We've all had some time to absorb the announcement that EXO is releasing a new album, Obsession, on November 27th.
But the knowledge of the album's release date still didn't prepare me for when their first concept trailer dropped this morning.
View this video on YouTube
Two words: Chanyeol's eyes!
The video contains references to some of EXO's most classic motifs like The Tree of Life, the eclipse, and their superpower emblems, but what on Earth does it all mean?
Not to worry, the EXO fandom is already bubbling with amazing theories about what on Earth we all just watched.
Some fans believe this new, evil-looking EXO seen in the video are clones of the original group.
The eyes - They're def clones, that's for sure. They've the same, uniform eyes which light up when they use their powers maybe? We got a shot of their DNA too which becomes rotten - they are evil. One of them is not like the others tho, one of Chen's eyes is normal...
EXO's new, reversed Twitter accounts (@weareoneEXO and @EXOonearewe) fit into this theory too.
They really made two accounts, this is how advanced and unique exo's concepts are each year, EXO AND CLONES, DOUBLE THE KINGS, HERE WE GO #EXO #OBSESSION #EXO_OBSESSION #EXODEUX #weareoneEXO #exoonearewe
Others believe Sehun might be the only normal human left and tasked with the job of saving his older members from evil.
- no target on sehun - archer sehun sehun will save them all. and thats on PERIODT! #OBSESSION_EXO #EXODEUX #CASE1485 #EXOonearewe
EXO SEHUN FIGHTING HIS CLONE IM HERE FOR IT #EXODEUX
And if clones aren't your thing, there's another theory that EXO's 2016 singles "Monster" and "Lucky One" established two, polar opposite versions of the group: EXO and X-EXO.
MY EXO THEORY They were already telling us that there are 2 universes and 2 EXOs during Ex’Act! EXO was trapped in Lucky One and trying to escape. It was X-ĖXØ that we saw in Monster and Lotto. @weareoneEXO #EXO #ObsessedWithEXO #CASE1248 #weareoneEXO #EXODEUX #EXOonearewe
OBSESSION. EXO and X-ĖXØ collide in the same world. And just like in all alternate universes, you can’t be in the same world at the same time. Only one should exist. And so the fight begins! EXO vs X-ĖXØ! Who will win? @weareoneEXO #EXO #weareoneEXO #EXODEUX #EXOonearewe
Both EXO and X-EXO are from different dimensions that will meet and battle it out in the upcoming music video, hence the "let the fight begin" seen at the end.
Alternate universes in the ECU (EXO Cinematic Universe; we're coining it) were confirmed in the introduction for their "Power" music video in 2017.
The video might have something to do with the evil Red Force seen in multiple EXO videos, too.
Remember this? The red force is deliberately trying to clone everything of EXO but it will never be perfect. All of the X-EXO members do not show as much emotion as the real EXO members. They look overpowered as well but there has to be a weakness.
CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW THEY'VE BEEN CORRUPTED BY THE RED FORCE AND HOW THE TREE OF LIFE DIED? THIS IS SOME NEXT LEVEL SHIT!! #EXODEUX #EXO #엑소 #weareoneEXO #EXOonearewe @exoonearewe #OBSESSION
THE RED FORCE WON’T LET EXO LIVE IN PEACE #EXODEUX #EXOonearewe @weareoneEXO
Mentions of the evil red force go back all the way to EXO's debut in 2012 with their single "MAMA".
Eagle-eyed fans also noticed that Xiumin, D.O, and Lay's emblems don't glow orange like the rest, which may mean they're safe?
ONLY SIX MEMBER LOGOS GOT BURNED! OH MY GOD! XIUMIN KYUNGSOO AND YIXING LOGO ARE SAVE 😱😱😱😱 I NEED THEORY! KING #EXODEUX #obsessedWithEXO #Case1248 #EXO #엑소 #weareoneEXO #EXOonearewe @exoonearewe #OBSESSION
And then there's the one final theory that explains that it very well might just be the end of the world.
#EXODEUX could go 2 things: 1. Confirmation of clone theory bc deux is 2 in French 2. Exodeux sounds like exodus. The end. The scene showed the boys disappearing and DNA. Could the red force be trying to erase the original exo with the copy of their clones #ObsessedWithEXO
lee sooman seonsaengnim i don’t feel so good... #EXODEUX @weareoneEXO
So what do you believe, EXO-L? Are they clones? EXO vs. X-EXO? Robots? From another universe? Are they all bad? Or are we just secretly watching Avengers: Infinity War?
