Episode 3 of Ave Mujica -The Die Cast- is nothing short of heartbreaking but it may as well be the second best episode from the entire franchise (MyGo Episode 10 still takes the cake). In my last review, I mentioned how Mutsumi seemed teetering on the edge, slowly unraveling under the weight of despair.
In this episode, we finally see her snap—and it’s depicted in one of the most chilling ways the franchise has ever dared to show.
While Mutsumi comes from a wealthy background, it’s clear she’s completely lost her sense of direction. The immense pressure and overwhelming expectations have pushed her to the limit. Her breakdown was sad and horrifying at the same time, and the way it was portrayed was surreal. I almost felt like I was watching a Madoka Magica episode. With the visuals, sound, and everything, it all added up haunting depth to her descent into madness.
Her spiraling down into madness, portraying what’s going on in her head was scary and it makes you think twice if this series or this character is really from the BanG Dream franchise. It just felt insane to think about.
Mutsumi has always been a soft-spoken, shy character with an air of mystery. Ironically, given her background, both her parents are renowned superstars in the entertainment world. Now, she’s unwillingly stepping into their spotlight, becoming a superstar herself. Something I think she never wanted to be.
One of the final lines of the episode perfectly encapsulates her descent: “Is this sleep, or is this death?” It leaves us questioning whether the Mutsumi we knew, the quiet and reserved girl is gone temporarily or for good. Has she truly transformed into Mortis, and will this new persona overshadow her entirely? Regardless of what happens to her next, she is after all Mortis, the one who fears no death. It’s a sad way to end the episode, but it was done well enough that leaves us wanting for more.
It’s mind-blowing to think that we’ve only begun unraveling one character from this band so far. Mutsumi’s story is far from over, and yet the intensity we’ve seen already feels unparalleled. I can’t even begin to imagine how this series is going to escalate from here, but Ave Mujica has been consistently raising the bar with every episode.
I had previously considered MyGo to have the best girls’ band story narrative to date, but in just three episodes, Ave Mujica seems to have surpassed it entirely. It’s delivering a level of storytelling and emotional complexity that feels unprecedented in the franchise.
Props as well to Yuzuki Watase for her incredible performance in voicing all 12 of Mortis’ personalities. Despite being a relatively new seiyuu with only a handful of main roles, she showcased an impressive range and versatility in this episode. Her ability to bring so many distinct characteristics of Mutsumi’s fractured individuality to life was extraordinary.
This just goes to show that the talent in Ave Mujica isn’t limited to the characters within the anime, the seiyuus who brought life to these characters are just as talented as them.
Ave Mujica The Die is Cast Episode 3 screenshots are taken via Muse Asia. The anime is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll and Muse Asia.
© BanG Dream! Project
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