'BTS: The Comeback Live Arirang' Netflix Review: A Letter In Purple From One Army To Bangtan 

When you’ve followed an artist for over a decade, and they make a comeback as a group after a 4-year-long break, the emotions are heightened, yes, but more than anything, the joy is unmatched. When you watch K-POP Demon Hunters, there’s a moment when the screen turns red because (spoiler alert) the evil boy group manages to take over the whole world by simply performing a song. BTS are not evil; they’re just 7 aliens, eh? The comeback live starts slow and steady. RM, or Namjoon, greets Seoul, the city that birthed the group, which is currently draped in purple because everyone is a fan. Filling up Gwanghwamun Square, straight in front of Seoul’s historical Gyeongbokgung Palace, is ARMY, BTS’ loyal fanbase, ready to face anything, come rain or shine, for our 7 boys. 

4 years ago, in 2022, when BTS said they would come back, they’re only going away for a little bit, many were pessimistic, but the rest of us knew BTS would never lie to their fans. While Netflix did a good job at showcasing the power of a good audience who never make a mess, who are simply there to soak in what’s been missing for far too long, I will admit the sound system didn’t come through to us watching back at home. This is certainly a big complaint I have, considering it’s literally the only thing Netflix was meant to deliver, but even that can’t stop me from having a good time during this historical moment. 

“I Need The Whole World To Jump,” Namjoon starts the first song of their 5th full album, Arirang, with a banger of a song called “Body to Body.” Joon’s habit of changing the words based on the situation will never go away, as he says “world” instead of “stadium” because people across the globe can enjoy this live, not just live, but even after it’s over. Doesn’t hurt to have Netflix sometimes. Arirang is described as an album that’s rooted in Korean culture, something that BTS have become emblematic of, especially since their song “Idol.” As I sit in my pajamas, all by my lonesome on a cold couch, I can still feel the warmth of the song seeping through. This is a song that goes from “I need the whole stadium to jump” to the traditional Korean song “Arirang.” As the camera moves from the boys to a spot closer to the palace, the ladies dressed in traditional Korean hanboks look like they’re almost floating to welcome us into the new world of BTS 2.0. The song is over just as soon as it begins and transitions smoothly into what I consider the best song on the album (for now), “Hooligan.” Namjoon moves onto a chair on the side of the stage as he’s had a ligament tear while practicing. He’s a global superstar, but his clumsiness will literally never go away. But despite the hiccup, the synchronization is palpable, because even if he’s away from the group, he matches their beats with precision. In the middle of the stage, the boys light it on fire, with a red background and not a single missed beat. They’re incomparable. 

The first set ends with “2.0,” bringing in the word that this is BTS 2.0; they’ve changed yet are the same. In their black-and-white outfits, they shine so bright that even the moon couldn’t compare. The first section ends, and the boys start talking. It feels as if they’re reaching out through the screen and greeting me alone, telling me that they’re back to make everything okay again. “Two Three Bangtan,” they say, and it’s like we’re transported back to 2013, when they just started out, introducing themselves to us for the first time. As usual, Jimin giggles every time he talks, radiating like the sun. Everyone is calm, because this is only the beginning. They talk a little about the album and then switch things up a little bit. The song is “Butter,” and the screens turn yellow, as do the Army Bombs (lightsticks in the hands of almost every single member in the audience), moving front and back with the rhythm. 

“Butter” is followed by everyone’s favorite, “Mic Drop.” The song ends for another short break, but nobody goes offstage. This is an hour-long program (unfortunately), which means there are no real breaks; they talk and move on to the next song. This time, it’s the diss track of the decade. A carefully written song targeted at haters of BTS, reminding us of the “Cypher” songs and “Daeng,” but this time it includes all 7 members. In “Aliens,” the boys refer to themselves not as extraterrestrials but as strangers coming from an unknown world. The lyrics “If you want to come to my house, you’ve got to take off your shoes” will stick with me forever as an Asian. No matter how big they get and how much hate they get, they’ll keep going, and the only way is up. Man, do I love this song. Maybe this is my favorite, actually. 

Now, this is the moment in which I really regretted not being in Seoul myself because, despite connecting my high-power speakers to my LED TV, I couldn’t enjoy the full experience of the banger of a song that is “FYA.” Jungkook’s favorite for good reason (I mean, everyone knows how much he loves a club song); it genuinely sets the stage on fire, and everything goes red. It’s a party song that can make anyone groove. 

Then comes the middle section of the concert. The boys talk about “Swim,” the title track of the album (yes, I’m aware it isn’t the “title” at all, but we don’t care). The choreo to “Swim” is fluid, not like “Black Swan,” but it reminds me of “Life Goes On”; it’s melodious, it’s simple, but it’s also so sweet, written specifically for us fans. Though a casual listener can certainly enjoy it, they might not even realize it’s from a K-pop group. During “Swim,” the stage is blue, and the palace looks like it’s covered in waves. Man, I wish I’d been there, but it’s alright; this is just the beginning. The song transitions into another fully English song called “Like Animals.” The boys drop the choreo and sit down on a set of stairs at the front of the stage. They let their vocals shine. Suga, or as we like to call him, Yoongi, starts unbelievably melodiously as a rapper. The vocal line shows off their skills, hitting the high notes with ease. 

We then get into “Normal,” a song that sounds so much like a One Direction song. Correct me if I’m wrong, but as someone who was a Directioner back in the day, this is something that makes me genuinely happy. J-Hope, aka Hobi, aka Hoseok, starts talking with his shades on, reminding us just how cool he is. The man’s stage presence is unbelievable, and he asks everyone what their favorite songs are. There’s “Like Animals,” “Aliens,” “They don’t know ‘bout us,” “Body to Body,” “Into The Sun,” and “FYA” in the mix. Buddies, where’s “Hooligan”? Come on now. Suddenly, there’s a gag when Taehyung, i.e., Tae (V), decides to sit on the chair meant for RM, making everyone giggle in delight. Even the leader himself is stunned. Hobi quickly speaks in English, which sparks an excitement in Seokjin, i.e., Jin, too. His pink sparkly mic made everything look especially glamorous. The oldest member reminding everyone that they need to say their thanks. 

Suddenly, it’s already time for the final song of the evening. I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness. I know this is just the start of a grand world tour, but I won’t get to see any more; I want more now. We only heard a few of the new songs. But alas, it’s an old song, “Dynamite,” I suppose, for the fans who joined them after that song. A song that made them even bigger across the world because suddenly there was no need to look at subtitles. The fanchants are the loudest when the songs are old, because this is the first time we’ve seen a bunch of these live. Honestly, the audience might be louder than the members themselves, haha, and it’s such a crowd pleaser. Once the song is over and everyone leaves, the audience already knows it’s time to scream “encore.” My heart is sinking as I try to figure out what the final song is, and then Namjoon yells at his members, asking them if they’re going to leave him behind. They’re already walking away, as if it’s over without the final pirouette. 

“Mikrokosmos” is a song that will always be close to my heart and makes me cry every time I hear it. This is why I never actively listen to it. But seeing my boys singing it again, 4 years too late, I feel my soul return to my body. Sure, this is goodbye for now, but these 7 purple stars will continue to shine down on me. I suspect this all reads quite cringy, considering I’m a grown woman talking about 7 guys who don’t know I exist. But when it comes to BTS, all shame leaves my body. I want to continue to scream my love for them, because now the number of people that reciprocate is 10-fold what it was back in the day. The show ends with the members thanking everybody and slowly walking away to the back of the stage, coming down the stairs, where we can see, all thanks to Netflix’s drones, the big black cars waiting to take them away. The crowd doesn’t budge; they’re perfectly still, an unforgettable “Mikrokosmos” of purple. 

I know you won’t believe me when I say this is a 5 on 5 show because I’m biased. That’s totally fine. It’s a moment that brought millions of fans together, even if they couldn’t be there. That’s reason enough to recommend it. The life seems to be back in my eyes, and there’s a pep in my step because I’m likely screaming “Hahahahaha, hooligan” in my head as we speak. So finally, I’d like to say a very purple thank you to BTS yet again for reminding me that there’s still something good to look forward to in this world. In the end, we see their names listed in the usual order. RM, Seokjin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook (oldest to youngest, with RM the leader on top). In the end, we see a glimpse of the documentary releasing on the 27th, tempting us to come back for more. Nothing to worry about; we’re sat as usual.