#ays1

I dont see a link to the official English version yet on YouTube. For now, here's the Korean version.

AYS2 trailer: posted 16 NOV 2025

We can infer quite a bit by noting the differences and similarities from the previous trailer, so here's it is for reference.

AYS1 trailer: posted 29 JUL 2024

MUSIC

I wasn't even through my first watchthrough of the trailer before I was questioning the music choice. AYS2 trailer uses GO GO. I hadn't rewatched the AYS1 trailer recently so my expectation was if there was any music featured at all, it would have been music from either of their solo albums.

Buuuut, then I rewatched the AYS1 trailer which used Intro: Skool Luv Affair. Specifically tbe part where j-hope interrupts with an upbeat verse and RM continues with hip-hop. Both sections heavily focus on the 'bangtan-style'.

So, now that we've established using a group song was not a step away from the previous trailer, what other conclusions can we draw from the music choice?

TONAL SHORTCUT?

So, in any kind of filmmaking, the inclusion of music is often with the intent to either heighten emotions that are already present or provide a shortcut to the listener to key into what emotion the filmmaker wants us to experience. To apply this to the trailers, we have to think about what the intent is with a trailer. It's quite plain that both of these are attempting to generate excitement and positive engagement to help people choose to watch the show. I do think the choice to utilize BTS music instead of jikook's solo music is deliberate.

For AYS1, they were still very much wanting to remind viewers that jikook are MEMBERS of BTS. The clips featured moments of them talking about the other members while making it very clear that this was a jikook-specific trip. Again, this was in the midst of the solo era where so many eyes and ears were lazer-focused on how the members would be recieved as solo acts instead of as a group product.

AYS2 doesn't necessarily carry that same burden. The will they/won't they succeed of the solo era is well over. But, we still have a group song as the track for the trailer...

I think they still want to accomplish several things with this choice. 1) start building energy for the 2026 comeback. 2) highlight a specific aspect of AYS2, that being the gamification/budget games.

I spent a lot of time in my AYS1 posts taking about when the show felt like a mix of Bon Voyage/In the Soop/Run BTS. This focus feels like they're trying to return to the BV1/BV2/Run BTS mix....at least for the trailer.

Again, if I hadn't rewatched the AYS1 trailer, I wouldn't have noticed this. But the overall tone of the trailer was farrrrr different than I would have described the actual episodes. It not that the trailer used moments that weren't in the show to make it feel this way. It's definitely that they intentionally cut the trailer to be far more energetic tonally to fulfill their goals (that part we just talked about: why are they making this? To get us excited!).

So again, time will tell what the actual tone of AYS2 is but I wouldn't be surprised if the entire show isn't as high-energy as the trailer is alluding. Just like AYS1 wasn't. Which is honestly a relief for me. I don't mind the hijinx but I'm absolutely hoping there are moments of our cosy show returned to us!

...

Ok, I was going to talk more about some other aspects of the trailer but this has gotten long enough as it is.

I do have to say, that i am legit stressed about trying to fit this show into my life. Why did it have to be DEC?? I was already wondering if I would even be able to make it to the screening of Jin's encour but now I'm going to have to fit this in??? Ugh, they're trying to break what little is left of my mind!