BanG Dream! Ave Mujica – Episode 4

Good day of us, and welcome the heck again to Incorrect Each Time. Right now it’s seeking to be one other day, one other dissociative episode as we return to BanG Dream! Ave Mujica, with Mutsumi clearly on the verge of some sort of psychotic break. Having been exploited and deserted by her mother and father, her former bandmates, and now apparently Sakiko herself, Mutsumi has determined there is just one particular person she will be able to depend on: her alter ego Mortis, the implacable guitarist of Ave Mujica. Mutsumi will not be robust sufficient to hold the load of her personal ache and Sakiko’s as effectively, however Mortis is free from such obligations, a grim realization of the facile “liberation” Sakiko seeks by means of this group.

It’s been fairly a journey for the lady who was initially outlined as “quiet, likes cucumbers,” however I suppose that’s of a chunk with Ave Mujica’s normal dramatic maximalism. What’s changing into more and more obvious is that Mutsumi’s criticism of “my sound was drowned out within a band” applies to extra than simply her; frankly, it looks as if not one member of Ave Mujica is looking for the identical factor as some other, save for the amusing compatibility of the equally professionally-minded Nyamu and Umiri. So if the one members getting what they need are those who’re right here for a paycheck, and the gamers who truly share Sakiko’s want for a neighborhood are solely struggling extra, who precisely is benefitting from this group? For Sakiko, breaking apart the band may not simply be a tragic inevitability – it is perhaps the one means anybody who cares about her can escape her poisonous orbit.

However for now, the present should go on. Take it away, Mortis!

Episode 4

“Acta est fabula” is our newest title, that means “the play is over,” right here possible referring to a efficiency extra typically. Ave Mujica has already spiraled past Sakiko’s intentions or management, so this feels extra like an ironic title – or maybe a sign of how one specific conception of what Ave Mujica represents has been put to mattress. If Sakiko was trying to create a neighborhood by means of Ave Mujica, or use it as a vector to convey real feelings, she’s already failed in that – if something, Nyamu appears to be the one who finest understands what she’s truly created, a high-concept musical fad

We lower in on an interview starring a completely new Mutsumi, now assured and self-effacing in entrance of the digital camera, providing that exact diploma of charming frankness that performs as “earnest” to a TV viewers. The unique Mutsumi is gone

Soyo is shocked by Mutsumi’s transformation. I like how this season is emphasizing how MyGO hasn’t actually “saved” Soyo – she’s a sophisticated particular person nonetheless carrying an important diploma of bags, and thus notably susceptible to the calamitous turns of Ave Mujica’s fortune

She’s equally faux and equally profitable at college now, chatting evenly with classmates, diverting credit score for the interview to the hosts in order to not appear boastful or immediate resentment. The efficiency of intimacy that’s the sole mode her mother and father function in has lastly been embraced, a defensive response to the ache of trying to be accepted for who she really is

Soyo is equally sad with this improvement. “She has become them. The world begins to twist and distort.”

Mutsumi is now additionally “comfortable” evenly bickering along with her bandmates. Everybody besides Sakiko appears nice with this; she was being troublesome earlier than, and she or he isn’t now, and isn’t that higher for everybody? Shades of Tomori originally of MyGO: accepted as a type of class mascot, however by no means revered or understood

Sakiko can’t perceive how the band shifted from near-breakup to this obvious concord. The disconnect displays each their variable attachments to the band, in addition to their intentions for it – Umiri and Nyamu simply need productive concord, Uika desires to stick with Sakiko, and Mutsumi has at this level completely divorced herself from her personal emotions. Nobody cares in regards to the band the best way Sakiko does, as an precise vector for emotional revelation, and thus their emotions in regards to the band can simply shift as effectively. With a extra convivial ambiance, everybody however Sakiko is content material

Sakiko complains that Mutsumi’s perspective within the earlier interview doesn’t match her imaginative and prescient of the band, and Mutsumi switches her affectation on a dime, now channeling Sakiko’s earnest band-first devotion as an alternative of her mom’s self-effacing humor. She might be whoever her viewers wants her to be

“I like the Mujica we have now,” says Uika. She would very very similar to it for Sakiko to stop with all of the self-destructive melodramatic stuff, however she will be able to’t immediately problem Sakiko, so as an alternative she simply emphasizes this extra peaceable dynamic as her desire

“I’ll let the editor know.” Mutsumi now mirroring her mom in different methods as effectively, establishing exactly the cross-promotional “friendship” with Nyamu that our shameless climber all the time wished

Uika notices Sakiko’s frustration, however says nothing. Like with the donuts, she will be able to solely provide probably the most roundabout gestures of solidarity

Funnily sufficient, this model of Mutsumi truly can speak frankly about how Sakiko is overworking herself. She’s integrated Sakiko’s directives from final episode into this new persona

“Now the closest person to Sakiko-chan is Uika-chan.” Uika unsurprisingly takes this as a praise, nevertheless it’s a backhanded one – Mutsumi is concurrently declaring she is now not near Sakiko. There may be now perpetually a efficiency dividing them

“What we just discussed, keep it a secret from Sakiko, okay?” The digital camera intentionally avoids Mutsumi’s eyes, as if Mutsumi herself is directing our consideration away from her true emotions

“Mutsumi… what’s wrong with you?” The one two individuals who acknowledge one thing fallacious with Mutsumi are Sakiko and Soyo, a nightmare blunt rotation if I’ve ever seen one

Talking to Taki, Umiri describes the band as “like a sparkler that’s about to go out.” So she truly does acknowledge the stress within the band, she simply doesn’t notably care. She’ll play her half till these emotional wrecks inevitably collapse round her, leaving solely Nyamu in real shock

Nyamu and Mutsumi stress Sakiko into a photograph exhibiting a “gentler side” of Ave Mujica. A pure articulation of the elemental divide between Nyamu and Sakiko: Nyamu has nothing to specific past no matter will make her well-known, and thus sees these compromises as pure, whereas Sakiko has no real interest in fame past its capability to unfold her message, and thus sees these compromises as a basic betrayal that renders her efforts meaningless

After all, the additional problem with Sakiko is that her allegedly “authentic emotional expression” is simply one other entrance, one other solution to keep away from the arduous work of speaking to the individuals she cares about and transferring ahead in her life. People who declare to respect Sakiko’s imaginative and prescient solely achieve this as a result of they care about Sakiko herself – nobody past her sees Ave Mujica as something extra than simply one other goth group

On that observe, Sakiko is shocked to listen to Uika additionally loves this photograph. Uika doesn’t care about Sakiko’s imaginative and prescient, she simply cares about Sakiko

Oh man. At their subsequent interview, Mutsumi stumbles over “Nyamu-chan” earlier than correcting herself with “Amoris.” So even new-Mutsumi can’t maintain their affectation straight

Mutsumi’s truly turn out to be such an efficient media face that she’s ticking off Nyamu, who’s trying mainly the identical archetype

Oh my god, Nyamu’s going to eat her emotions. God I like her

She even does the Misato beer swig, which appears applicable for the same quasi-elder who’s unwilling compelled to play guardian to mentally unwell youngsters

“This is what I get after trying so hard. I guess talent really is everything.” Concurrently gracious and self-absorbed, ceding to the “better player” whereas failing to acknowledge that higher participant is within the midst of an emotional breakdown. By no means change, Nyamu

She truly has a frank, loving relationship along with her mom and sister. She genuinely possesses every thing Mutsumi longs for; she could also be a mercenary social climber, however she has a robust core of individuals she loves and who love her, a strong rock of identification

At their subsequent live performance, “Mortis” claims she’s by no means performed guitar earlier than. The one factor Mutsumi held as true to her personal identification is international to Mortis

“I was doing fine without the guitar, right?” Her revisions as Mortis additionally transfer the group additional and farther from Sakiko’s imaginative and prescient

Sakiko has lastly had sufficient, and confronts her exterior. “You used to care so much about the guitar. I can’t understand you anymore!” The guitar was her solely automobile for expressing her emotions, however now she has realized that nobody desires to listen to her emotions, they solely need Mortis

And once more, the digital camera avoids her eyes as she brightly smiles and says “This is all for Ave Mujica.” A transparent signifier of key Mortis-mind statements

Yep, this was her reply to Sakiko’s request; she’s taken the load of holding the band collectively off Sakiko’s shoulders, all in pursuit of a everlasting group. Uika would approve

“Mutsumi… wouldn’t call me that. Are you… really Mutsumi?” Tragically, this is perhaps the primary time on this sequence that Sakiko has actively thought-about Mutsumi’s emotions. Too little, too late

“Mutsumi-chan is already dead.” You killed her, Sakiko

“It’s more like she’s asleep, as if dead.” Love this use of the panning digital camera for Mutsumi’s transformations – the pan throughout the again of Sakiko’s head serves to cover the transition from carefree Mortis to her frank, impassive affectation

“But Sakiko-chan, thinking only of herself, scolded Mutsumi harshly.” A disgrace this has to come back from Mortis, however I’m glad somebody’s lastly telling Sakiko how badly she’s hurting individuals

“That’s why I hate Sakiko-chan.” Mortis is ready to embrace the sentiments of resentment that Mutsumi repressed; Mutsumi couldn’t deal with her simultaneous adoration and hatred of Sakiko, so she divided it up. Now Mutsumi-chan can sleep peacefully whereas nonetheless loving Sakiko and Ave Mujica, and Mortis can do the day by day work of creating Sakiko’s silly dream a actuality

“If Sakiko-chan keeps being like this, Mutsumi might never come back.” You requested for this, Sakiko! You selected your band over your buddy, you’ll be able to’t have your cake and eat it too at this level

And naturally, Uika comes operating with the umbrella, all the time able to shelter Sakiko from the results of her actions

Sakiko’s reveal of Mutsumi’s cut up persona cues us right into a horror film sequence, as the women bounce at shadows whereas the storm crackles exterior, all below murky lodge room lights. I didn’t count on Mutsumi to be framed as a possible serial killer by episode 4, however I assume we’re someway right here now, and simply gonna must cope with it

Mortis additionally will get distinct “character acting,” transferring extra like a doll on strings than Mutsumi, with plenty of fast, jerky actions

Nyamu simply straight-up asks if she has a cut up persona. She has swiftly turn out to be my favourite, and is proving herself extra of a correct Anon surrogate by the episode

After which Nyamu lets free on Sakiko, asking her to recollect all of the a whole lot of individuals working behind the scenes for his or her efficiency, all in order that efficiency in flip can fulfill hundreds of followers – together with her family, who she so proudly requested to sit up for this live performance. Nyamu is definitely self-absorbed in her personal methods, and doesn’t actually appear to consider in artwork as an idea, however she holds the promise between entertainer and viewers as sacred. She is a born skilled and delight of her household, whereas Sakiko solely performs for herself

“I don’t have the time to play house with a rich girl!” Adore it. Nyamu’s place is just too fraught for her to do something however take this severely – she totally understands the chance they’ve been given, and refuses to let it’s frittered away because of the whims of a lady who’s by no means taken something severely, as a result of she’s by no means been susceptible to dropping something

After all, that doesn’t precisely describe Sakiko’s place, however Nyamu’s learn on it given her perspective appears completely comprehensible

Mortis is flailing at this level, airing no matter soiled laundry she thinks may maintain the group collectively, tone-matching whichever persona can voice them

And Completed

Thus we finish our fourth goddamn episode on a reprise of CRYCHIC’s dissolution, with nothing resolved and Mutsumi in far worse psychological well being than she began. Although frankly, I might see how this era may truly be productive for her – she’s basically going by means of the “identity-trying” stage of non-public improvement, whereby you placed on quite a lot of hats and see what feels genuine to your underlying emotions. In all probability not the most effective factor to do as a public act of self-rejection whereas a member of successful gothic rock band, however hey, that also is perhaps more healthy than what Sakiko’s doing. Regardless, Nyamu dominated this episode and continues to rule extra typically, even when she’s misconstruing Mutsumi’s outbursts as performative genius quite than real emotional disarray. Via her guileless embracing of the artifice of celeb, she may truly be proving herself the most real member of Ave Mujica. A scary thought, that.

This article was made attainable by reader help. Thanks all for all that you just do.

Associated