Ave Mujica -The Die Is Cast- Episode 10 wasn’t the episode I expected. But before I dive into why that is, make sure to watch the episode on Crunchyroll or Muse Asia to avoid spoilers—because this review is filled with them.
Since It’s MyGO!!!!! Episode 7 was the defining CRYCHIC/Haruhikage episode and I naturally expected Ave Mujica -The Die Is Cast- to follow suit especially since their own Episode 7 also centered around CRYCHIC/Haruhikage. This is why I had high hopes that Episode 10 would mirror It’s MyGO!!!!!’s pivotal coming together as one moment. And in some ways, it did. Because Ave Mujica is back. But was their return as powerful as MyGO? Not really.
I won’t deny that the two new songs in this episode were a treat, and the performance itself was great in its own right. Mutsumi’s reawakening, Uika’s emotional singing, and especially her iconic line, “Welcome to the World of Ave Mujica” still sent shivers down my spine. However, compared to MyGO’s deeply emotional reunion, it just didn’t carry the same weight. It wasn’t bad by any means, but the impact felt underwhelming in comparison.
It’s MyGO!!!!! Episode 10 was BanG Dream!’s crème de la crème, from the masterful pacing, the emotional build-up, and the cathartic, tear-jerking performance. It was one of the greatest band performances in anime history. Ave Mujica -The Die Is Cast- had an incredibly high bar to reach but it felt like they weren’t even aiming for it with this episode. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I can’t help but feel let down.
What was my biggest issue with the episode? The why behind their reunion lacked weight. Sakiko’s decision to bring the band back felt abrupt, lacking the emotional turmoil and intense stakes that should have made it more compelling. One moment, they’re at each other’s throats, and the next, they’re suddenly back together.
That’s not to say Uika’s lyrics directed at Sakiko or Nyamu reminding her why Ave Mujica was formed in the first place were in vain or unnecessary. They played a crucial role in making Sakiko realize the weight of it all and that the lives of these four girls are now tied to her own. What truly made her reflect was Nyamu’s words: Ave Mujica is all I have left. Because for Sakiko, deep down, Ave Mujica is all she has left too.
I understand that your life is mine reinforces Ave Mujica’s dark, twisted allure, but was that really enough? Did Sakiko just have a change of heart because Nyamu and Uika confronted her? It felt too easy, too convenient. Where was the desperation, the raw passion, the defining moment that made their reunion necessary?
With that said, I wouldn’t call this episode a failure, but more just a missed opportunity. Maybe the supposed parallel to It’s MyGO!!!!! Episode 10 was never meant to be in this one. Maybe CRYCHIC/Haruhikage landing on Episode 7 for both bands was just a coincidence.
But even looking beyond past comparisons, something felt off about Sakiko. Ave Mujica was always special to her, but where was her usual fire? While Uika poured her heart out during their performance, Sakiko looked… indifferent. She was also unfazed when Uika thanked her for choosing Ave Mujica and similarly when the two walked together after the performance as if she was just playing along, searching for something she couldn’t quite grasp.
And that brings me to what I think is the real reason she revived the band: Tomori’s words. “I must have made another mistake, but I don’t know the right answer, so I keep looking for it.” Sakiko knows she made a mistake. She even admitted in Episode 5 that she hates herself. But Tomori’s words give her a reason to keep going. Maybe Ave Mujica’s return isn’t about reliving the past but rather it’s about finding an answer to a question she hasn’t even figured out yet.
It’s also almost absurd that Tomori, of all people, might have been the final push for Ave Mujica’s revival. That girl’s writing has god-tier influence by being able to unite two bands. Still, Ave Mujica remains a band built on fractured trust. Even before, they were more of a band with each member having their own agenda. They all had their own motives and their own secrets.
Yes, the band is back. Mutsumi is back. Umiri has seemingly gained Sakiko’s trust. But nothing’s really fixed yet. We don’t know what happened to Mortis even and it was unclear whether Umiri found the passion she had for being in a band. The only one who really had changed was Nyamu who learned to love her opposition, Mutsumi and finally embraced her Amoris persona. But after this… now what?
Ave Mujica -The Die Cast- Episode 10 really wasn’t what I expected not just because it didn’t match my hopes of mirroring It’s MyGO!!!!! Episode 10, but because it felt more like a prelude to something far more sinister—Uika.
Time and time again, she scares me. Seriously, who is this girl? And who’s Hatsune? The way she carries herself, the way she reacts to everything. It’s as if she’s a jack-in-the-box, just waiting to spring out when you least expect it. And what makes it even creepier? No preview for Episode 11 at the tail end of the episode. It’s like the series itself is warning us that something huge is coming.
Either way, with only three episodes left, I’m really hoping the series doesn’t just end without a major revelation or a climactic moment. The director of It’s MyGO!!!!! and Ave Mujica -The Die Is Cast- did mention in our interview that the story was conceived as 26 episodes, so I really hope it doesn’t just end like this. They are loose ends but there is still time to tie them all up.
The screenshots were taken via Muse Asia.
Anime Corner was given an advanced screening of Ave Mujica -The Die Cast- Episode 10.
© BanG Dream! Project
Participate In Discussions