BTS docuseries makes its streaming debut
By Carl Samson
December 22, 2023
A new documentary series that spotlights BTS’s journey to global K-pop superstardom landed on Disney Plus this week.
What it’s about: The eight-episode series, titled “BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star,” follows the group’s humble beginnings to their meteoric rise as “pop icons of the 21st century.” Disney Plus will release two episodes each week, with the first pair debuting on Wednesday.
The introduction to the series is a familiar story to many of the septet’s fans, affectionately known as ARMY, who have witnessed the band’s early struggle to break into the K-pop scene. The first two episodes show how its seven members — J-Hope, Jimin, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Suga and V — were chosen, how they trained, how their bond solidified and how they navigated and endured the highs and lows of a cutthroat industry.
Major moments: Several moments stand out in the first two episodes, such as the revelation that several members had seriously considered quitting. “We didn’t think this fame was a scale we could handle,” Suga says.
Meanwhile, Jungkook remembers feeling small next to other idols at the start of their career. “I think the beginning of our debut was harder before we debuted. A talented artist was singing and I could hear them through my in-ear monitor and they were on another level compared to me. I felt so small as I listened and made those comparisons,” he recalls.
A parting gift: The series comes as the rest of the group’s members begin South Korea’s mandatory military service. RM and V enlisted on Dec. 11, followed by Jimin and Jungkook on Dec. 12.
All seven members are expected to return in 2025. This week, photos of Jimin and Jungkook from their training camp emerged online, while RM, who is in a different location, shared a picture of himself with some music equipment in an Instagram post.
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