BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star Episode 1 & 2 Review

December 31, 2023 Natasha

ARMY can expect major nostalgia with BTS’s blast to the past

The new eight-part documentary series BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star could not have come at a better time, as ARMY bid farewell to BTS’s leader RM, and the maknae line of Jimin, V and Jungkook. The quartet join their three other members Jin, Suga and J-Hope in the army, as part of South Korea’s mandatory military service, with all members expected to be finished and reunited in 2025.

Now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, BTS Monuments is a great series for longtime ARMY and new fans, allowing us a deep dive into their humble beginnings, struggles and their conflicted feelings during their meteoric rise to international superstars.

A still from BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star

Episodes 1 and 2 go all the way back to their debut days, where the seven members and Hybe Chairperson, songwriter, composer and producer Bang Si-hyuk talk about how the group was formed, initially as a hip-hop group with RM, Suga and J-Hope, with the maknae line of Jimin, V, Jungkook and the oldest Jin added later.

Early ARMY will remember BTS’s early days with their debut song No More Dream in 2013, and how coming from a small, relatively unknown agency (Big Hit Entertainment as Hybe was formerly known), the group struggled to gain popularity against a saturated market of boy bands.

The series reveals videos of the members before debut, during debut and after, which is a nice blast to the past for fans to see the freshfaced members, along with clips seen in Bangtan Bombs such as Jungkook’s school ceremony.

ARMY get a good insight on BTS in BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star

Throughout episodes 1 and 2, the members open up about their personal and group struggles at the different points of their career. J-Hope talks about how he felt like giving up in the early days and considered going back to his original agency, but was convinced by the members to stay. Jin expresses feeling burnt out during the period when they were gaining fame in the US, and questioning whether they should remain as a group. Jungkook looks back and laughs, remarking that if he now had to go through everything they went through, he would have given up.

Fans watch as the members reveal how much they were banking on Danger to succeed after a long period of songwriting, training and flying to America, and when it failed how demoralized they were. As a result of that difficult time, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life/Hwa Yang Yeon Hwa, one of the most beloved albums and eras for ARMY, was created.

With each episode only 30 minutes long, BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star is a must watch for ARMY and casual fans, who want a more intimate look at this trailblazing group.