Why BTS’s Chapter 3 marks a new era of brotherhood: Protecting Suga and each other is the unspoken motto

What it did mean to watch BTS, all 7 together again, after almost three years?

Let’s rewind. 2022. The last live, we saw them in hanboks, laughing and teasing. The last performance was in Busan, October of the same year, where they brought the fire, storm and the calm.

They kicked off with Mic Drop, delivered on Run BTS, which told their story of how they made it, and ended with the promise of Spring Day. There was an air of tension and worry; you could see the members tearing up at the sight of confetti, while the tunes of the song played in the background. And then, soon, the military announcements dropped. First Jin, then J-Hope, Suga, and finally RM with V, Jungkook and Jimin.

The goodbyes became even more painful for ARMY with each farewell. And from December 2023 till June 2024, there was a silence, punctuated by RM’s playlists, occasional photos, or a rare Weverse update from Jimin and Jungkook. Suga had kept his vow, to return only in 2025. Jin returned in June 2024, and quickly made up for last time. He took to the stage, danced, sang, and even performed on Jungkook’s Seven. The air gradually became a little more purple again, when J-Hope returned in October. Tours began, chaos ensued with Jin’s variety show, Run Jin, love and laughter was flooding the fandom again.

And then finally, June, 2025. The rest came home, sharing stories of their trials and tribulations at military service. But they were back. And they all turned up for J-Hope’s last performance, with the affirmation: ‘We are back’. But ARMY was waiting. When were all of them going to ‘come home’—a popular phrase to signify that OT7 would address them altogether?

And on the first of July, they got their wish. The long wait was over, ARMY had stayed, and so had BTS. It was as if time hadn’t moved, between 2022 and 2025. For instance, J-Hope, who had been earnestly keeping to his smouldering images and public profile, dissolved into the ‘Hobi’ that fans know too well, the one with his infectious laughter and inability to stop clapping at everything that his members said. Instantly, it was just the band with and their friends ARMY: They were unfiltered, laughing, and healing with each other. They seemed louder, the careful articulations for interviews had dropped a few notches---and as Jimin said, “So happy that we are together”.

What was more emotional for ARMYs, was watching Suga smile, laugh and cheer with his family again. After his scooter DIU incident in 2024, Suga had apologised several times for ‘disappointing’ fans and his members, and he still hadn’t gone live alone for fans yet. Fans were rather worried. But, once they saw his relaxed smile, him letting Jimin know that he liked his singing, or how he cried at J-Hope’s concert, fans were reassured.

Suga was home. Fans also also observed that RM kept close to Suga, which was interpreted as RM’s protectiveness for the member, and a back-off sign for the haters.

Chapter 3 is here. BTS has promised that they will return to basics, and go back to what they know best. There’s a renewed energy in the room and the seven are ready.

Chapter 3 isn’t just a return—it’s a resurrection. The world feels purple again.