues its steady run at the top of the ratings race, this week’s spotlight belongs to Cashero, which unexpectedly claimed the crown for buzz and popularity propelling Lee Junho to the title of the hottest actor of the week.

Last week, Taxi Driver 3 (SBS) saw a modest rise in viewership, with its two latest 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 criminal consulting syndicate. With only two episodes left, the upcoming confrontation with the final villain played by Kim Jong Soo as Oh Won Sang set against a military backdrop is expected to push the drama to an explosive climax.

Meanwhile, Pro Bono experienced a slight slowdown, with episodes 9 and 10 posting ratings of 6% and 8.6%. However, expectations remain high that viewership will rebound in the final episodes, as unpredictable betrayals and alliances surrounding Kang Da Wit (played by Jung Kyung Ho) come to light.

The Judge Returns also made a promising start, debuting with ratings of 4.3% and 4.4%. Though 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 anticipated to become a showcase of Ji Sung’s acting prowess in the episodes ahead.

The biggest newcomer of the week, however, was To My Beloved Thief. Nam Ji Hyun stars as Hong Eun Jo, a woman living a double life by day a healer, by night a righteous thief who steals from the corrupt rich to help the poor. Born from a forbidden affair between a nobleman and a slave, Eun Jo deeply understands the suffering of ordinary people. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she steals not just valuables, but the first kiss of Prince Yi Yeol, played by Moon Sang Min.

The drama opened with ratings of 4.3% and 4.5% for its first two episodes. Compared to Last Summer, which averaged only 1.5–2%, this marks a notably strong and energetic start. The story has been praised for its light yet engaging tone. Reactions to the lead couple’s chemistry are divided, however some viewers find the pairing irresistibly charming despite the five-year age gap between the actors, while others feel Nam Ji Hyun appears somewhat mature alongside Moon Sang Min.

In the weekly rankings for the most influential dramas and actors in the fourth week of December 2025, Cashero surged straight to number one upon release, pushing Taxi Driver 3 down to second place. This shift also elevated Lee Junho to the top of the actor buzz chart, marking the most dramatic change of the week.

As is often the case with OTT releases that drop all episodes at once, buzz tends to peak quickly before fading. Industry watchers predict another reshuffle in early January 2026, with Taxi Driver 3 likely to reclaim the top spot but for now, To My Beloved Thief and Lee Junho are undeniably stealing the show.

Sources: HHT