BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA Episode 9 Stacks More Problems

Everything is going downhill in BanG Dream! YUME∞MITA Episode 9 as the band’s problems keep on stacking. Miyako continues to be as hard to defend as ever, but I’ll still stand by the fact that she hasn’t knowingly done anything wrong as she’s a victim of Viola’s manipulation. As for Yuno quitting the band, well, she’s not completely out of the picture yet. She’s still writing lyrics for them, and according to Manager, that’s something she does because she still cares about the band. So for now, I’m willing to trust Manager’s instincts. Nonoka, however, is where things feel especially heartbreaking.

Miyako’s words clearly hurt her and Nonoka’s voice says everything. She’s no longer the vibrant Nonoka we once knew and loved. She doesn’t shine the way she used to. Although she still tries to maintain that positive outlook, the tiredness in her voice and those eye bags say otherwise. Meanwhile, Arale and Ritsu are left trying to make amends with everyone and somehow keep the group together. But I’m more surprised about Ritsu. 

How did I never see this coming? I always thought Yuno would be the one to eventually solve the band’s problems, but instead, here we are, and she has only added another problem for the group. But hope isn’t completely lost because Ritsu is finally stepping up. Despite being the newest member, she’s the one taking the initiative to fix what’s falling apart.

It also makes perfect sense that Ritsu would be the one to wake Miyako up. As someone who was previously manipulated by Viola herself, Ritsu understands exactly how she operates. She knows how Viola twists people’s emotions and orchestrates situations to get the outcome she wants. Ritsu has played these games before, and now she’s in a position to recognize what is happening to Miyako before it’s too late.

I also like how, despite the band being in the middle of what should be one of its biggest crises, the episode itself doesn’t carry the same emotional weight as the situation suggests. A lot of that comes from Arale and Ritsu’s comedic antics, along with Manager’s usual business-as-usual attitude.

And this is where I found myself a little confused because at this point in the story, this should be the lowest of the low for Mugendai Mewtype. The band is falling apart, Yuno has quit, Nonoka is emotionally exhausted, Miyako is being manipulated, and everyone is struggling to figure out what to do next. Yet Episode 9 feels surprisingly not that heavy to bear.

As someone who enjoys drama series and seeing emotions stirred up by the story, I wanted to feel the gravity of what the band is going through. I wanted that uncomfortable feeling that something important had been broken between these characters. Instead, that heaviness never really settled in.

There were awkward moments though when Nonoka and Miyako were together and also moments when I wanted to slap Miyako to shut her up. Her words continue to make everything worse, and watching her fall deeper into Viola’s manipulation is frustrating. But I still wanted to feel more from the episode.

I understand that this is still BanG Dream!, and the series naturally wants to balance its drama with comedy and warmth. I just feel like Episode 9 could have pushed the emotional side a little further.

Overall, Episode 9 was fairly uneventful despite having a lot happening. The biggest development was undoubtedly Ritsu stepping up to try and fix the band she only recently joined. But even as a newcomer, she doesn’t feel like an outsider. She’s Arale’s best friend, she already has history with some of the other members, and more importantly, she understands what Viola is capable of.

As for Nonoka and Yuno, nothing has really been resolved yet. The episode barely scratches the surface of what either of them is going through. Arale serving as the comic relief was certainly a change of pace, though I suppose that’s just Arale being Arale.

And then there’s Miyako. The one who keeps making everything worse, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to defend her actions. But at the same time, I still think they’re understandable. She’s being manipulated by someone who has already shown just how frighteningly good she is at controlling people. Miyako overall is just confused with her emotions and just doesn’t know how to deal with it. And I totally get her. Knowing that you screwed up and the members still don’t acknowledge it and your actions not being put up against you, can be frustrating because Miyako’s the type of person who wants to take accountability for her actions.

Not saying she wants to be punished or anything, but it’s more about giving her direction and a position to actually forgive and refresh her relationship with others. Because previously, it was awkward for her with Arale and that was never fixed and now things are more awkward between her and Nonoka. If this keeps up, she will eventually feel out of place from the band and it’s all Viola’s fault.

Viola is one of the most dangerous characters in this story precisely because she doesn’t need to force anyone to do anything. She gets inside their heads and makes them believe they’re acting on their own. If Miyako suddenly broke free from her influence, it would undermine just how evil a mastermind Viola is. So, as frustrating as Miyako is right now, I can accept where the story is taking her.

The plot is moving forward regardless. Now I just hope the series takes the time to dig deeper into Nonoka and Yuno’s struggles. I want them to confront their own problems, find their way back to the others and eventually stand alongside Arale and Ritsu.

Because if this is where Mugendai Mewtype has fallen, then I want to see them be the ones who pull each other back up. Problems are now lining up left and right but there is still hope in the story. Arale and Ritsu have some pretty heavy tasks at hand in repairing the band, and while I do think they can reunite everyone again, I feel like this is not yet their biggest issue to resolve. Viola is cooking something, and I don’t like the taste of it, not one bit.

Screenshots were taken from Muse Asia.
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