I know “flop” is probably a strong word but I’m talking more about their overall impact and potential compared to what I expected from an SM boy group.
RIIZE debuted in 2023 with so much attention around them, and considering SM’s history with groups like TVXQ, Super Junior, EXO and NCT, I honestly expected them to become much more distinctive by now.
But here we are, approaching 2027, and I still struggle to understand what RIIZE’s identity actually is.
They’re not particularly strong in variety content from what I’ve seen, and I don’t find most of the members especially entertaining. I once watched their appearance with Jonathan and honestly found it incredibly boring
Vocally, Sohee is obviously the member who stands out the most to me, but outside of him I don’t really feel like their vocal line has a particularly distinctive identity.
Their visuals are obviously strong, but SM seems to push Wonbin EVERYWHERE. Like yes, we get it, he’s handsome . At some point I want the group to be more than “look at Wonbin.”
And Sungtaro are probably my biggest disappointment. As an NCTzen, I was really sad when they left NCT, but I thought maybe the move would ultimately be better for them. Yet I still don’t feel like RIIZE has reached the level of recognition I expected for them, and that honestly makes me sad because I really like Sungchan and Shotaro.
My biggest issue is probably their lack of a clear artistic identity.
I feel like every comeback gives me a different version of an already-established boy group. Sometimes I hear ENHYPEN, sometimes ZB1, sometimes TXT… but I still struggle to describe what makes a RIIZE song unmistakably RIIZE.
And this is after THREE YEARS.
And honestly, I even think NCT WISH, who debuted a year after RIIZE, has a more established identity at this point.
They had the additional pressure of debuting as a new unit within an already-established group, yet I feel like their concept and overall direction are much clearer. Their vocals are pretty good, their music feels more cohesive to me, and they seem to have built recognition internationally as well.
I know they have successful songs and a huge fandom, so I’m not saying they’re literally unsuccessful. I’m talking about the gap between their actual achievements and the level of cultural impact I expected from a new SM boy group.
So what do you guys think?
And please, let’s not turn this into another Seunghan discussion. I’m specifically talking about RIIZE as a group and their music/identity.
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