Ron Does Stuff

The previous episode was an insightful look at the work and promotions that went into “Seven”, Jungkook’s chart-topping hit. Naturally, this next episode is going to be about what went into making “3D”. Let’s go!

Just like in the first episode, this second starts with baby pictures of Jungkook, reminding us once again that he’s just the roundest boba pearl you’ve ever seen. And then we see probably the most hi-def version of his audition for Superstar K. That hair.

Then we go to…I guess around the BTS group activities era? Son Sungdeuk is driving home how much of a hard worker Jungkook is, and how much of a perfectionist he is. He described Jungkook as a genius that puts in the work, and isn’t that such an apt way to describe the Golden Maknae?

Then we barrel forward in time to 2023, when BTS is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Jungkook is getting notes from “Dynamite” songwriter and producer David Stewart, and I don’t know about his internet presence know because I am constantly trying to wean myself off of social media, but during the “Dynamite” era he was such a sweet guy online, so I hope that’s still true.

This is also where I find out that “3D” was a contender for title track for Jungkook’s album Golden, and I can’t blame them for considering it. It’s a great song!

Stream it on Spotify too!

Hearing Jungkook sigh in exasperation whenever he makes what he considers a mistake as he records each of the songs in Golden? Endearing! Relatable! Except when I do it, it’s because of some banal thing and not because I’m creating something like Jungkook is.

Then we get an appearance from Taehyung, who is decidedly skinnier here compared to how massive he is now. He’s huge. He said he’d grow big while in the military, and boy did he grow big. BUT ANYWAY, after shaking off the images of big Taehyung from my brain, we get Pdogg saying we’re getting a new side of Jungkook from this album, and judging from the reaction when these songs came out? Oh boy, everybody definitely saw a new side of Jungkook.

We then get to see shots of Jungkook sleeping on the plane as he flies to LA to shoot the “3D” music video and him showing off those toe socks that just makes him look even more maknae than usual. And good on you Jungkook for getting the required nine hours of sleep! I could be doing that too, but I insist on being unhealthy.

This is also where I find out that Jungkook didn’t know that he was going to be shirtless in the video, and that he’s in trouble because he’s got a potbelly. Which is hilarious because he was shirtless before he said this and there was definitely no potbelly. If you want a belly, I’ll show you belly. Except I won’t, I don’t have that much self-esteem.

We then get both David Stewart and Pdogg praising Jungkook for how well he’s been adapting to the whole solo pop star thing, and you really do have to commend BigHit here for how well they’ve managed this image of Jungkook. Of course, there’s always a kernel of truth in good image-building, but if you don’t know how to build on that kernel, you’re not going to get anywhere.

It’s also in this second episode that we finally hear about enlistment. Jungkook talks about it while looking at his promotional schedule for 3D, and it’s so much easier to watch now that he’s out of the military and back to civilian life. I don’t even want to consider what it would have felt like watching this.

And the shadow of enlistment really does grow larger after that point. While in LA, Jungkook notes that the items on his promo checklist are steadily getting checked, and now he wonders how he’s going to feel once it’s all done, and he has to go in.

But the docu doesn’t fully focus on that situation just yet, giving us a little bit of levity with a scene of one of the staff winning a bottle flipping bet so that they can stop rehearsing. It’s so nice to see Jungkook just laughing and being happy. He really is my boba-eyed, boba-faced son.

As we get closer and closer to enlistment, the docu inserts this little insights on Jungkook’s beginnings as an artist, which of course start with BTS. Son Sungdeuk says Jungkok started out introverted and shy and without a dancing style of his own, but with the potential to be great always inside him.

Back in the ~present time~ of the documentary, Jungkook shares that doing this whole pop star thing alone has made him realize what role he plays within the team that is BTS, and how much fun it is working as a team. Now, I am not a pop star by any stretch of the imagination, but everything I’ve learned of that life has me convinced that it is punishing if you’re going through it alone. If you’ve at least got a good set of bandmates with you on the journey, you’ve got a better chance of surviving it.

We then get a behind-the-scenes look of the shooting of the “Standing Next to You” music video, and of course I’m going to post the music video here for you guys to watch.

Stream it on Spotify as well!

Jungkook starts talking about he hasn’t stopped sprinting since releasing “Seven”, and at this point in the documentary I’m reminded of the point of view of I think Bring the Soul? Where the guys are made to look like athletes, complete with shots of the guys getting physical training and being treated for injuries.

I also really like how the docu also shines the spotlight on the dancers, especially since they were a big part of the promotional tour for Golden. This is also where I find out that Jungkook had Ian as one of the choices for his stage name because of his admiration for the dancer Ian Eastwood, who he’s worked with now. I hope Ian also knows that his name is now part of the BT21 universe as well!