This review may contain spoilers
Is there someone you secretly love?
If you don't have time to read the whole thing, skip to the end where the conclusions are :)
To My Beloved Thief introduces us to Hong Eun-jo, born from the secret relationship between a nobleman and a slave. She has experienced firsthand the hardships of ordinary people, especially after her father fell ill. By day, Eun-jo works as a doctor, but by night she assumes the identity of Hong Gil-dong, a thief who steals from corrupt officials to distribute the loot among the needy. Gil-dong's exploits pique the interest of Prince Yi Yeol, an investigative enthusiast intrigued by the mystery of the righteous thief, though most of the palace officials don't take him seriously. In the course of his search, Yi Yeol meets Eun-jo and falls in love at first sight. However, when they switch bodies, the secrets they were trying to hide are at risk of being exposed.
The drama presents a plot very similar to that of Moon River (which aired in 2025), but although Moon River had more episodes, I enjoyed the development here more than in Moon River. It has a formula that captivates you: a fantastic body swap, very well developed, with fair and charming characters who care for each other. With only a few boring moments, the series also touches on themes of healing, family, and unity, which provided some good moments. It's a good historical drama in my opinion, and when we saw them in the future, realizing that their love transcended eras and the reason for the swap, it was truly moving. The series also includes good moments of tension typical of historical dramas, which kept me on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next. A very good story, with a few minor flaws. Overall, I give the story an 8.5/10; a very good job.
The drama makes use of a large number of characters, from the charming villagers to the corrupt ministers, which makes the drama even more captivating, as all these characters... They contribute something to the story, and let's not forget the chemistry between the protagonists, which was excellent.
Here is my analysis of the main characters:
Hong Eun-jo/Hong Gil-dong (Nam Ji-hyun): Born to a yangban father and a commoner mother, she was legally classified as a commoner through her maternal line. Her father valued her and raised her personally, which allowed her to grow up with a good character and education. After the family fell into poverty and her father became ill, Enzu became the pillar of the family, working as a healer in the Huimin district. Witnessing the exploitation and abuse suffered by the lower classes, she secretly used the food and medicine of the powerful to help the sick and weak, earning her the nickname "Good Girl" among the people.
Honestly, Nam Ji-hyun did an incredible job as Eun-jo, conveying her love for her patients and her desire to protect the needy and return what was rightfully theirs. When she played the prince, she also did a great job managing the character's seriousness, making it clear when she was playing him and when he was playing her. Her performance was excellent.
Prince Dowol/Yi Yeol (Moon Sang-min): With his imposing appearance and dignified bearing, he possesses an air befitting his status, but he deliberately presents himself as a carefree and idle individual, long considered someone who does nothing. As a child, his exceptional intelligence awakened in the late king the desire to usurp the position of crown prince, leading his half-brother to advise him to conceal his talents to protect his mother. Since then, Dowol chose to conceal his abilities, living a seemingly quiet life. In reality, however, he is resourceful and frequently participates in investigations at the Bureau of Research and Statistics, achieving numerous successes. His confident yet humorous demeanor is his unique charm.
Moon Sang-min was perfectly cast as the charismatic and mischievous prince. I truly enjoyed watching him, and just like with Nam Ji-hyun, I could tell when he was being himself or when he was being herself. He did a fantastic job.
Im Jae-yi (Hong Min-gi): Son of Im Sa-hyeong, the Chief Censor. He has lived under his father's control for many years, accustomed to suppressing his own will and obeying his orders.
I found his character very detestable; his bad attitudes weren't justified in my opinion, and his acting was okay, nothing remarkable.
Shin Hae-rim (Han So-eun): Born into a prestigious family, she is Im Jae-yi's fiancée and the queen's niece.
I found her character to have a very kind personality, and the actress's acting was good as well.
Overall, I give the acting an 8.5/10; it was good.
The OST was good but not particularly noteworthy for me. One song I definitely loved was "Loving You," so I give it an 8.0/10.
Would I watch it again? Maybe, but I'm not sure, as it didn't reach the point where I'd say, "I definitely have to watch it again." But this isn't a bad thing; I simply enjoyed watching it, and I don't think I need to watch it many times. So, I give it a 7.5/10.
In short, "To My Beloved Thief" is a historical drama that uses a fantastical element—body swapping—and develops it in an excellent way that never gets boring. The drama also blends romance with tense situations that keep you on the edge of your seat. It also includes reflections on life, family relationships, and service to others. Overall, I give it an 8.5/10. They did very well.
THANKS FOR READING
To My Beloved Thief introduces us to Hong Eun-jo, born from the secret relationship between a nobleman and a slave. She has experienced firsthand the hardships of ordinary people, especially after her father fell ill. By day, Eun-jo works as a doctor, but by night she assumes the identity of Hong Gil-dong, a thief who steals from corrupt officials to distribute the loot among the needy. Gil-dong's exploits pique the interest of Prince Yi Yeol, an investigative enthusiast intrigued by the mystery of the righteous thief, though most of the palace officials don't take him seriously. In the course of his search, Yi Yeol meets Eun-jo and falls in love at first sight. However, when they switch bodies, the secrets they were trying to hide are at risk of being exposed.
The drama presents a plot very similar to that of Moon River (which aired in 2025), but although Moon River had more episodes, I enjoyed the development here more than in Moon River. It has a formula that captivates you: a fantastic body swap, very well developed, with fair and charming characters who care for each other. With only a few boring moments, the series also touches on themes of healing, family, and unity, which provided some good moments. It's a good historical drama in my opinion, and when we saw them in the future, realizing that their love transcended eras and the reason for the swap, it was truly moving. The series also includes good moments of tension typical of historical dramas, which kept me on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next. A very good story, with a few minor flaws. Overall, I give the story an 8.5/10; a very good job.
The drama makes use of a large number of characters, from the charming villagers to the corrupt ministers, which makes the drama even more captivating, as all these characters... They contribute something to the story, and let's not forget the chemistry between the protagonists, which was excellent.
Here is my analysis of the main characters:
Hong Eun-jo/Hong Gil-dong (Nam Ji-hyun): Born to a yangban father and a commoner mother, she was legally classified as a commoner through her maternal line. Her father valued her and raised her personally, which allowed her to grow up with a good character and education. After the family fell into poverty and her father became ill, Enzu became the pillar of the family, working as a healer in the Huimin district. Witnessing the exploitation and abuse suffered by the lower classes, she secretly used the food and medicine of the powerful to help the sick and weak, earning her the nickname "Good Girl" among the people.
Honestly, Nam Ji-hyun did an incredible job as Eun-jo, conveying her love for her patients and her desire to protect the needy and return what was rightfully theirs. When she played the prince, she also did a great job managing the character's seriousness, making it clear when she was playing him and when he was playing her. Her performance was excellent.
Prince Dowol/Yi Yeol (Moon Sang-min): With his imposing appearance and dignified bearing, he possesses an air befitting his status, but he deliberately presents himself as a carefree and idle individual, long considered someone who does nothing. As a child, his exceptional intelligence awakened in the late king the desire to usurp the position of crown prince, leading his half-brother to advise him to conceal his talents to protect his mother. Since then, Dowol chose to conceal his abilities, living a seemingly quiet life. In reality, however, he is resourceful and frequently participates in investigations at the Bureau of Research and Statistics, achieving numerous successes. His confident yet humorous demeanor is his unique charm.
Moon Sang-min was perfectly cast as the charismatic and mischievous prince. I truly enjoyed watching him, and just like with Nam Ji-hyun, I could tell when he was being himself or when he was being herself. He did a fantastic job.
Im Jae-yi (Hong Min-gi): Son of Im Sa-hyeong, the Chief Censor. He has lived under his father's control for many years, accustomed to suppressing his own will and obeying his orders.
I found his character very detestable; his bad attitudes weren't justified in my opinion, and his acting was okay, nothing remarkable.
Shin Hae-rim (Han So-eun): Born into a prestigious family, she is Im Jae-yi's fiancée and the queen's niece.
I found her character to have a very kind personality, and the actress's acting was good as well.
Overall, I give the acting an 8.5/10; it was good.
The OST was good but not particularly noteworthy for me. One song I definitely loved was "Loving You," so I give it an 8.0/10.
Would I watch it again? Maybe, but I'm not sure, as it didn't reach the point where I'd say, "I definitely have to watch it again." But this isn't a bad thing; I simply enjoyed watching it, and I don't think I need to watch it many times. So, I give it a 7.5/10.
In short, "To My Beloved Thief" is a historical drama that uses a fantastical element—body swapping—and develops it in an excellent way that never gets boring. The drama also blends romance with tense situations that keep you on the edge of your seat. It also includes reflections on life, family relationships, and service to others. Overall, I give it an 8.5/10. They did very well.
THANKS FOR READING
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