NCT (Neo Culture Technology) has a vast and expansive concept in the Kpop industry, but its third sub-unit is a youthful force to reckon with. Kpop reality shows interest the respective fanbases due to the comradeship shared by the members of a group, and NCT Dream variety shows are some of the best picks in the lot, especially since the seven members of the group have been through thick and thin together since their early young days as trainees.
Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung have successfully beaten the group’s original ‘admission-and-graduation’ concept, as per which each member would have to leave the group upon reaching a particular age. However, this model was rebranded in 2020, marking the return of Mark, the group’s original leader, after his supposed graduation. This feat consolidated not only the group’s fanbase and its powers of retaliation but also the brotherhood that brought the members together in the first place.
Here are some variety shows the group participated in since the beginning of their ‘Dream’ career, further demonstrating the different shades of their friendship and affectionate bond.
NCT Dream Variety Shows That Shouldn’t Be Missed Out On by the Fans
1. SAVE NCT DREAM
In 2019, NCT Dream collaborated with PUFF to bring out a live interactive variety series which posed numerous riddles and adventures for them to solve. Each episode had a specific theme and required them to escape numerous locations and situations, just like a ‘Mystery Room’ experience. However, there was one twist to the scenario – audience could vote and choose what they wanted the members to do in real time.
Check out the six episodes of the series on YouTube. Only five members of the group (excluding Mark and Haechan) participated in the filming for these episodes, but each one of them depicted the chaotic comedy that unleashed when the group members are tasked with impromptu escape games.
2. 7llin in the DREAM
Before the premiere of Hot Sauce, their first studio album in May 2021, also marking the long-awaited comeback of the ‘7Dream’ brand as both Haechan and Mark returned for the album promotions, the group came out with its first-of-kind travel/variety web series. All game show opportunities that celebrated the group members before this outing only featured Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung (with Haechan joining them on a few occasions).
However, with 7llin in the DREAM, which reads ‘Chilling’ in the DREAM, the group not only came back together as a unit of seven, but it also portrayed the charm of the bond shared between them as childhood buddies. All six episodes of the series are streaming on the group’s official YouTube channel.
3. 7llin in Our Youth
To kickstart the promotion activities of Glitch Mode, their second studio album (March 2022), the South Korean band followed the tradition set in place by 7llin in the DREAM to head out for yet another healing mini vacation as best friends, and not colleagues working together. With six episode streaming on their YouTube channel, each episode sees the members playing games, staying indoors and enjoying each other’s company, preparing meals for and with each other, while also conducting a ‘Secret Santa’ gift exchanging drill even though it’s not Christmas.
4. BU:QUEST
idolplus’s BU:QUEST of NCT Dream has eight episodes that push the members to dig into a retro mood, and completing several quests or missions along the way that required them to indulge in various activities like roller skating, leg wrestling, and playing some other messy ‘Neo’ games. Once again, all five members except Mark and Haechan filmed this series and revealed the adorable sides to their personalities while, of course, bickering with each other through it all.
5. DREAM Mystery Lab
Playing the ‘Mafia’ game is a common feat among Kpop groups, but with three-episodes game series, all seven members of the team sport white lab coats, posing as scientists in the ‘Mystery Lab’. Nothing misses a beat when all the group members are gathered together. With loud and hilarious lighthearted arguments taking the lead, even the members can’t stop laughing in each other’s company. In addition to the Mafia game, a series of games follows, wherein the ultimate goal is to discover the two spies in disguise who stole the formula.
6. NCT Life: DREAM in WONDERLAND
Dream’s entry into the NCT Life series is marked in the tenth season of the reality variety show. Moving away from their hectic daily schedules, the five members head out for a vacation which is more of a puzzle that needs to be solved by finding the missing pieces along the way. The 12 episodes of the rejuvenating series is streaming on Viki (select locations).
7. JUST DO IT with Jeno and Jaemin
With 4 episodes out as of September 2022, this short series features the much-loved duo of the group – Jeno and Jaemin, together known as NoMin among the fans. Each episode follows the pair partaking in different activities like target shooting at a shooting range, go-karting, playing tennis and bowling respectively. The two have shared the same artistic space as colleagues and best mates since their early training days with SM Entertainment, as a result, their camaraderie goes a long way.
8. Chenle and Jisung’s This and That
Following the release of several short episodes, this Dream show is the longest running reality series starring the two youngest members of the group – Chenle and Jisung (ChenJi) – who’ve also been proclaimed as the best friends who were always destined to find their way to each other. Both of them met each other briefly as child artists during the filming of a TV program back in the day, only for them to find each other again and become team-mates in the future despite their disparate nationalities.
This and That has had two running seasons till now, each consisting of 11 episodes, and showcasing the members discovering and exploring new things every time. While the first season began when they were both quite young so the episodes introduced them to new activities, the second season was filmed upon the two attaining adulthood and sees them undertaking tasks suggested by their fans.
Also read: Suchwita Episode 7 Teaser: BTS’ Suga’s Next Guest is a Fellow Group Member Who Can’t Stop Laughing
9. Bellygom TV – Red Light, Green Light
Since Netflix’s 2021 Kdrama Squid Game‘s fame took over the world, the ‘Red Light, Green Light’ game has become a great deal among audiences from across the world. The YouTube channel ‘벨리곰TV – Bellygom TV’ portrays a huge live teddy bear (Bellygom) playing the same game with Kpop idols and public audience alike, or even playing pranks on them. During the promotions of Beatbox, their second repackaged album, all seven members of the band appeared alongside Bellygom to play this game. Each one of them had to complete additional missions on getting caught.
10. Battle Trip Episode 152
KBS World’s Battle Trip is all about celebrities travelling to different corners of the world and sharing their experiences along the way. In February 2022, Jeno and Jaemin embarked on a trip to Busan for this broadcast. Thereafter, they worked with the original cast of the show and stepped in as special MCs to host their episode.
11. Episode 6 of School Attack 2019
The whole concept of School Attack follows Kpop idols secretly sneaking into schools, solving several missions delivered to them on the spot, which culminates with the ultimate showdown – a surprise performance by them awaiting the students in the end. Except Mark, all six members were present for this episode.
12. Korean Mickey Mouse Club
The Korean revival of The Mickey Mouse Club aired in 2015, and was hosted by Super Junior’s Leeteuk. NCT’s Doyoung and Jaehyun appeared as special guests throughout the course of the show, whereas the protagonists for the same were nine SMRookies (pre-debut training team of SM Entertainment), who came to be known as the Mouseketeers. The main cast included Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin and Jisung (now NCT Dream members) and Koeun, Hina, Herin and Yami. Throughout the broadcasts, the cast had to enter into various surprise activities like shoe relays, camping, surprise parties and more, in addition to performing Disney songs on stage.
13. NCT WORLD 2.0
While this series is not restricted to NCT Dream members, it also featured all seven of them, which is why it has made the cut. Mnet’s NCT WORLD 2.0 is the first reality variety series that stars all 23 members (current) of NCT. This was the time when Shotaro and Sungchan had recently been added to the grand Kpop team. The show took inspiration from the concept of the multiverse, and often showed the members being transported to different dimensions to complete various missions and escape room scenarios during their promotions for the group’s second full-length album RESONANCE.
14. NCT DREAM Stay Under the Blanket
The three-episode variety web show (minus Mark and Haechan) is a special heartwarming documentation of the members’ friendship. The series takes us through a day spent inside with the five members as they play board games, video games and dine together, reflecting a relatable sequence of events shared between best friends teasing each other and joking around.
15. Boys Mental Training Camp
The group has also released the English version of its second repackaged album’s title track Beatbox today. Tune into the upbeat and energetic song on Spotify.
Which of these NCT Dream variety shows is your ultimate go-to on the days you’re feeling low? Let us know you favourite picks and other suggestions (if any) in the comments section below.