Jaehyun and his Doyoung

99 degrees

Jaehyun said "leave the one", so 4:16-1=4:15? Haha. But really, with the long intro and outro it's easy to make the length of the video any number.

Jaehyun is set on including very high notes to prove he is better than Ariana, isn't he, but he is doing it in a better manner now (not overdoing), the switch between higher and lower tones becomes his signature.

Genuinely what is this? Throwback Friday to Rookies shooting an ad for school uniform? Does it scream rebranding, new beginning and Illuminated?

At first Taeyong mentioned both Doyoung and Jungwoo, how they should be envious of other neos on a vacation. However, once Jaehyun started to tease on camera "are you watching?", Taeyong introduced it as "a video letter for Doyoung", omitting Woo (at first, he asked Yuta to make one for him instead). Jae teased both (it was said more for the show, for content), but Tae offered a change. Which made Jae chuckle. (24:48-25:12)

It's very subtle here. Taeyong also discarded recently, he could have teased his bestie himself. Jae is supposed to be equally close to both DoWoo (DJJ, JaeWoo as ex-roommates), but Tae chose Do for him. Lastly, there was no point to ask for separate messages, any member/several members could have been asked to address both at the same time.

Also of note how Johnny and Yuta stopped eating for a sec and focused on Jae, anticipating his message. Btw, Jae didn't bite, his real teasing happens on another level. Didn't really want to rub it in.

Such moments alone don't mean much (there are alternative interpretations, like Tae having Do living in his mind rent free), but when they are consistent, reoccuring, they start to matter, become another telltale sign.

Ah, Ok. I suppose the group consists of 5 people then for the joke to land.

It's a tradition for training assistants working closely together to design matching t-shirts. The shirts have ranks printed (Doyoung's shirt says "5th rank in looks (Private First Class)", he moved up one rank). It allows to demonstrate their occupation without wearing uniform (forbidden abroad, naturally).

It's not uncommon to go for a vacation abroad, but an Overseas Travel Request needs to be submitted way in advance. Assistants often get extra vacation days for good work. Such a trip normally happens during a "maintanence week" between batches of recruits to train.

Often an upper rank sergeant who is about to discharge takes with him the junior assistants who he trained. There was a "lone wolf" sergeant among the group, so, probably, such a trip is exactly what Doyoung was involved in.

Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis.

Less than a year left! For now focus on how the 2 year wait for another 127 album is finally over! Look, we've already got back both Jae and Tae.

I feel like Doyoung's absence will be felt the strongest in promotional content. He is not only the MC, a lot revolves around him. Be it jokes, teasing, the way he sets the pace, directs the conversation. In MVs and performances JaeTae will compensate.

I think Taeyong mentioned that neos recently had a meeting to choose the title. This made people speculate that there won't be DoWoo on the album. I don't think so.

DoWoo won't be on the title, they can't be to begin with, but an album has many b-sides, and the recording process often stretches over years. Remember the bts for DJJ. They even re-recorded "Ordinary" a year later, believing they improved and could do better. aespa or H2H talk about how their new hit was in the vault for years. NCT's "Beautiful" was considered as a debut track instead of "Without U". We know DoWoo recorded something before leaving. I expect them to be on a few songs.

Jaehyun's face won't change until he is like 50. He is growing out his hair, so it will be possible to do his old sleak hairdo soon. The volume is already back.

Isn't "just the other guy" similar to "the boy next door"? Less about the looks and more about familiarity, relatibility, from the same circle. The stars of old were gods, but now idols are your friends, family, proxy boyfriends. Or funny folks who do unboxing, try your local food, and read twits about themselves. Just like you. It's the cute sweet guy who pretends to be hot and dangerous. Not the other way around.

Doyoung represented, lol (guess how).

Now that there are 7... Neo centre can play with 12+7, 1, 2, 7 and such ideas for the next 2027 year when DoWoo comeback. It's good that they started the rebranding in advance. Fans will have time to be angry and then cool down. Away from the promotional cycle.

If not checkers, at least give him back his stripes!