run bts! episode 36 jungkook behavior analysis
jungkook being a soft, awkward, adorable bun is what i live for and this episode didn’t disappoint.
when jungkook and hobi were picked to be on jimin’s team, i was really interested in seeing how jungkook would act seeing as though hoseok has an uncanny tendency to be right in the middle of some intimate jikook moments.
i was a little surprised when i noticed jungkook get quiet around jimin and hobi, becoming more of an observer than a participator. it reminded me a lot of when he was younger and wanted to engage but wasn’t sure how. he instantly deferred to his hyungs, unsure of how to interact with the two of them who feed off of each other’s energy. even when he complimented jimin, he spoke quietly, smiling and rubbing at his hand as if he were feeling nervous, uneasy, or unsure.
that’s how he was for most of the episode…quietly working beside or behind hobi and jimin, taking in their conversation as they played around with each other.
he didn’t want to get in the way. it was also interesting that during moments when hobi or jimin would try to bring him into the conversation, he would deflect…
and bring up something else…
some of the only times he would speak up were when he was teasing jimin, like when jimin said their team lost because of yoongi’s tonkatsu (11:57) and he countered with “isn’t it just because you like tonkatsu?” (12:00) or when jimin accidentally gave hobi the corn syrup (5:42) instead of oil and kook laughed softly to himself and mumbled “corn syrup.” (5:44)
he tried to stay focused and do his own thing because it was safe and he wouldn’t embarrass himself trying to join them. but he couldn’t help himself and occasionally had to speak up when it came to jimin, even it was only mumbling…which jimin seemed to have no trouble understanding.
he went so far as to ask jimin to whistle (???) while his mouth was full ???
such a random request just so he could see jimin make a cute, kissy face and have his hyung reaffirm his affection for him (jimin did it without question and directed it at him)
my theory is jungkook was so occupied with trying to keep himself in check, he unconsciously went into avoidance mode to keep his mind off of jihope’s interactions and to make sure their team ran smoothly. i love this side of jungkook—the over-thinker, the observer, the shy boy quietly adoring his mochi from a corner. although he’s grown a lot over the years, he still has some of his old habits when it comes to jimin.
