kim's jackets: a meta post
so I don't know if anyone has made a post discussing this, I apologize if someone already has, but i was just thinking about the costume choices for Kim, and specifically the use of jackets, or the lack thereof.
almost every single scene he appears in, he is wearing some form of outer layer, often leather, sometimes denim, and a couple other fabrics, mostly sturdy/thick material.
this could just be a fashion choice, but also... these jackets are used like armor – not physicially, but as a representation of him sheilding/armoring himself emotionally, and that becomes more apparent when we look at the few scenes when he is not wearing a jacket.
I think the first one is when he first goes to Chay’s house.
to an extent, obviously, he's still very closed off, but it's also the first time he starts to open up to Chay. it's during this scene that Chay and his affection for Kim start to get under Kim's skin and affect him.
If I remember correctly, we don't see Kim without a jacket again until he's back at Chay's house, post confession.
his jacket is thrown aside, and he is left completely vulnerable, both emotionally and physically. His emotions have gotten the best of him, and he's let his guard down, and it's bad.
Chay gets taken right in front of him.
which leads to:
kim storming the warehouse with his heart on his nonexistent sleeve.
this is the most exposed we see him in the entirety of the show. he is so focused on protecting Chay that for a moment he doesn't even consider how much of himself and his feelings he is putting on display. (the next time he sees Chay, he's back in leather and running away).
similar to the warehouse scene, the next time we see him without a jacket is during the hum bar fight scene.
again, fighting for Chay like this exposes him and his feelings. he is desperate and angry and unguarded.
the next jacketless scene is....
the "human" shirt, when his feelings for Chay and the consequences of his actions come crashing down on him. he is alone in his apartment and he has no armor left to hide behind.
and that brings us to our last scene: why don't you stay
he is, in the only way he knows how, baring his heart and feelings for Chay. it's a very intentional display of having his defenses down and letting himself be vulnerable, and letting Chay see his vulnerability.
Chay is the only person who's granted this type of honesty from Kim.
even in scenes when Kim is alone in his own apartment working on his investigations, he's wearing jackets. it's only when he's thinking about chay, reaching out to him or protecting him that we ever see Kim without his armor