The incredibly anticipated documentary series featuring NCT 127 finally dropped its first two episodes on 30 August. Fans all over the world are thrilled to have the new docuseries on streaming site, Disney+, making it easily accessible to NCTzens at the click of a button. For non-fans or casual K-pop listeners, this documentary is a quick way to get to know the group better; but for many NCTzens, this is undoubtedly a chance to deepen their understanding of their favorite group. Wherever you may fall in the spectrum, this series is worth the watch and here are some of the things you should expect from the series:

TURN BACK TIME TO NEVERLAND

Chapter 1: "Everybody Had Adventures to Tell"

Chapter 2: "When people grow up, they forget their way."

Entitled NCT 127: The Lost Boys, the documentary leans into the mythos surrounding the eponymous Lost Boys from J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. Widely known as the group of young boys stuck in Neverland, never to grow up; the documentary mirrors the nine members' lost childhoods and forgotten memories of old. Each chapter of the 4-episode docuseries is titled after a passage from the classic tale and features the members opening up about their lives sharing and retelling stories about their childhood. 

NOT-SO FAIRYTALE BEGINNINGS

“I dont think adults exist in the world, adults are just children disgused as grown-ups."

The documentary is filled with untold stories of their training years and and behind-the-scenes musings. Anecdotes like Yuta's playful nature as a child and Taeil's "loose cannon" antics such as running off to do errands in the middle of practice make you feel like they're neighborhood friends. Still, the documentary makes lots of space for stories that give us insight to the kind of childhood they had and the hardships they had to endure in part of leaving behind their childhood early.

The documentary does not shy away from dark and deep places. The first two episodes acknowleges the impact of COVID-19 on their lives as artists, the hardships of the youngest members' double duties for NCT and the effect of debuting as kids has had on them. At one point, Mark shares how his passion for passion for music started to get numb, calling the feeling scary. "It's a different night, but the same nightmare. At least, I'm stuck with the same problem and the same nightmare," he admits.

In the coming episodes, we will also get to see other members delve into their personal growing pains such as Jaehyun's unusual childhood, Johnny's lengthy life as a trainee, and Taeyong's bumpy growth into his role as a leader.

A STYLISTIC SPECTACLE

Directed by Jayil Park, whose short film Georgia (2020) won at the Busan International Film Festival, the documentary features a narrative-driven structure that is not often seen in other documentaries. Instead of focusing on behind-the-scenes footage, the documentary features a very stylistic approach that involves retellings through role-playing, improvisation, song and dance performances, play-like situations, and animation. Taeyong describes the documentary as a work that "breaks away from the conventional documentary format"; while Taeil shares that "the real stories of NCT 127 are exclusively captured in this documentary."

The documentary is a multimedia experience that explores different visual portrayals of how a story can be told. Alongside Director Jayil Pak, the NCT 127: The Lost Boys documentary was created by Cho Youngchul and Yim Pilsung under Mystic Story Production.

UNSEEN PERFORMANCES

In this documentary, the NCT 127 members get to tell their stories through performances. Yuta and Taeil share their life experiences through performances in unique settings— Yuta showcases a poignant interpretation of "Butterfly" in the train and Taeil sings a completely brand new song called "Will Be" which encapsulates the lucky childhood he has had despite the meagre conditions he had to endure. Another member who will be performing a song about overcoming his dark past is Doyoung.

Unexpected performances also await viewers as Jaehyun shows a more unguarded side to himself as he performs at Seoul Comedy Club; and Jungwoo, known as the group comedienne, will tell his story through the art of clown performance.

A VERY NEO RIDE

Each segment is tailor-made for each member's unique story and personality and as they open up about their personal journey from trainee to global idols, fans are invited to follow them into Neverland and see their unique point of view. The ride is very neo-esque and perpetually feels dream-like, something that makes this documentary truly special not only for fans but to the members, as well, who must have felt a great joy and honour in being able to tell their story in a way that reflects them as they truly are. 

The first two NCT 127: The Lost Boys episodes are now available on Disney+. The rest of the series will be available on 6 September 2023. Check out this featurette below to know more about what you can expect from the NCT 127: The Lost Boys documentary!

#Czennies, you wouldn’t want to miss this!#NCT127_TheLostBoys is streaming 30 August on #DisneyPlusSG. pic.twitter.com/NHcgM4xqfJ

— Disney+ Singapore (@DisneyPlusSG) August 24, 2023