BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA Episode 7 Was Heartbreaking

The crazy things people do for love. Sometimes, people don’t even realize they’re already being manipulated until it’s too late and they unknowingly become a gateway for someone else’s schemes and throwing their own group into chaos. Episode 7 of BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA is yet another emotional rollercoaster. On one hand, it was amazing to finally see the band perform together for the very first time, while on the other, the plot has become more pretty in

Prior to this, I had only seen Yumemita’s performances at their live concerts, and this episode captured that same spirit perfectly. It was energetic and full of personality. The song was catchy, the stage presence was lively, and each member’s individuality shined through during the performance. The animation was also clean and fluid. Once again, BanG Dream! proves that it knows exactly how to make its live performances feel special.

Miyako easily stole my attention in their performance. It was her idea to hold the live in the first place—though, admittedly, that decision only happened because Viola manipulated her into it. Once management approved the performance, Miyako was noticeably more fired up than everyone else and I genuinely didn’t expect her to go that hard on stage.I guess she was trying her hardest to make Viola notice her.

There’s nothing wrong with giving it your all, of course. It was both adorable and a little heartbreaking once you understand why she was acting that way. As much as I loved her during the first half of the episode, though, the second half made her incredibly difficult to defend.

To be perfectly clear, Miyako is still my favorite member of Yumemita even after Episode 7.

I don’t think it’s entirely fair to blame her for telling Arale that Viola was her biggest fan. Miyako is incredibly sincere, but she’s also extremely introverted. Because of that, she’s simply inexperienced when it comes to recognizing manipulation. On top of that, she practically fell in love with Viola at first sight. Like, she didn’t even know Viola’s name until this episode.

If you put yourself in Miyako’s shoes, it’s understandable. Imagine being someone who’s always busy with work, rarely socializes, and then suddenly someone you find incredibly attractive tells you they love the thing you’ve poured your heart into (even if that admiration turns out to be fake). Anyone would be over the moon.

Yes, Miyako is naive and gullible. But I don’t think those flaws come from stupidity. They come from someone who simply hasn’t had the chance to experience these kinds of relationships before. Ironically, those flaws are exactly what make Miyako such a compelling character.

That applies to every member of Yumemita, too. They all have strengths, but they also have flaws. For Arale, one of her greatest strengths is how much she has grown. Watching her finally stand up for herself and confront Viola was incredibly satisfying as she’s no longer the girl who simply runs away. 

Still, I don’t think she can take down Viola alone, especially after that conversation between her and Miyako, which was easily the most heartbreaking part of the episode for me.

When Miyako innocently tells Arale that nobody understands her work the way Viola does, you can almost feel Arale’s heart shatter. Imagine hearing someone you deeply respect say that the person who understands their passion and work the most is someone who’s a larper and has been manipulating everyone from the very beginning. That has to be a critical hit straight to the heart.

If I were Arale, I honestly would’ve broken down crying right there. As someone who actively lives the oshikatsu lifestyle, that scene hit especially hard. I couldn’t imagine hearing one of my own oshis say something like that. It would be utterly devastating.

And of course, to absolutely no one’s surprise, Viola orchestrated the entire situation from the shadows once again.

At this point, I’m convinced BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA isn’t being produced by Bushiroad anymore. It’s being produced by Viola.

She’s the director, storyboard artist, scriptwriter, character designer, music producer—EVERYTHING.

She’s somehow controlling the entire narrative from inside the story itself. Seriously, what an absurd mastermind.

Out of every franchise I expected to introduce a manipulative villain on this level, BanG Dream! was the last one on my list. How did the second coming of Johan Liebert end up in my cheerful, wholesome, definitely-not-mentally-ill girls band franchise?

Jokes aside, I can’t praise Viola’s writing enough. She’s easily one of the strongest anime villains this year (or even this decade) because every move she makes feels calculated without ever feeling forced. Every manipulation has a purpose, and every conversation leaves another emotional scar on someone else. More than anything, I hope the series doesn’t try to redeem her.

I don’t need a tragic backstory explaining why she became this way. I don’t need a last-minute change of heart either. Sometimes a story benefits from having a villain who exists to challenge everything the protagonists stand for.

For a franchise whose stories have always revolved around finding your own light and helping others shine, Viola feels like the perfect opposite of that message. She doesn’t inspire people to shine; instead, she twists their hopes until they become tools for her own goals and trample anyone who comes in her way. She’s getting more vile and sinister every episode, and I’m loving oddly enough.

For now, the direction of the story is all somewhat coming together. With Ritsu transferring schools and Arale’s side, the two are finally closer than ever in bringing down Viola. On the other hand, has acquired another weapon in her arsenal of fake propaganda. I’m just really curious, when is Yuno and Nonoka joining the fray?

Screenshots were taken from Muse Asia.
© BanG Dream! Project