SM Rookies - behind the scenes on SMTOWN performance

You can’t tell me they’re not going to be Neos.

If this is NCT Japan, they’re going to be so lit. I also love Shotaro checking on the rookies before they head out on stage - just yesterday he was new himself.

It’s worth noting that not only are the Rookies making their debut in front of a crowd, Sungchan and Shotaro are too. They’re pandemic artists so they haven’t performed in front of crowds either and certainly not this large.

They also never performed in a SMTOWN either.

NctzenTaglist

Quote from quarkie

I honestly did not expect them (or Sungchan) to match Shotaro so perfectly. I'm still blown away. I am so excited to see them debut and I know in my heart they're Neos.

also lmao Shotaro runs dance practice like Taeyong though

i think the real Taro is coming out. This reminds me of shy wide eyed Kun in his NCT Life debut who is totally different than the bossy big bro we know today. As they get more comfortable (with the group and the language), they can let their personalities shine.

Quote from laleria

Agree! I'm really sutisfied with Shotaro leadership skills so far

Quote from quarkie

I agree! I think he's gonna be a really great leader to their unit.

yeah I thought Shohei was going to be the leader but watching him with them, esp that little lady check in before going onstage was so TY and Kun like. And this would also explain why he’s been spending so much time with them to get pointers.

Quote from kittykitka

Honestly can't wait till their debut KittyILYSM.gif

I wonder if they'll add more members or stick with the 5?

They seem to be working well as 5

Display More

I’m thinking they’ll add one or two more Japanese members, partly to round it out and partly as enlistment protections.

If they go with 6, that will create another point of difference between the groups.

Since WayV looks like it’s 5 now, Dream is 7, 127 is 9.

Quote from kittykitka

It would be funny if the Japanese unit was majority korean 😄

I thought they might go with 7 🤔

Is wayv five confirmed ? That's kind of sad

Display More

WayV five is not confirmed. However, they appeared in SMTOWN as five and shot a magazine cover shoot as 5. Members talked on a post SMTOWN live about a “new beginning for WayV” so I think this is very much the plan IMO. Winwin just wrapped up his movie so it’s possible he could come back for one last album, possibly. Having watched this same scenario play out with Lay in EXO, I don’t expect him back and while we’ll miss him, I’d rather see him booked and busy than with two lines in a WayV song.

There’s still no news on Lucas.

As far as NCT Japan, I’d be expecting at least one more main vocalist. SM has certainly set expectations for big vocals but especially within NCT. Every NCT unit has had at least 2 belters. Sungchan seems like he can be a very capable lead vocal but he’s not bringing the NCT thunder. Many of the main vocalists were added last to the units so they might need some extra polish, probably around their dance.

Because NCT is such a dance-focused group and it’s one of their specific traits now, these poor noobs have to better than the other Neos were at debut, tbh.