Straddling between seeing them as The Main & Lead Singers/Dancers of BTS, ‘Jikook’ or Jimin and Jung Kook

BTS have always been such a different experience for me in terms of being a fan. Not only do we have magazine interviews and music show interviews plus their music to give us an insight into them, we also have an array of other media. They didn’t win the ‘Top Social Artist Award’ for no reason, their twitter presence, their weverse presence, their V Lives showed us much about them to endear them to us. Shows such as Rookie King, Gayo, Run BTS, Bon Voyage, In The Soop etc I couldn’t help but watch them all.

Religiously watching any V lives I could catch, going back and watching archived ones, their Bangtan Bombs and episodes etc. has allowed me and millions of others to feel like we know the group and members we support.

Over the years through watching the BTS original content, I have come to recognise and appreciate that these two MEN (queerphobs exit left) have unique bond.

They have special bonds with each of their members, never sparing any from words of affection, hugs and caring looks, playful moments etc. it the ‘magic’ of BTS.

The closeness I personally see between Jimin and Jungkook over the years is a bond I find to be exclusive to them. A bond that encompasses that shared between the other members or confident, bestie, ‘soulmate’, mentor, playmate, work partner, Hyung/Dongsaeng etc. I see theirs to be all of the above and more exclusive to the two of them. Where variations of duos can claim one or more of the above Jikook in my eyes claim them all for the two of them.

If nothing else from all that I have seen, it’s undeniable that they are the closest duo of the group.

It’s very enjoyable as a third party seeing the sparkle in each others eyes when looking at each other, the small and big smiles reserved for the two, the innocent and not so innocent moments that won’t be found between any other combination with the same level of meaning, intensity and dare I say, love, behind it.

I enjoy them, I enjoy them enjoying each other and I see across many platforms others who also enjoy them too.

Saying that I also enjoy them as INDIVIDUALS.

I enjoy Jimin’s heart and mind, how he sees challenges, how he sees experiences, how he appreciates and embraces emotions and is articulate and delicate with his spoken and written word. I enjoy his strength of character but isn’t hardened by life, how he can be the funniest person in the room and can make others laugh in a second and laugh with and even at himself. How he can be smart and serious but also light, fun and goofy. His talent, how he can be book smart, word smart but also creative, use his body as art but is also artistically talented with a pencil and paper.

I enjoy Jungkook’s goofball humour, his playfulness with his Hyungs, his admiration of them, his self assuredness and stubbornness that his Hyungs have moaned about since day 1 but still serves him in the right circumstances. I enjoy his creative talents, drawing, filming, photography, his ear for music of all genres, his innocence, how he talks to insects, fish before he slices it up for lunch. I enjoy his no nonsense approach to his work, hearing anecdotes from the members about how he doesn’t fear scolding Hyungs who don’t take practice seriously. I enjoy his loyalty, his level of honesty. I could go on because each day they show us more and more to learn and love about them.

The above has given us an insight as to who these boys to men are. Their likes, their dislikes, their music tastes, their fashion tastes of that time. For as much footage we have of the members, what they said yesterday could be different tomorrow, they are individuals, capable or change, capable of learning, growing, of influencing and being influenced.

Since even before chapter 2 the members have always spoken of how different they were as individuals. They have always shared their amazement that 7 different men could create such a phenomenon together and STAY together throughout their ups and downs for years upon years.

They’ve never claimed to be the same, never claimed to always want the same things. The prevailing statement I’ve heard from them has been they sacrificed for the sake of the group.

Chapter 2 has been about no longer having to have that weight, in my opinion, about getting out everything they felt they weren’t able to say yes OR no to when 6 other members had to be considered.

The members are very aware that their solo work still represents, not just themselves, like one would ideally like, but still represents the group, that they made their name from. No matter how different their work is from the group they will always be ‘of BTS.’

Though it may be very late in the game, it occurred to me that I’m doing each member a disservice, in always looking past the individual and seeking to find the other members in their solo endeavours, especially Jimin and Jungkook because of my enjoyment of their duo. I gave some reasons earlier as to why I like them individually and why their duo draws my attention. I don’t need their coupling to like them individually because the lists for each still remain with or without their couple.

They’ve all worked, learned, practiced and grown alongside each other but their shared experiences over the past 10+ years, their undeniable bond and closeness doesn’t mean they don’t have individuality that shouldn’t be acknowledged and appreciated as such. They’ve all had hurts, struggles, highs and lows, some connected to each other and some separate of each other.

Though it’s my belief nothing between them has changed…

Enjoying them as they’ve intended for chapter 2 means to me, allowing them what they haven’t been given before, a chance to be them, on their terms, taking what they give us.