This review may contain spoilers
A Promising Start That Falls Short in the End
Hit the Top starts off with an intriguing premise: a 90s idol who time-travels to the present day, trying to adapt to modern Korea while dealing with his own family drama. The comedy is on point early on, filled with witty, rapid-fire jokes and hilarious moments that had me genuinely laughing. The nostalgic 90s K-pop elements were a fun bonus, and the father-son storyline showed promise.
However, around the halfway point, the drama completely shifts gears. It moves away from its light, ensemble-based sitcom feel and turns into a more traditional rom-com. This was where things started to feel off for me. The romance, especially the love triangle between Hyun Jae, Woo Seung, and Ji Hoon, felt forced and a bit uncomfortable. I didn’t buy the chemistry between the leads, and the whole "saving the girl" plotline was more eye-roll-worthy than engaging. I think the story tried too hard to make the romance work, but it came off as rushed and cliché, which detracted from the otherwise fun vibe of the show.
The biggest downside, though, was the length. With 32 episodes, it definitely felt like a drag at times. There were a lot of filler moments, and by the end, I was more than ready to wrap things up. The side characters, who had so much potential early on, got sidelined in favor of the main leads, leaving their storylines hanging. It was hard to stay invested when so many threads felt neglected.
That said, there were still some pretty funny moments—especially the tech confusion and Hyun Jae's reactions to the modern world. Yoon Shi Yoon’s comedic timing and the quirky side characters helped keep things somewhat entertaining. I even reconsidered giving it a 7.5 due to those moments.
In the end, Hit the Top is a bit of a mixed bag. It starts strong, but its shift in tone, lengthy runtime, and missed emotional moments left me wanting more. If you’re a fan of Yoon Shi Yoon or enjoy light comedy, it’s worth checking out. But don’t expect too much from the romance or character development.
However, around the halfway point, the drama completely shifts gears. It moves away from its light, ensemble-based sitcom feel and turns into a more traditional rom-com. This was where things started to feel off for me. The romance, especially the love triangle between Hyun Jae, Woo Seung, and Ji Hoon, felt forced and a bit uncomfortable. I didn’t buy the chemistry between the leads, and the whole "saving the girl" plotline was more eye-roll-worthy than engaging. I think the story tried too hard to make the romance work, but it came off as rushed and cliché, which detracted from the otherwise fun vibe of the show.
The biggest downside, though, was the length. With 32 episodes, it definitely felt like a drag at times. There were a lot of filler moments, and by the end, I was more than ready to wrap things up. The side characters, who had so much potential early on, got sidelined in favor of the main leads, leaving their storylines hanging. It was hard to stay invested when so many threads felt neglected.
That said, there were still some pretty funny moments—especially the tech confusion and Hyun Jae's reactions to the modern world. Yoon Shi Yoon’s comedic timing and the quirky side characters helped keep things somewhat entertaining. I even reconsidered giving it a 7.5 due to those moments.
In the end, Hit the Top is a bit of a mixed bag. It starts strong, but its shift in tone, lengthy runtime, and missed emotional moments left me wanting more. If you’re a fan of Yoon Shi Yoon or enjoy light comedy, it’s worth checking out. But don’t expect too much from the romance or character development.
Was this review helpful to you?
