Good day of us, and welcome the heck again to Fallacious Each Time. At present it’s trying to be one other day, one other dissociative episode as we return to BanG Dream! Ave Mujica, with Mutsumi clearly on the verge of some sort of psychotic break. Having been exploited and deserted by her mother and father, her former bandmates, and now apparently Sakiko herself, Mutsumi has determined there is just one individual she will be able to depend on: her alter ego Mortis, the implacable guitarist of Ave Mujica. Mutsumi is just not sturdy sufficient to hold the burden of her personal ache and Sakiko’s as nicely, however Mortis is free from such tasks, a grim realization of the facile “liberation” Sakiko seeks via this group.
It’s been fairly a journey for the woman who was initially outlined as “quiet, likes cucumbers,” however I suppose that’s of a chunk with Ave Mujica’s common dramatic maximalism. What’s changing into more and more obvious is that Mutsumi’s criticism of “my sound was drowned out inside a band” applies to extra than simply her; frankly, it looks like not one member of Ave Mujica is in search of the identical factor as every other, save for the amusing compatibility of the equally professionally-minded Nyamu and Umiri. So if the one members getting what they need are those who’re right here for a paycheck, and the gamers who truly share Sakiko’s need for a group are solely struggling extra, who precisely is benefitting from this group? For Sakiko, breaking apart the band won’t simply be a tragic inevitability – it may be the one method anybody who cares about her can escape her poisonous orbit.
However for now, the present should go on. Take it away, Mortis!
Episode 4
“Acta est fabula” is our newest title, that means “the play is over,” right here seemingly referring to a efficiency extra typically. Ave Mujica has already spiraled past Sakiko’s intentions or management, so this feels extra like an ironic title – or maybe a sign of how one specific conception of what Ave Mujica represents has been put to mattress. If Sakiko was making an attempt to create a group via Ave Mujica, or use it as a vector to convey real feelings, she’s already failed in that – if something, Nyamu appears to be the one who finest understands what she’s truly created, a high-concept musical fad
We lower in on an interview starring a wholly new Mutsumi, now assured and self-effacing in entrance of the digicam, providing that exact diploma of charming frankness that performs as “earnest” to a TV viewers. The unique Mutsumi is gone
Soyo is shocked by Mutsumi’s transformation. I like how this season is emphasizing how MyGO hasn’t actually “saved” Soyo – she’s a sophisticated individual nonetheless carrying an awesome diploma of bags, and thus significantly weak to the calamitous turns of Ave Mujica’s fortune
She’s equally pretend and equally profitable in school now, chatting calmly with classmates, diverting credit score for the interview to the hosts in order to not appear conceited or immediate resentment. The efficiency of intimacy that’s the sole mode her mother and father function in has lastly been embraced, a defensive response to the ache of making an attempt to be accepted for who she actually is
Soyo is equally sad with this growth. “She has turn into them. The world begins to twist and warp.”
Mutsumi is now additionally “snug” calmly bickering along with her bandmates. Everybody besides Sakiko appears wonderful with this; she was being tough earlier than, and she or he isn’t now, and isn’t that higher for everybody? Shades of Tomori initially of MyGO: accepted as a form of class mascot, however by no means revered or understood
Sakiko can’t perceive how the band shifted from near-breakup to this obvious concord. The disconnect displays each their variable attachments to the band, in addition to their intentions for it – Umiri and Nyamu simply need productive concord, Uika desires to stick with Sakiko, and Mutsumi has at this level totally divorced herself from her personal emotions. Nobody cares concerning the band the best way Sakiko does, as an precise vector for emotional revelation, and thus their emotions concerning the band can simply shift as nicely. With a extra convivial environment, everybody however Sakiko is content material
Sakiko complains that Mutsumi’s perspective within the earlier interview doesn’t match her imaginative and prescient of the band, and Mutsumi switches her affectation on a dime, now channeling Sakiko’s earnest band-first devotion as an alternative of her mom’s self-effacing humor. She may be whoever her viewers wants her to be
“I just like the Mujica we’ve got now,” says Uika. She would very very similar to it for Sakiko to give up with all of the self-destructive melodramatic stuff, however she will be able to’t straight problem Sakiko, so as an alternative she simply emphasizes this extra peaceable dynamic as her desire
“I’ll let the editor know.” Mutsumi now mirroring her mom in different methods as nicely, establishing exactly the cross-promotional “friendship” with Nyamu that our shameless climber all the time wished
Uika notices Sakiko’s frustration, however says nothing. Like with the donuts, she will be able to solely provide essentially the most roundabout gestures of solidarity
Funnily sufficient, this model of Mutsumi truly can discuss frankly about how Sakiko is overworking herself. She’s integrated Sakiko’s directives from final episode into this new persona
“Now the closest individual to Sakiko-chan is Uika-chan.” Uika unsurprisingly takes this as a praise, however it’s a backhanded one – Mutsumi is concurrently declaring she is not near Sakiko. There may be now perpetually a efficiency dividing them
“What we simply mentioned, maintain it a secret from Sakiko, okay?” The digicam intentionally avoids Mutsumi’s eyes, as if Mutsumi herself is directing our consideration away from her true emotions
“Mutsumi… what’s improper with you?” The one two individuals who acknowledge one thing improper with Mutsumi are Sakiko and Soyo, a nightmare blunt rotation if I’ve ever seen one
Chatting with Taki, Umiri describes the band as “like a sparkler that’s about to exit.” So she truly does acknowledge the stress within the band, she simply doesn’t significantly care. She’ll play her half till these emotional wrecks inevitably collapse round her, leaving solely Nyamu in real shock
Nyamu and Mutsumi stress Sakiko into a photograph displaying a “gentler aspect” of Ave Mujica. A pure articulation of the basic divide between Nyamu and Sakiko: Nyamu has nothing to specific past no matter will make her well-known, and thus sees these compromises as pure, whereas Sakiko has little interest in fame past its skill to unfold her message, and thus sees these compromises as a basic betrayal that renders her efforts meaningless
In fact, the additional concern with Sakiko is that her allegedly “genuine emotional expression” is simply one other entrance, one other approach to keep away from the onerous work of speaking to the folks she cares about and transferring ahead in her life. People who declare to respect Sakiko’s imaginative and prescient solely accomplish that as a result of they care about Sakiko herself – nobody past her sees Ave Mujica as something extra than simply one other goth group
On that word, Sakiko is shocked to listen to Uika additionally loves this picture. Uika doesn’t care about Sakiko’s imaginative and prescient, she simply cares about Sakiko
Oh man. At their subsequent interview, Mutsumi stumbles over “Nyamu-chan” earlier than correcting herself with “Amoris.” So even new-Mutsumi can’t maintain their affectation straight
Mutsumi’s truly turn into such an efficient media face that she’s ticking off Nyamu, who’s making an attempt mainly the identical archetype
Oh my god, Nyamu’s going to eat her emotions. God I really like her
She even does the Misato beer swig, which appears acceptable for the same quasi-elder who’s unwilling pressured to play mother or father to mentally unwell youngsters
“That is what I get after making an attempt so onerous. I assume expertise actually is every thing.” Concurrently gracious and self-absorbed, ceding to the “higher participant” whereas failing to acknowledge that higher participant is within the midst of an emotional breakdown. By no means change, Nyamu
She truly has a frank, loving relationship along with her mom and sister. She genuinely possesses every thing Mutsumi longs for; she could also be a mercenary social climber, however she has a powerful core of individuals she loves and who love her, a stable rock of identification
At their subsequent live performance, “Mortis” claims she’s by no means performed guitar earlier than. The one factor Mutsumi held as true to her personal identification is international to Mortis
“I used to be doing wonderful with out the guitar, proper?” Her revisions as Mortis additionally transfer the group additional and farther from Sakiko’s imaginative and prescient
Sakiko has lastly had sufficient, and confronts her outdoors. “You used to care a lot concerning the guitar. I can’t perceive you anymore!” The guitar was her solely automobile for expressing her emotions, however now she has realized that nobody desires to listen to her emotions, they solely need Mortis
And once more, the digicam avoids her eyes as she brightly smiles and says “That is all for Ave Mujica.” A transparent signifier of key Mortis-mind statements
Yep, this was her reply to Sakiko’s request; she’s taken the load of holding the band collectively off Sakiko’s shoulders, all in pursuit of a everlasting group. Uika would approve
“Mutsumi… wouldn’t name me that. Are you… actually Mutsumi?” Tragically, this may be the primary time on this sequence that Sakiko has actively thought of Mutsumi’s emotions. Too little, too late
“Mutsumi-chan is already lifeless.” You killed her, Sakiko
“It’s extra like she’s asleep, as if lifeless.” Love this use of the panning digicam for Mutsumi’s transformations – the pan throughout the again of Sakiko’s head serves to cover the transition from carefree Mortis to her frank, impassive affectation
“However Sakiko-chan, pondering solely of herself, scolded Mutsumi harshly.” A disgrace this has to return from Mortis, however I’m glad somebody’s lastly telling Sakiko how badly she’s hurting folks
“That’s why I hate Sakiko-chan.” Mortis is ready to embrace the emotions of resentment that Mutsumi repressed; Mutsumi couldn’t deal with her simultaneous adoration and hatred of Sakiko, so she divided it up. Now Mutsumi-chan can sleep peacefully whereas nonetheless loving Sakiko and Ave Mujica, and Mortis can do the each day work of constructing Sakiko’s silly dream a actuality
“If Sakiko-chan retains being like this, Mutsumi may by no means come again.” You requested for this, Sakiko! You selected your band over your pal, you may’t have your cake and eat it too at this level
And naturally, Uika comes working with the umbrella, all the time able to shelter Sakiko from the implications of her actions
Sakiko’s reveal of Mutsumi’s break up character cues us right into a horror film sequence, as the ladies leap at shadows whereas the storm crackles outdoors, all below murky resort room lights. I didn’t count on Mutsumi to be framed as a possible serial killer by episode 4, however I assume we’re someway right here now, and simply gonna need to cope with it
Mortis additionally will get distinct “character appearing,” transferring extra like a doll on strings than Mutsumi, with plenty of fast, jerky actions
Nyamu simply straight-up asks if she has a break up character. She has swiftly turn into my favourite, and is proving herself extra of a correct Anon surrogate by the episode
After which Nyamu lets unfastened on Sakiko, asking her to recollect all of the tons of of individuals working behind the scenes for his or her efficiency, all in order that efficiency in flip can fulfill hundreds of followers – together with her family, who she so proudly requested to look ahead to this live performance. Nyamu is actually self-absorbed in her personal methods, and doesn’t actually appear to imagine in artwork as an idea, however she holds the promise between entertainer and viewers as sacred. She is a born skilled and satisfaction of her household, whereas Sakiko solely performs for herself
“I don’t have the time to play home with a wealthy woman!” Like it. Nyamu’s place is just too fraught for her to do something however take this significantly – she absolutely understands the chance they’ve been given, and refuses to let or not it’s frittered away because of the whims of a woman who’s by no means taken something significantly, as a result of she’s by no means been liable to dropping something
In fact, that doesn’t precisely describe Sakiko’s place, however Nyamu’s learn on it given her perspective appears completely comprehensible
Mortis is flailing at this level, airing no matter soiled laundry she thinks may maintain the group collectively, tone-matching whichever character can voice them
And Finished
Thus we finish our fourth goddamn episode on a reprise of CRYCHIC’s dissolution, with nothing resolved and Mutsumi in far worse psychological well being than she began. Although frankly, I may see how this era may truly be productive for her – she’s primarily going via the “identity-trying” stage of non-public growth, whereby you placed on a wide range of hats and see what feels genuine to your underlying emotions. In all probability not the very best factor to do as a public act of self-rejection whereas a member of a success gothic rock band, however hey, that also may be more healthy than what Sakiko’s doing. Regardless, Nyamu dominated this episode and continues to rule extra typically, even when she’s misconstruing Mutsumi’s outbursts as performative genius slightly than real emotional disarray. By her guileless embracing of the artifice of superstar, she may truly be proving herself the most real member of Ave Mujica. A scary thought, that.
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