Review: LEGO 21339 BTS Dynamite
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The second LEGO Ideas set of the year, 21339 BTS Dynamite is all but destined to be one LEGO’s biggest hits as the Danish toymaker takes on KPOP.
21339 BTS Dynamite will be released on 1 March 2023, and will be exclusive to LEGO.com, going on sale just after midnight, or at your local LEGO Store.
The set, based on the smash hit Dynamite (currently at 1.6 BILLION views on Youtube) also introduces the 7 members of BTS (or Bangtan Boys) as LEGO minifigures.
BTS are KPOP darlings and international megastars, thanks to their legions of diehard passionate fans (called the BTS Army) who have propelled the band from humble beginnings to becoming one of the biggest forces in pop music in recent years.
It’s a really important set for LEGO, and will likely be a huge hit as the BTS Army has an insatiable desire for BTS merch, and love supporting the band and all their licensed and collaborative products, and LEGO is also keen to tap into Gen Z, Millennials and the Asian market where BTS are household names.
It might not be for everyone, much less dyed in the wool AFOLs, but LEGO are hoping that 21339 BTS Dynamite will welcome legions of new fans to the brick, to build the next generation of LEGO fans and spur creativity through play.
Let’s head into this review and see if this set is for you, and remember, LEGO have a very specific audience in mind with this set, one that isn’t all that familiar with LEGO, where this set might be their very first LEGO sets post-childhood, so keep that in mind.
See below for regional pricing and links:
- 21339 BTS Dynamite [US] – US$99.99
- 21339 BTS Dynamite [AUS] – AU$169.99
- 21339 BTS Dynamite [UK] – £89.99
- 21339 BTS Dynamite [EU] – €99.99
- 21339 BTS Dynamite [CA] – CAD$129.99
If you’re picking up the LEGO BTS Dynamite set, please consider using these affiliate links as I may receive a small commission with each purchase that helps support the work I do here on the blog.
Special thanks to LEGO for sending this set for this review!
21339 BTS Dynamite Set Details
Name: BTS Dynamite
Set Number: 21339
Pieces: 749 pieces
Price: AU$169.99 | US$99.99 | £89.99 – Buy from LEGO.com [AUS] [USA] [UK]
Exclusive to: LEGO.com / LEGO Stores
Theme: Ideas
Release Date: 1 March 2023
LEGO Designers: James May (@poshhammer), Gemma Anderson (@gemmabuildslego), Diego Sancho (@diegoisadesigner)
Unboxing and Instruction Manuals
Here’s a look at the instruction manual, which features a groovy and poppy graphic of Dynamite and silhouettes of the BTS band. It’s bright, poppy and screams 70s disco.
The graphic design inside the manual is spectacular, as there are bright pastel colours aplenty, and plenty of fun illustrations that should be familiar to BTS fans.
There’s an introduction to BTS, their music and why they’re so influential in 21st century music, as well as bios of the fan designers Josh Bretz and Jacob Twerski who co-designed the set.
There’s also this lovely profile on the set designers, Diego Sancho (graphics), James May and Gemma Anderson who all have incredible pedigree, and extremely fun disco outfits.
I really like the huge CHA-CHING above their photo – symbolism for the insane amounts of money LEGO will make from this set.
Interestingly, there are no real-life photographs or depictions of the seven members of BTS – likely because LEGO couldn’t afford to secure their image rights to use in the manual. I take it that their label and management group Big Hit Music are really particular and protective over who gets to use images or BTS.
There’s huge number of stickers in the set, and the set primarily relies on them for decorations throughout the build. Under normal circumstances, it would be easy to get mad at the inclusion of so many stickers, but adult LEGO fans aren’t the primary audience here, and BTS fans who pick up the set might not mind applying all these stickers.
I did really like this shiny foil sticker sheet, which has the BTS logo and some wall panels on it.
Oh, and the set also comes with a flip-top box, which I thought went extinct with LEGO Ideas set. It acts a a handy storage box for your BTS set, although you’ll have to collapse the Disco Sign for it to properly close.
The Build Experience
If you’re a seasoned LEGO builder, the build is relatively uneventful and this isn’t a set like the A-Frame Cabin with ingenious build techniques. Despite the 18+ age suggestions, it feels akin to an 8+ set, and is incredibly simple.
There are a total of 4 numbered sets of bags, and at 749-pieces, can be assembled pretty swiftly.
I do think the build being simple and accessible was intentional – many BTS and KPOP fans who pick this set up might be unfamiliar with how complex modern LEGO has gotten, so this is a really great set to ease them in and introduce them to LEGO.
For me, the most difficult and challenging part of the set was applying all the stickers nicely.
LEGO BTS Minifigures
The highlight of the set is undeniable the BTS minifigures and you get all 7 members of BTS in LEGO form.
From left to right, we have J-Hope, Jimin, Jin, RM, Jung Kook, Suga and V, all of whom are dressed in their Gucci and Saint Laurent-inspired outfits from the climax of Dynamite.
Very fashionable, and the closest we’ll ever get to LEGO Louis Vuitton and Gucci pieces.
Here’s a look at J-Hope, Jimin and Jin minifigures. On the whole, I think LEGO have done a really good job adapting their facial features and looks into the minifigures. I’m not a big KPOP fan, so I needed plenty of help identifying the boys, but thanks to their distinctive outfits, they should be easy to ID for BTS Army.
Here’s a look at their back prints and alternate face prints.
Next we have RM and Suga. I really like RM’s cute star shirt, and his winking face with sunglases, as well as his bright blue hair. Suga debuts the new center-parted hair, which is very KPOP and a really trendy hairstyle that minifigure customisers will welcome.
Here’s their back prints and alternate faces.
And last but not least, we have Jung Kook and V. Jung Kook also sports the new center-parted hair, in black, and has a great checked jacket over a white shirt with huge collars. It’s a slight shame that his arms aren’t printed as this would’ve been a great checked blazer look for minifigures.
V’s green vest and shirt combo is also very stylish.
And here’s a look at their back prints and alternate faces.
The BTS boys have a small black stage with the BTS stickered logo affixed to it. They each have microphones and this stage features a pretty fun play feature.
Thanks to a series of gears, you can swivel the band members around to make them look as if they’re dancing in unison.
The effect is pretty good, and it really brings the BTS minifigures to life in an animated way that I think adds a lot of play feature to the set.
The LEGO BTS minifigures are undeniably the big draw of the set, and BTS fans will go absolutely nuts over having their favourite band members depicted in such an iconic way.
The Completed Model
Here’s the completed model, which is quite wide and features specific sections and locations from the BTS Dynamite Video. The LEGO Design Team also decided to introduce a 4-wide Ice Cream Truck which wasn’t part of the official submission.
The design is pretty basic, as it’s mostly just a facade, and as it’s the set of a music video, the angles and getting specific shots right were probably was influenced the design the most.
The colours are nice, replicating the pastel-heavy look of the music video, and in many ways, feel inspired by LEGO Paradisa.
The Ice Cream Truck is a fun little addition. It’s 4-wide, which is a nice nod to LEGO Classic Town sets, and is a relatively simple build that mimics the Ice Cream truck in the music video well, so BTS fans will be happy with its inclusion.
The Giant melty Ice Cream on the roof is pretty clever, and was fun to build.
There’s a chilled compartment for ice cream cones on the side.
And the registration plates have a nice nod to the fan designer’s, including their birth years, 2000 and 1999 respectively.
Here’s a look at the L-shaped building, which again, as LEGO sets go is really basic.
Out the front are 2 palm trees, and this large sign which prominently featured in the music video, with an arrow pointing at the giant donut, and a misspelt Coffee sign. It’s misspelt in the music video too, so that bit is accurate.
Here’s the front of the Disco, which has nice lettering and a wide open space, as this is where you can place minifigures as they’re dancing in front of the disco sign.
Here’s a look at the front of the Sweet Music record store.
The Record Store is probably the most interesting room of the build – it’s quite narrow as space is a premium here, but there are plenty of nice little references and Easter Eggs for BTS fans.
Among other things are stickered vinyl records of BTS albums – there are 4 Dynamite ones in the middle aisle.
Hanging on the wall are the Wings and Map of the Soul: 7 album covers.
Interestingly, there’s a Blacktron Radar tile in the shelves too, suggesting that Blacktron is now canon in the LEGO BTS universe.
On the opposing wall, there is the Love Yourself and Map of the Soul: Persona album covers.
And in the front window, there’s also the BE Album, which is widely considered as one of their very best and sonically cohesive albums.
Of course this being a set for BTS fans, you can of course re-create your favourite shots with your BTS minifigures such as RM in the Record Store.
Outside the record store is this small basketball half half-court, with a really nice sticker of the grafitti adapted from the music video.
It’s a little tight, so you’ll have to get quite creative with shots, but you can also re-create shots like Jung Kook and V dancing and doing Michael Jackson moves.
Over on the back is a small stage area with some lighting and amplifiers. The stage can neatly click into place here for BTS to put on a show.
Over on the other side is the Burger and Donut Store. A weird combination, but it totally works.
Here’s a look at the large brick-built donut which can swivel around.
The Donut and Burger Shop is quite bland. There are some nice accessories such as the fridge with transparent door, and a slushie machine but it’s really quite boring.
The menu sign is nice, though and could come in handy for proper LEGO City MOCs.
Outside, you can of course re-create Jung Kook’s iconic shot with him and the donut.
And that’s kinda it. There isn’t a lot going on here, but as I said, the minifigures are the main draw of the set, and LEGO have done a decent job adapting sections of the BTS Dynamite music video and creating a very beginner-friendly set.
What I liked:
- BTS band member minifigures are done well
- New wigs and modern outfits that will come in handy for minifigures
- Has some Paradisa and Classic Town influences
What I didn’t like:
- Is quite expensive for what you get
- Basic building experience
- Will only really appeal to BTS fans
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I’m not a big fan of BTS, although I don’t mind their music, so I’m not in the target audience for this set, and I doubt many long-time LEGO fans are.
21339 BTS Dynamite is really designed with a particularly niche (but massive) audience in mind, which is of course die-hard fans of BTS. From the simple and accessible build, to the over-reliance on minifigures to sell the set, LEGO are really banking on BTS Army fans to snap up the sets, because they depict BTS as minifigures, and not because it’s an attractive LEGO set.
That said, it does achieve what it sets out to do, and I do want to keep an open mind that because of the insane popularity of BTS, and how far-reaching their fanbase is, this set represents a really special opportunity to introduce or re-introduce LEGO to people that don’t really have LEGO as a hobby.
And that’s okay, because we all have to start somewhere – my first LEGO set that pulled me out of dark ages was a Spongebob Squarepants set (3833 Krusty Krab Adventures if you’re wondering), and look at where I am today.
It could be entirely possible that the next great LEGO designer, or someone who creates one of the most technically intricate MOCs ever, or the next superstar to display at LEGO Fan Conventions is inspired to do so because they picked this set up, and that is really important for the health of this hobby.
Another positive is that this would make a great gift if you know someone into BTS and KPOP and have been waiting for the perfect LEGO set to introduce this incredibly hobby to them.
For most LEGO fans, there are much better sets that you can buy. I do think the LEGO BTS set is overpriced. At US$99.99, while you do get 7 cool minifigures, the build is lacklustre and it feels like you’re just paying for the BTS likeness in minifigure-form.
It especially becomes apparent just how poor value the set is when you compare it with 21336 The Office, which is only US$20 more, but comes with fifteen minifigures, and a much more substantial build.
But to the BTS diehard fan, the price would likely be immaterial, as they really enjoy supporting the band with their merchandise, and as such, I think this will be one of the best-selling sets of 2023, and will be quite hard to get as BTS, resellers and scalpers all rush to get their hands on the set.
If you’re a big BTS and LEGO fan, this will likely bring you much joy as both your interests finally converge, but for most of us, this is an easy set to skip.
Rating and score: 2/5 ★★✰✰✰
Build [2] – Very basic and unchallenging build, but is suitable for novice LEGO builders
Real Value [2] – Feels like poor value, considering the overall build, and only 7 minifigures.
Innovation [2] – Nothing really interesting or innovative here, except for the KPOP tie-in
Coolness [3] – I think that the very fact that this set exists makes this cool, and the BTS minifigures have some really nice outfits
Keepability [2] – If you’re a BTS fan, you’ll display this loudly and proudly, but for everyone else, you can easily cannibalise the set to absorb into your city
Thanks so much for reading my review of 21339 BTS Dynamite!
21339 BTS Dynamite will be released on 1 March 2023, and will be exclusive to LEGO.com, going on sale just after midnight, or at your local LEGO Store. If you have your eyes on this set, I’d jump on it immediately, as the BTS Army will snap it up like there’s no tomorrow.
Special thanks to LEGO for sending this set over for an early review!
What do you think of the LEGO BTS set? Do you think it’ll achieve what LEGO wants it to do and introduce LEGO to more people?
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