RUN BTS: THE SERIES

RUN BTS: THE SERIES

I wasn't part of the Fandom when most of these episodes were newly released. I have watched entire series many times though and would like to share some thoughts about each one (especially as we have current event context). so while we wait for the return of a regular BTS episodic show, I'd like to do another RUNthrough of Run BTS (see what I did there?)

Here are the items I plan to discuss with each episode. I'd like to invite anyone who's up for it to rewatch and share your thoughts as well, especially if you have any fun facts relevant to what was happening at the same time as the original airing.

Production: How successful the episode is as a variety show, including but not limited to: exposition, editing, set design, utilization of locations.

Endearment: How successful it is in showcasing the charms of BTS and making the audience want to engage in more of their content.

Winner/Loser: many episodes have an ultimate winner/loser. I will absolutely spoil this so please watch first if you haven't.

Best Cheater: BTS has the best cheaters! Who do I personally think was the best one in each episode? (This is all in good fun and not actually malicious).

Member Moments: a moment or quote from each member that stands out to me each episode.

Overall Rank: my personal rank of the episode on a scale of 1-5 of how much I enjoyed it, including the Production and Endearment notes above.

Bonus Content: Many episodes have bonus content on weverse and I'll give some general thoughts on the content. This will NOT be a transcript on the content itself. If I happen to know any fun facts related to the episode, I'll share here but I don't anticipate much since I wasn't in the Fandom during original airings. if you know any, please share!

I love a good spreadsheet so we'll have some interesting metadata to analyze after this series. Let's get it!

Source for original air dates as well as some extra info that I couldn't glean from just watching the content. I will be using the episode numbering per YouTube rather than Wikipedia though.

Post Links:

001: Open

002: The Greatest Man

003: Theme Park

004: 30 Second Mission

005: 100 Seconds Sports Day

006-1: Confession part 1

006-2: Confession part 2

007: Silmido part 1 Survival

008: Silmido part 2 Find the Flag

009: Silmido part 3 Bungee

010: Silmido part 4 Spy?!?

011: Back to School

012: Cops

013: The Spy Who Returned part 1

014: The Spy Who Returned part 2

015: The Spy Who Returned part 3

016: Snow Park Winter Olympics

017: Arcade Olympics part 1

018 Arcade Olympics part 2

019: Strike

020: Korean Food War

The analytics: Episodes 1-20

021: Board Game Competition

022: Hangawi Festival

023: Pet Friends

024: BTS vs Zombies

025: Game King

026: Secret Agent

027: Welcome to your First MT part 1

028: Welcome to your First MT part 2

029: A Billboard Hot 100 Promise; Be Each Other's Stylist

030: The Variety Show of Memories part 1

031: The Variety Show of Memories part 2

032: Take Care of Santa

033: BTS and Manito part 1

034: BTS and Manito part 2

035: Kimchi Battle

036: Kimchi Wars

037: BTS Marble Returns

038: Spin BTS

039: BTS Golden Bell part 1

040: Lunar New Year Special: Only Good Things

The analytics: Episodes 21-40

041: BTS Golden Bell part 2

042: Sports Challenge

043: Satisfaction of the Five Senses pt.1

044: Satisfaction of the Five Senses pt.2

045: BTS Cafe

046: BTS Workshop

047: Protect the BTS Village pt.1

048: Protect the BTS Village pt.2

049: Eve of Episode 50 Festival pt.1

050: Eve of Episode 50 Festival pt.2 | 50th Episode Special pt.1

051: 50th Episode Special pt.2

052: BTS Escape

053: BTS Outing pt.1

054: BTS Outing pt.2

055: BTS Outing pt.3

056: BTS Outing pt.4

057: BTS Chef pt.1

058: BTS Chef pt.2

059: Run BTS in Hotel pt.1

060: Run BTS in Hotel pt.2

The analytics: Episodes 41-60

061: BTS Sauna pt.1

062: BTS Sauna pt.2

063: BTS School Returns pt.1

064: BTS School Returns pt.2

065: BTS School Returns pt.3

066: BTS in a Manga Cafe pt.1

067: BTS in a Manga Cafe pt.2

068: Heart Pang

069: BTS in Toronto pt.1

070: BTS in Toronto pt.2

071: BTS in Toronto pt.3

072: BTS and Mafia

QUICK COMBO:

EUPHORIA | FACE-OFF | FAKE LOVE

What's a Quick Combo? My personal recommendation of just a few songs for easy insertion into a playlist. This mini-combination makes an interesting transition or story when played in this order.

My thoughts on this QC:

I stumbled on this because I keep my big BTS playlist in alphabetical order by title and the progression here tells an interesting love story from the puppy love phase through some rough times and finally terminating. I adore a well-told story that doesn't end stereotypically happy so maybe that's why I enjoyed this QC so much...

Listening Links:

WHAT MAKES A FAN SONG?

As I've been thinking about this topic recently, I'd like to list out a few recent 'fan songs' and what components lead into that descriptor. This certainly isn't limited to the following ideas, just what's been bouncing around my brain.

The songs I'd like to frame this around are:

Take Two (TT)

Letter/Dear.Army (L/D.A)

My You (MY)

I'm limiting to these few as they are the ones that released while I've been actively paying attention to the BTS/ARMY relationship. I'd love to hear thoughts on the other fansongs as well, especially from anyone who was around during their initial release!

Song Links (I cant wait for the day we have a shareable version of Letter):

I'd like to submit that there are a few criteria as to what deems a song eligible for this classification. Not all songs will present all criteria, and ultimately it's up to the artist and audience to collectively agree but let's run with this, shall we?

1. CONTENT/SUBJECT MATTER

This is the most straightforward and easiest to recognise. What do the actual words, the lyrics state? Usually very visible on the surface-level but don't disregard the level of artistic interpretation and nuance in metaphors and levels of meaning! Some lyrics may have further meaning for the fans familiar with their other works. Or maybe it's just about a subject the artist is more willing to share with their fans rather than the world at large - not necessarily ABOUT the fans themselves but more a conversation directed toward the fans.

I'll just list some of the lyrics of each aong that stick out to me (using english translations where applicable):

(TT):

Even when the desert becomes the sea, we swim together

Even the lonely whales, we're singing like them now

We're together so I'm not scared of hoping for eternity

Because you're my belief and my only reason

(L/D.A):

I say uh-oh, I hope wе last forever

You-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh that felt like a warm spring day to me in the cold winter

I say uh-oh, I'll always cherish them

The fun moments between you and me

(MY):

On a starry night

Hope my you sleep tight

Shining purple light

Thank you for being by my side

2. CREATION PROCESS

This is tricky to nail down, particularly when the artist hasn't shared much of the process.

(TT): we don't know much about this process yet but it was clearly pre-planned enough to be ready for recording before Jin left. Also, (in my opinion) the bpm was obviously paced below what a typical catchy summer song would be. I honestly think the song would be better with a slightly faster pace but slowing it down makes it less likely for non-ARMY to catch onto it and thus more of a special gift to fans only. I don't know the bom just seems off to me with this one when i listen to it...

(L/D.A): do we know anything about this beside the images of Jimin's notebook?? Hopefully we get some nuggets of the story in the future. Boy shaaaare! 😋

(MY): JK clearlly planned to include ARMY in the creation of the songs lyrics. He posted a query to get fan participation, reviewed submissions, held a Livestream where he compiled some submissions into lyrics, and took time to explain afterwards why he couldn't use the submissions word-for-word.

3. DELIVERY

This can sometimes be evidenced when the artist releases the song in a way that will benefit the fans more than themself - usually monetarily and clearly not intended for charting.

(TT): released during Festa with no proper music video. (Also, see my point above about bpm?)

(L/D.A): released as a hidden track on the physical albums. Only people willing to spend money in support of the artist have access to the 'legally-acquired' song.

(MY): released during Festa with a lyric vid including many BTS/ARMY Easter Eggs.

What do you think qualifies a song as a 'fan song'? What about BTS' other fan songs - do they fit into these criteria?

Apparently today's poll didn't post. Apologies if it somehow shows up as a duplicate.

If you'd like to help with the outreach of these polls, please follow and/or reblog.

BORAHAE! 💜

QUICK COMBO: FALLING | EUPHORIA | SEVEN

My Thoughts on this QC:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY J-KAAAAAYYYY!

This combo is my favorite JK Cover, favorite solo, and favorite Seven version.

(Speaking of Falling, JKs cover was the first time I heard this song and I realize I'm literally biased but I MUCH prefer it to the original).

Listening Links:

I'm actually drafting some posts on the Run BTS show now. Interested to know what everyone else thinks. I definitely associate BS&T with the show. Maybe because the first episodes I saw had it as the title?🤔

LAST CALL: Which duo is closest of these options?