YMMV / EXO

• Broken Base:
  • Anything regarding the more popular ships, usually Hunhan.
  • Make fun of Kai's skin or Sehun's lisp.
  • Feminizing the members without proper reason.
  • Calling D.O. "Satan-Soo". D.O. is the most serious member of the group and has a history of looking at the other members in an almost threatening manner. When D.O. revealed that he had severe astigmatism that made him strain his eyes, the fanbase dropped the nickname as it made D.O. seem mean and was mocking of his poor vision.
  • Kris, Lu Han, and Tao's lawsuits against SM Entertainment are controversial. Many Koreans were livid at their decisions, while a faction of EXO fans did not approve of the way this affected the remaining members. On the other hand, their International/Western fans are more sympathetic.
  • EXO originally had two main subgroups, EXO-K and EXO-M, as their debut concept to simultaneously promote in South Korea and China. However, they started drawing back on promotions in China (which was then cited as one of Kris' reasons for leaving) and after losing Kris, Lu Han, and Tao, they stopped promoting as those two subgroups altogether. Whether it had been a good idea, or was missed by fans, has split the fan base with different opinions.
  • One of the biggest debates is whether Lay is still a part of EXO after his contract with SM Entertainment expired. While his relationship with their other members is still on friendly terms and he acknowledged in his letter that he's still an EXO member, he hasn't participated in any of EXO's comeback since "Don't Fight the Feeling". It doesn't help that SM Entertainment released a statement that EXO would continue to do group promotions with 8 members, putting Lay's status in uncertainty.
• Ensemble Dark Horse:
  • Lu Han. Without a doubt, Lu Han was the most popular member of EXO. Not only was he featured in Chinese newspapers regularly, but was voted Asia's Most Handsome Man of 2013. He also had a lot of non-EXO fan supporters for being lead vocal, lead dancer, visual, and an all around Nice Guy. He even starred in a movie called "Back to 20".
  • Sehun also became a target for this, especially after his istagram reached 9 million followers and also adored for his rapping and dancing skills. Even non-EXO fan likes him.
  • D.O was also well-liked after he acts in some drama in 2014, where his acting was praised in It's Okay, That's Love.
  • Chanyeol also gained attention since his appearance in the Japanese Music Video for "Genie" by Girls' Generation, where fans adore him for his Adorkable personality and how he praised for his skills in rapping and song writting. Even non-fans like him.
  • Xiumin is this after Wolf comeback when EXO-M and EXO-K started performing as one group. Previously he wasn't really known in Korea, now he's one of the most popular members in South Korea.
• Epileptic Trees: It is believed that most of their music videos are interconnected into one storyline which started in their debut, "Mama". This led to many theories on how music videos are arranged according to the story timeline. Though this is more of a huge Mind Screw given that SM Entertainment never gives a canon explanation on the music videos.
• Fandom Rivalry:
  • Their biggest rival used to be B.A.P. Both groups were candidates for MAMA 2012's Best Rookie Award, only to have Busker Busker win.
  • Nowadays this is mostly with BTS fandom, despite the groups being on good terms. Understandable, as the two groups have almost equal popularity, thus are always compared with, so there will always be someone triggered...
  • Also with One Direction and Justin Bieber's fandom, after the MTV EMA Awards.
• Fanfic Fuel: People can argue that their concept is this, from alien with powers, school boys, wolves, football players. You can't count the number of fanfics EXO spawned based on their teaser alone.
• Fanon Discontinuity: Many fans insist that EXO will always be composed of nine members after the departure of Kris, Luhan, and Tao. It was even brought up in 2021 when Kris was arrested in China for suspicion of rape and then in 2022, was sentenced to 13 years in prison. After that, many fans reject him as being a member of EXO in the first place.
• Harsher in Hindsight: The MV to Wolf has a skit where Kris leaves the pack (i.e. the other 11 members). Not even a year later, Kris files to terminate his contract with SM Entertainment, hence leaving the group. Also, Lu Han was shown to be put in a hospital, and in October 2014, it was announced that he was seriously ill, and had to leave EXO.
• He Really Can Act: Watch D.O.'s cuts on I Remember You and try not to get chills.
• Hilarious in Hindsight: Baekhyun mentioning that he wouldn't date until he was in is mid-thirties. This may not be so funny for some fans, though...
  • Their songs with the line "Baby girl" such as Call Me Baby and Tempo become this now that Chen is a father to a baby girl of his own.
  • Chen's song Beautiful Goodbye, released in 2019, is about a breakup. A year later, he has a wife and daughter.
• Launcher of a Thousand Ships: There are 144 possible ship combinations; everyone is a ship launcher in their own right.
• Memetic Mutation:
  • "Maybe next time". Kris's catchphrase during the MAMA era.
  • "Enjoy the mayo". A supposed line in EXO-M's History, sung by Lu Han around the beginning of the song.
  • "Roll like a buffalo". One of the lines in one version of "Two Moons"
  • "Chogiwa". The very first lyric to the Korean version of Wolf. Likely from how it seemingly comes out of nowhere.
  • "Yehet". A nonsense word from Sehun.
  • "Kkaebsong", a nonsense word coined by Baekhyun during EXO's Showtime. Usually used during an awkward/shameful moment or situation. He also coined poongdongsoo which was added to open online Korean dictionary.
  • This explains everything.
  • The EXO Battle Royale picture, currently at its 21st Round◊, which circulates in EXO fansites and other forums. Chen is currently the winner.
  • After Tao's prolonged absence from the group (making him the third Chinese member to depart), EXO's status as a Dwindling Party became a Black Comedy meme across Tumblr.
• Ho Yay: They have A Lot Of these moments.
• Moe: Lay. Also, Sehun, and Kai when he isn't Mr. Fanservice. Subverted with Lu Han, who might look it, but can pull some strange faces, and made a dirty joke in response to Lay's comment on Renren.
• Narm - "I'll take you in one mouthful like cheese."
• Narm Charm: The whole song AND teaser could be considered this. Purportedly, the members themselves were cracking up while filming the teaser.
  • Their "legendary" MAMA intro with its Gratuitous English and super power concept.
• Rescued from the Scrappy Heap:
  • Lay was initially disliked due to himself being the Spotlight-Stealing Squad after Luhan leaves EXO and how he doesn't appear in EXO while promoting. But thanks to his solo album in 2016 and where he can also acting in dramas, finally upping his martyrdom to fans, and for now, fans warmed up to him. Bonus points if non-fans like him.
  • Baekhyun was also initially disliked due to the facts that he dated Taeyeon, and it wasn't until his character was killed in Scarlet Heart: Ryeo that he finally became more popular. His appearance in EXO-CBX has also helped his image.
• Signature Song: "Growl", the song that make them household name in South Korea. There's also their Christmas song, "First Snow", which earned a resurgence of popularity ten years later due to a viral Tiktok dance challenge and entered in the Korean charts.
• Spiritual Successor: The moment SM Entertainment announced they were debuting a 12 member group, comparisons to Super Junior arose and drove many people to despise the group before the members were even revealed.
• Sweet Dreams Fuel: "Angel", "Baby", "3.6.5.", and "Lucky", to name a few heartwarming ones.
• Values Dissonance: Some fans believe that this may have been a factor in Kris filing a lawsuit towards SM. In North America, civil rights and artistic freedom are apparently more strongly emphasized than in Korea.
• Vindicated by History: Their early songs are lambasted by detractors due to the concept of "alien musicians with superpowers" being too cringy. However, as time passed, new listeners and fans find that EXO were way ahead of their time and find the concept to be unique and interesting. As for their songs:
  • Their debut single, "MAMA", didn't top the Korean music charts (ranked 46 on the Gaon Music Chart). But many find the song to be awesome and unique especially when one reads the lyrics and the performances in their concerts made it more amazing.
  • Some critics made fun of their 2013 single, "Wolf", because of the howling noises, thinking that they're animals. But now, it's considered one of EXO's best songs thanks to the high notes of Baekhyun, Chen, and D.O. The remix version which was performed at the EXO'rDIUM concert is regarded as one of the greatest live performances in EXO history
• WTH, Costuming Department?: Oh, yes.
  • Their early◊ days had a space cowboy style that took it up to eleven.
  • Don't even get started on their Wolf era◊ stage outfits◊.
  • Kai's Messy Hair in EXO-K's live performance of Overdose garnered a few cracks.
  • Some of their earlier airport fashion is also questionable, to say the least.