Bon Voyage 4

Bon Voyage 4: BTS, Unabridged in New Zealand

by

Charlie Murray

I’ve never felt an urge to visit New Zealand before, but I now have a deep appreciation for it after seeing how the BTS members appreciated and were moved by it. It was also the first Bon Voyage series since Series 1 where all 7 members were present for the entire series, and therefore it is my favourite by default. 

Watching the first episode felt like I was watching a coming-of-age film, one of those where the characters have all known each other for years and this is the life-changing trip that helps them all reconnect after a reunion. The show starts with the boys reuniting and embracing after their month-long vacation period they had towards the end of last Summer. They take turns sharing stories of which friends they’ve seen, which countries they’ve visited, and which hobbies they’ve pursued. You might relate to Namjoon and Jimin, who’ve just been holidaying around Europe, or rather Jin, who’s just come out of a vacation which he spent finally getting to play video games for ages without having training or practice for a concert. From this point on, it feels completely like you are reuniting with old friends, and you are relieved and happy to finally see the boys again. They immediately fall back into old ways, laughing and singing at the top of their lungs as they vlog their journey, and the first episode ends with them admitting that they’ve really missed each other, and I feel a warmth at how beautiful it is that they are now all back together for a fun holiday. 

         

What I adored about this series was how genuinely happy the boys looked together, and how the series was finally no longer about putting on an entertaining show for ARMYs, but purely an opportunity for the boys to do whatever they wanted in this new country. Namjoon even said in the ending interview that over this series, he forgot about the cameras, and when he expressed pure joy in ways such as yelling out in a park, it was just because he wanted to. Knowing that, is so wonderful and I am relieved that he felt so free. 

We got to see a wide-eyed Taehyung walk around an art gallery and marvel at paintings. He had a good portion of a day to himself, reclining under a tree, so simple and yet probably exactly what he was craving after such a hectic year. Seokjin and Yoongi went fishing together, a pastime that they also did in Malta and therefore it makes one’s heart feel so full to see them return to this hobby. They also brought Jungkook along and taught him how to fish. Jungkook was also able to fulfil his need for adrenaline – by upside-down flying off a mountain, no less (why Yoongi said that this series was “less dynamic”, I’ll never know!). Namjoon and Jimin cycled together, and Hoseok’s song Chicken Noodle Soup was praised by the members, who did the “CNS dance challenge” with him on a few occasions. Seeing BTS dance in public is such a treat. Viewers can find enjoyment in watching any of these activities, as there is something for everyone to enjoy, whether you are an adrenaline-junkie, a lover of stunning scenery, or you just want a day to be alone. 

       

Bon Voyage Series 4 showcased some absolutely captivating sights of New Zealand, and I am sure that this will lead to many ARMYs visiting it in future. Their helicopter ride to the heights of the mountains was a standout, as they ran and rolled around in snow so deep and smooth due to not being walked in. Seeing the boys laugh so freely as they made a snowman together, and Taehyung and Jimin rolling around in the snow together, brought a lump to my throat with a reminder that these men who have reached such heights, are still just young boys who want time to play and mess around and enjoy nature.

However, this series still broke my heart in some ways. In one episode, Namjoon doesn’t join the boys cycling, because he thinks that he should stay in the campervan and work. We have spent this year waiting for a new BTS album, and yet we don’t see the behind story of how long it takes them to write music. This episode stood out to me as it made me feel even more grateful to Namjoon, and it is bittersweet that despite this holiday being a good break for them, they still could not fully enjoy moments when work was on their minds. However, I am sure that many ARMYs at school and work can relate to this stress, and it is reassuring to know that even Kim Namjoon, the most hardworking, dedicated, talented man I know, still feels that he should be doing more work. 

The ending statements in the half-hour long interview are the final “killing points” for my emotions. We have Namjoon, the most hardworking man who seems so sure of his wise word, confessing to us that he felt useless at points on the trip and spent the vacation finding out who he really was. Jimin, the personification of human kindness, says that he felt that he didn’t show his members enough love, before shattering my heart by saying that the members may not be together forever and therefore, he should try harder to show his love for them. Jungkook, a role model for how well-rounded and interesting he is with his hobbies, plus his work ethic and how he has managed to stay so polite and grounded despite becoming an idol as a young boy, says to my devastation that he felt guilty for enjoying himself on the trip, because of things that happened prior to the trip that were not actually his fault. Taehyung, someone whom I wish I was as dedicated as, laments that he felt guilty for falling asleep when other members were tidying up after a meal. 

This ending brought a tear – many tears – to my eyes, and reassured me because these boys, who we put on such a pedestal, still feel inadequate at times, and just like us, they’re a bunch of weirdos who just want to blast their favourite music on a road trip, play board games with friends and do spontaneous, ridiculous activities together. 

This series proved that all forms of vacations are valid no matter what your interests are. It gave us an opportunity to see our normally glossy, model-looking idols camp out and cook together, and it gave us an insight into who they are and what they think of themselves. The members wanted it to be a healing series for us, not just one where they were overworking themselves to play up to the cameras, and I think they achieved that completely. I laughed, I cried, I felt grateful to Bangtan.

Picture creds: bangtan.official on Facebook