NCTmentary - allkpop forums

I. Introduction

NCTmentary is a web series around the lore of the boy group NCT. Content in this series would later be referenced in other NCT content, as well as the larger SM Entertainment Culture Universe (SMCU), which overlaps multiple SM groups.

II. Overview

The group structure of NCT is unique among K-Pop groups due to the fact that the concept of NCT is an ever expanding group with "unlimited" members and it is comprised of several individual subunits. Currently there are 23 members in NCT, making up four individual subunits.

NCT made its debut in 2016. In January 2016, multiple videos were posted to the SMTOWN YouTube channel around the group's mythos, which was introduced before the release of its first song "The 7th Sense" in April. This mythos would set the stage for references in future NCT content. This was not SM's first foray into mythos, having built an extensive and thorough mythos for the boy group EXO.

NCT's lore was loosely referenced in its works, although it was touched on in videos, content and fan theories. As part of the all-unit event NCT 2018 Empathy, the NCTmentary web series connects the original pre-debut videos and adds to the mythos. Five short videos builds on several concepts, including the connection between NCT and dreams.

NCTmentary introduces the Dream Lab, where NCT members are being studied, which reappears in content from TV shows like NCT World 2.0 to later teasers for NCT 2020 and NCT 2021 all-unit projects. The shows feature all 18 of the members at the time: Kun, Ten and Lucas (making his debut), who will later in debut in WayV; NCT 127 (Taeil, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Winwin, Jungwoo, Mark, Haechan); NCT Dream (Mark, Renjun, Jaemin, Haechan, Jeno, Chenle and Jisung).

Core Concept Around NCT and Dreams

Although the episodes are very short, they are constantly referenced as part of NCT's lore. Each episode is about 5 minutes.

III. Episode List

Episodes were posted to SMTOWN's social channels, including YouTube.

Episode	Date	Link
NCTmentary EP1.Dream Lab	Feb. 8, 2018	External Content youtu.be Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent. Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.
NCTmentary EP2. Switch	Feb. 12, 2018	External Content youtu.be Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent. Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.
NCTmentary EP3. Empathy	Feb. 28, 2018	External Content youtu.be Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent. Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.
NCTmentary EP4. Synchonization of Dreams	Mar. 8, 2018	External Content youtu.be Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent. Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.
NCTmentary EP 5. Back to Reality	Apr. 16, 2018	External Content youtu.be Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent. Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.

IV. Trivia

There are many theories built off of this information and overlapping details within videos.

Display Spoiler

Ep 1. Dream Lab:

- In the pre-debut videos, there are references to "synchronization of dreams," "opening your eyes" (a line from their single, but also an ongoing theme and a specific pinging sound that would continue to appear in the group's work.

Pre-debut lore videos

- The Dream Lab becomes a frequent reference throughout NCT work.

- NCT 127/Dream's Mark is providing the voiceover. He also provides the lore voiceover during NCT's Resonance MAMA performance in 2020.

- Mark introduces the concept of dreams and its connection to NCT: "NCT shares dreams. NCT each has a tone to his dream. The tones became one and make music. We empathize in dreams. All over the world we can share our dreams with NCT. NCT is a group focused on accessibility and expandability with no limitations on group members and thus allows various combinations. What connects NCT is dreams. We can always meet in dreams, empathize in dreams and become one with music."

- The water splash at :30 echoes in some of the imagery, especially the cover art and teasers, around the NCT 127 song "Save."

- The YearDream series of teasers for NCT 2021 Universe references this content.

- NCT 127 Johnny is the researcher.

- WayV's Ten is dreaming. (At this point, WayV had not debuted but he had appeared in the first NCT single "The 7th Sense."

- The Dream Lab is referenced in the accompanying variety show to NCT 2020 Resonance, NCT World 2.0.

Ep. 2 Switch:

- "Switch" is a name of a song from pre-debut NCT 127 that appears on their first EP.

- Members from NCT 127 appear in the video first: Doyoung, Jungwoo, Taeyong.

- Jungwoo is a new member.

- Taeyong is shown in front of desert imagery which would later appear in the "Highway to Heaven" video in the next year.

- Lucas is a new member. WayV has not yet debuted and will debut almost a year later.

- "Boss," which shows up on the screen, is one of the title tracks from the album.

- The microchip is also similar to "Save."

- Winwin, at this point in time, was in 127, and will move to WayV.

- Jaehyun from NCT 127 is reading "A Dream Within A Dream." The book will reappear in NCT 2021 content.

- Mark's imagery resembles the NCT Dream "We Go Up" video.

Ep. 3 Empathy:

- Haechan of NCT 127 and Dream is using outdated video equipment - this also reappears in the NCT 127 "Who Is Sticker" teasers. The mics around him mimic NCT 127's "Simon Says."

- The other members of NCT Dream appear here: Jeno, Mark, Jisung, Jaemin, Renjun and Chenle.

- "Go" on the screen is NCT Dream's song on Empathy.

- The metronome appears in several videos.

- The ocean is a motif that appears, most notably in the NCT 127 Story of Favorite teasers ahead of the album repackage.

- The Dreamies are running through elements similar to NCT 127's "Cherry Bomb" sets.

Ep. 4 The Synchronization of Dreams

- Winwin of NCT 127, later of WayV, leads off this video. There are glimpses of other members like Jaehyun. He is also reading "Dream Within a Dream."

- When Johnny is talking, there are shots of Taeyong and Mark.

- Yuta of NCT 127 is in the yellow coat.

- Multiple versions of members is an ongoing theme that appears in several places, but specifically referenced back to this in the NCT 2021 YearDream.

- Stairs also play a role and reference.

- 127 member Taeil is running around the stairs.

- The reference to eyes returns to the "open your eyes."

- The illustrated images are reflected in the Universe cover.

- "Touch" is the name of the NCT 127 song and appears on the screen.

Ep. 5 Back to the Reality

- The liquid metal appears in many references, from WayV's pre-debut teasers to NCT 2021 Universe imagery.

- One of NCT 127's first EPs and its title track were "Limitless."

- "Black on Black" appears on the computer screen - another song on the album.

- The silver rings are reflected in NCT 2020 Resonance imagery.

- "Dream in a Dream" is Ten's song on the album.

- Kun is talking. At this point WayV has not launched yet but he appeared in one of the first NCT units.

- The staircase is an ongoing reference through content.

- This black and white Kun illustration will be referenced in WayV's "Miracle" video in NCT 2021 Universe.

- Motorcycles become a continuing reference.

I. Introduction

II. Overview

III. Episode List

IV. Trivia

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