NCT 2021 YearDream is a web series around the lore of the boy group NCT. Content in this series refers to other NCT content, notably NCTmentary, 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.
The group unites on a regular basis for an all-unit event, such as NCT 2018 Empathy, NCT 2020 Resonance and NCT 2021 Universe, supported by albums, concerts, special social content, TV or streaming shows and appearances. This series supported NCT 2021 Universe.
NCT 2021 YearDream revisits the group's lore and mythos, which was introduced before its debut in 2016. 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 connected the original pre-debut videos and added to the mythos. NCT 2021 YearDream directly references NCTmentary and the pre-debut videos, as well as references through NCT's videos.
Episodes were posted as teaser content leading up to the album release. The episodes were not released in sequential order and is unclear if that was accidental or intentional to build surprise. Episodes were released as: Stage 0, Stage 3, Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 4.
Introduced in 2018's NCTmentary, NCT 127/Dream member 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."
Like NCTmentary, the episodes are very short. Each episode is about 5 minutes.
Episode
Date
Link
Stage 0 - The 7th Sense (The First Encounter of a Dream)
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III. Trivia
There are many theories built off of this information and overlapping details within videos.
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- 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.
- The Dream Lab becomes a frequent reference throughout NCT work.
- Stage 0 - The 7th Sense (The First Encounter of a Dream)
- The title is a reference to NCT's debut song, "The 7th Sense." It is also the title of one of the group's predebut lore videos.
- Sungchan and Shotaro are the last members to join NCT at the time. They are walking down a staircase in the introduction. Staircases often appear as a recurring theme in NCT MVs.
- Taeyong, the leader of NCT and the sub-unit NCT 127, is hearing the "ping."
- Taeyong's flashback is a reference to the first pre-debut lore video: SM_NCT #1. The origin.
- The episode seems to imply that Taeyong is the adult of the child from that video.
- The episode also shows glimpses of the Dream Lab, which is referenced in NCTmentary.
- The whistle they are holding also appears and is used by members in the NCT 2021 "Beautiful" video.
- There are multiple theories around the whistle: members use the whistle to wake up from dreams, connect with each other and/or alternatively reach other universes.
- Music from "The 7th Sense" is playing at the end of the episode.
- There are fan theories that the red color represents dreams in NCT lore. It is also prominent in "The 7th Sense" video.
- The ping, sometimes called the Resonance ping because it was so prominent in Resonance promotions, will appear in all of these episodes at some point.
- Stage 1 - Seeing Myself in a Dream
- Jisung is the first member in the episode, the maknae of NCT.
- The instrumental that is playing is "Round&Round" from NCT 2021 Universe.
- The order price is the debut date of NCT Dream - 8/25/16.
- Multiple versions of members is an ongoing theme that appears in several places, notably in Episode 4 of NCTmentary, the Synchronization of Dreams.
- Kwangya is the Korean word for wilderness. In the SMCU, it is described as an alternate dimension, universe or world where the avatars live.
- Doyoung is a member of NCT 127.
- Kim Dongyoung is Doyoung's real name. He is telling his own story.
- The elements on the radio dial are NCT's debut date with "The 7th Sense," April 9, 2016. It is also the license plate number.
- The song on the dial is NCT 127's "Focus" from their 2021 album, Sticker. The instrumental of the song is playing when he closes his eyes.
- Other songs on the screen are NCT songs. Some will appear in the YearDream episodes. Songs on the screen: NCT U "The 7th Sense" and "Without You," NCT 127 "Mad City", "Good Thing," "Cherry Bomb," and "Focus", WayV "All For Love" and NCT Resonance "Interlude: Past to Present." It also references NCT World - NCT World 2.0 was a TV show tied to NCT 2020 Resonance content. Part of the show included a tour of the Dream Lab.
- The ocean is a motif that appears, most notably in the NCT 127 Story of Favorite teasers ahead of the album repackage.
- There is also a reference to Winwin's scene at the ocean in NCTmentary.
- Kun is the leader of WayV.
- The time on the clock when he appeared is 04:09. He also made his debut on NCT's second single "Without You," which debuted on April 9, 2016.
- The instrumental playing when he appears on screen is WayV's "All for Love" from their 2021 album Kick Back.
- YangYang is his group mate and the maknae of WayV.
- Haechan is a member of NCT 127 and NCT Dream. He is the maknae of NCT 127.
- The instrumental playing is NCT 127's "Welcome to My Playground" from Regulate.
Stage 2: Surfing in My Dreams
- Taeil is the oldest member of NCT and a member of NCT 127.
- He is reading a book on color psychology. There are many theories about the relevance of color in NCT lore.
- Chenle is a member of NCT Dream.
- This is a reference to the second episode of NCTmentary, which also featured empty swimming pools.
- Ten is a member of WayV, but also appeared on NCT's debut song "The 7th Sense."
- The redhead is Yuta of NCT 127 and the other member is Xiaojun of WayV.
- This is a callback to a specific moment during NCT 2020 promotions where Yuta and a seemingly nervous Xiaojun interacted backstage. This moment became a popular fandom meme and was referenced by the members themselves in their episode of It's Awkward, But It's OK. This is an in-joke for fans.
- This episode held a surprise for NCTzens. It had been announced that Winwin would not appear on the NCT 2021 Universe project but he appears in this video.
- Winwin was shooting a movie in China at the time, so his scenes are shot in China.
- In NCTMentary, Episode 4, Winwin was watching Yuta. Now Yuta is watching Winwin.
Stage 3: Synchonization of our Dreams
- Hendery is a member of WayV.
- The whistle reappears. Remember: "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."
- Jaemin is a member of NCT Dream.
- Johnny is a member of NCT 127. He is shown with this similar styling (in glasses) as the researcher in the Dream Lab studying NCT during NCTmentary.
- Trains are frequently referenced in NCT MVs.
- The train setting Johnny is on looks very similar to the plane Taeyong is in in his "Long Flight" MV.
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- Johnny is reading Edgar Allen Poe's "Dream Within a Dream," which was referenced in NCTmentary, where Jaehyun was reading it.
- Johnny puts on the headphones and "Interlude: Past to Present" is playing from the NCT 2020 Resonance albums.
- Shotaro (who did not have a NCT unit at this point) dances to this song, which does include the "ping" on the albums as well.
- This transitions to Sungchan, who also did not have a unit.
- Stage 4: Resonance
- We return to Taeyong again.
- Mark of NCT 127 and Dream is the next member to appear.
- The next member is Jeno of NCT Dream.
- The blonde member is Jungwoo of NCT 127, who Jeno was just talking about.
- The members at the pool are: Taeyong, Mark, Jeno and Sungchan.
- Jaehyun of NCT 127 is sitting on the swing with Jungwoo.
- Jaehyun mentions that it is Sungchan's and Shotaro's first time at kwangya. Remember: These are the last two members to be added to NCT.
- Shotaro is the next member.
- This scene of the members by the pool is what Shotaro sees in the mirror at the end of the last episode.
- All of the active members appear on the screen at the end.
