This review may contain spoilers
A Disturbing and Unethical Premise
Hit the Top (also known as The Best Hit) is a 2017 South Korean drama that attempts to blend time travel, comedy, and romance but ends up delivering a premise that is both morally unsettling and deeply problematic.
The story revolves around a 90s pop idol, Yoo Hyun Jae, who time-travels to the future after impregnating his girlfriend—a woman he had no genuine feelings for. Instead of addressing the consequences of his actions or taking responsibility for the family he unknowingly abandoned, Hyun Jae’s focus shifts entirely to adjusting to the future, where he meets his own son. The worst part? Rather than showing remorse or interest in the woman who single-handedly raised their child, he fixates on his son's childhood friend, eventually pursuing and sleeping with her.
This is where the drama takes a truly distasteful turn. The idea of a father competing with his son for a romantic partner is repulsive, crossing ethical boundaries that should never be normalized in entertainment. It reduces what could have been an intriguing time-travel concept into a deeply disturbing narrative about a man selfishly chasing his own desires without consideration for the people whose lives he affected.
Hyun Jae’s lack of emotional growth makes him one of the most unlikable leads in K-drama history. His ex-girlfriend, who spent years raising their child alone, is treated as an afterthought, while he freely enjoys life in the future with no sense of guilt or responsibility. Instead of redemption, we see selfishness and an inappropriate romance that should never have been portrayed as comedic or romantic.
Hit the Top had the potential to explore meaningful themes—such as a man coming to terms with his past mistakes and seeking to make amends—but it ultimately chooses to glorify an appalling storyline where a father competes with his own son for love. The show’s failure to acknowledge the disturbing implications of this plot makes it impossible to enjoy, and as a result, it stands out as one of the most ethically questionable K-dramas in recent years.
The story revolves around a 90s pop idol, Yoo Hyun Jae, who time-travels to the future after impregnating his girlfriend—a woman he had no genuine feelings for. Instead of addressing the consequences of his actions or taking responsibility for the family he unknowingly abandoned, Hyun Jae’s focus shifts entirely to adjusting to the future, where he meets his own son. The worst part? Rather than showing remorse or interest in the woman who single-handedly raised their child, he fixates on his son's childhood friend, eventually pursuing and sleeping with her.
This is where the drama takes a truly distasteful turn. The idea of a father competing with his son for a romantic partner is repulsive, crossing ethical boundaries that should never be normalized in entertainment. It reduces what could have been an intriguing time-travel concept into a deeply disturbing narrative about a man selfishly chasing his own desires without consideration for the people whose lives he affected.
Hyun Jae’s lack of emotional growth makes him one of the most unlikable leads in K-drama history. His ex-girlfriend, who spent years raising their child alone, is treated as an afterthought, while he freely enjoys life in the future with no sense of guilt or responsibility. Instead of redemption, we see selfishness and an inappropriate romance that should never have been portrayed as comedic or romantic.
Hit the Top had the potential to explore meaningful themes—such as a man coming to terms with his past mistakes and seeking to make amends—but it ultimately chooses to glorify an appalling storyline where a father competes with his own son for love. The show’s failure to acknowledge the disturbing implications of this plot makes it impossible to enjoy, and as a result, it stands out as one of the most ethically questionable K-dramas in recent years.
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