Episode 3’s splash into horror felt like a mere teaser, but Ave Mujica -The Die Cast- Episode 4 takes it up a notch, delivering the most terrifying episode in the entire BanG Dream! franchise. Before we plunge into the madness, fair warning though: this review is packed with spoilers. If you haven’t watched the episode yet, stop right here and catch it on Crunchyroll or Muse Asia. Trust me, this episode is too gripping and intense to experience secondhand. It’s a ride you need to take yourself.
The episode doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares to unsettle you (though it does toss in a lighthearted one for fun). Instead, it delves into a far more chilling realm of psychological horror with similar vibes to like Doki Doki Literature Club. In my last review, I asked whether Mutsumi was dead or merely asleep and thankfully, this episode gave me the answer.
If it wasn’t obvious yet, it turns out that Mutsumi really has a split personality, a mental health condition where two or more distinct personalities take turns controlling behavior. When executed well, this concept can be deeply unsettling, and Ave Mujica -The Die Cast- absolutely nails it. Every step of her descent was spot on and made her transformation both horrifying and captivating.
What an amazing character Mutsumi has become thanks to the writing and pacing of her character. She’s become a force of chaos and harmony within the band, a duality that sounds impossible but after watching this episode, it makes perfect sense. I can’t even begin to describe how well she did it. Her impact on the story’s flow is beyond words.
However, as much as Mutsumi stole the spotlight, she wasn’t the only one who was my main highlight but also my best girl from the franchise, Sakiko.
For the first time, Sakiko seems helpless and powerless within the band, and it’s genuinely heartbreaking to see her so vulnerable. From the very beginning, her vision for Ave Mujica was crystal clear; every goal, every plan, she had it all figured out. She was strict, almost unyielding, in ensuring everyone stayed on the same page to preserve the band’s unique identity. But in this episode, it felt like Ave Mujica wasn’t Ave Mujica anymore.
Ironically, while the band is more united than ever, you can sense Sakiko’s frustrations. The band has lost its edge on the identity she worked so hard to create. Ave Mujica was meant to be a spectacular, cinematic, and Shakespearean powerhouse, but now? It feels like a failed knockoff of Hello, Happy World! with its sudden shift toward happy-go-lucky theatrics. For Sakiko, this transformation isn’t just frustrating; it’s a betrayal of everything the band was meant to be.
MyGo and Ave Mujica have been paving the way for a bold new era in the franchise, carving their legacy through their unique identities. But Mutsumi’s sudden shift with this always smiling and unnervingly cheerful persona, feels very off. I genuinely miss the gloomy, enigmatic Mutsumi. She was part of the core that made Ave Mujica feel like Ave Mujica.
Now, with Mortis taking over, everything feels so fundamentally wrong. The band’s edgy essence has been warped, and while Mortis adds a chaotic energy, it’s an unsettling mismatch. Ave Mujica with Mortis doesn’t even feel like a band in general anymore, and this episode made that painfully clear. The endless cycle of interviews, photoshoots, and TV appearances has left them with barely any time to rehearse. Sure, they’re all professionals, but even the most talented musicians need consistency to stay sharp.
This is why Sakiko’s frustrations hit me so hard. A band’s essence lies in its music, and when that’s sidelined, what’s left? Her anger felt entirely justified. Ave Mujica is losing its identity as a band, and that’s a betrayal of everything they were meant to stand for. Bands are meant to play music, not just look good for the cameras.
Nyamu was also carrying the episode. We got a glimpse of her life from a phone call with her mother and she seems to be the type to put all her best for her family. While that may be sweet of her, that drive is also pushing the tension among the band members to its breaking point and ultimately one of the causes of the episode’s post-credit scene.
But overall, it was another impressive episode from Ave Mujica -The Die Cast-. The intensity just keeps building, and the tension is absolutely unreal right now. I legit screamed when the credits rolled because I desperately needed to know what would happen next.
Once again, Yuzuki Watase stole the show with a performance of a lifetime and I’m glad that her throat is fine after all that voice acting. Her portrayal of Mortis, particularly in the intense scene with Sakiko, was incredibly powerful. The emotion, the tension, her sudden tonal shifts, everything was spot on, and it truly showcased her incredible talent. If this isn’t the peak of her career yet, I’m excited to see where she’ll go from here. She’s definitely a rising star to keep an eye on.
Anime Corner was given an advanced screening of Ave Mujica -The Die Cast- Episode 4. The screenshots were taken via Muse Asia.
© BanG Dream! Project
The comments are temporarily unavailable for maintenance.