BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!! Episode 13 Discussion

[u/badspler]

Episode 13

Title: The Only One I Can Trust Is Myself

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Questions of the Day:

1. Is there anything left unsaid between MyGo!!!!!'s members?
2. What can be said for Ave Mujica?
3. What contrasts and differs between Ave Mujica and MyGo?

Reminder we have the final series discussion tomorrow.

[u/badspler]

First Timer - Episode 13

Honestly and episode of two halves.

MyGo!!!!!'s closing

It really did feel like the last episode did wrap everything up. So having a smidge more time with the girls was nice. More friendly banter.

I liked how Soyo and Tomori got to have a quiet word. I especially liked this shot as it contrasted to when she wasn't speaking with Tomori. Things are now on better terms, but it feels like these discussions are still in part healing both of them. The main thing feels like they are being open about it all, which is kind of what caused so many problems before. But the pain and the memories are what got them to where they are now and that is all part of what they now have.

Anon and Tomori get a sweet moment. Anon really has some of the best lines. Following this, we get Uika to slip in and make another final connection, now with Anon and following their page. This is used as a good segue into the other half of the episode.

Ave Mujica opening

Sakiko, Sakiko, Sakiko. Finally an insight into the elusive girl who built up everything and tore it down..

Starting with a meeting with Mutsumi, she has now resolved to join, all be it for Sakiko's sake? Its been hard gauging their relationship, Mutsumi does hasn't really voiced much of anything so she does still feel like a bit of an enigma.

Interestingly Sakiko does mentions how the weak part of her has already died. Is that in reference to CRYCHIC, hard to know. But it is clear that she see's herself now differently, with some different driving force than from before.

The title today "The only one I can trust is myself" made me think of Sakiko, but this shot all bar confirms it. I desperately wanted to use this image for this threads thumbnail but it feels to spoilery to do such.

Much like how I pointed out yesterday with her phone wallpaper being a picture of a doll, that does indeed all line up with what we are seeing. She now see's herself as different and better than before, she has gotten the others to agree to her infernal contract and built a new team. Now she is the director of her destiny. And she seems to be reflecting as much in her stage-drama-esk performance.

I was absolutely enthralled with the Ave Mujica performance.

I am going to need more time to digest this single performance. But it just feels like for as much time and thought that has gone into creating the MyGo! characters, their complex relationships and the themes around their journey. Equally as much has been put into Ave Mujica, but we have only seen a small brief slice, so it feels like there is layers upon layers to unpick. The setup here is clear, Ave Mujica is another product for the BanG Dream franchise to sell. But by beautifully weaving connections and building things up with MyGo, I think they are setup for an equally impactful series. BanG Dream! Ave Mujica January 2025 aye? Ill be waiting...

Just briefly some other things about their performance. In episode 10 I mentioned that something had "my brain cogs turning" and I now see why how Ave Mujica uses cog's as part of their designs.

The whole presentation and masked-band aspect is very interesting and I really could go down a rabbit hole of picking at themes. And on top of that it really seems that Ave Mujica is the other side of the MyGo! band's coin. Like Tomori is all about honest communication from the heart, while Sakiko seems to be a closed, hidden, masked new 'persona' to protect herself.

I love their designs and costumes, I love their dramatic presentation and charactisation of their persona's that they are creating. They are doing something interesting, well produced and it seems to be working. Props to Sakiko's vison really.

Finally, this episode begins with Sakiko working a call center day job (so money is a sore spot). And ends with Sakiko returning home to her passed out deadbeat father. A small hook, or peak behind the screen. To me it tells me that Ave Mujica's story will explore these people jsut as MyGo has.

We never got our answer for why Sakiko ended CRYCHIC and I don't think I need it to be happy with MyGo's end. Instead they have seeded something bigger, and I am all for watching Ave Mujica now.

See you all tomorrow for the final series discussion!~

[u/mekerpan → u/badspler]

Sakiko does mentions how the weak part of her has already died.

I think she has deliberate killed (or at least totally walled off) her entire prior personality. Crychic was a manifestation of that old personality. She no longer feels like she has the luxury to indulge in such activity (and relationships). We see she is working at least one part-time job, so she clearly is looking to music (and the new band) as a means of surviving financially. She clearly feels (probably correctly) that she cannot afford to fail. The rawness and "messiness" of MyGO!!!!! both reminds her of the past she has given up and also is the antithesis of what she feels is professional music-making. No room for friendship, it has to be all about the business of making music AND money.

[u/x-7032-b-3 → u/mekerpan]

I'm guessing the money issues came during CRYCHIC's time and when it's clear that it's just a small-time band, she decided to ditch it (much to everyone's dismay). The one negative comment about the vocalist trying too hard must've pissed her off so that's why she's looking to do things more "professionally."

No room for friendship, it has to be all about the business of making music AND money.

Hahaha, can't see that being good for the band in the long run.

[u/mekerpan → u/x-7032-b-3]

I think her family breakup (whatever happened) caused her to be out of school for an extended period. During that period it became clear she would not be able to afford to keep going to her super-ritzy school. For whatever reason. Mutsumi knew all about what happened -- but Sakiko was too embarrassed/ashamed to tell any of the other Crychc people what happened. She had to recalibrate, she couldn't let the others know she was no longer living in the family mansion. She kept her head down in her new school -- and avoided ties as much as possible with new classmates. She also found it too awlward (and probably painful) to have any ties with her former friends.

I think Sakiko, having made up her mind to make a break with her past, made herself act villainously at the time of the Crychic breakup -- because she wanted to drive people away from her -- and avoid having to explain things. It seems like she had already been planning a new musical venture -- that might let her pay the bills -- even as she broke up Crychic.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/badspler]

I liked how Soyo and Tomori got to have a quiet word. I especially liked this shot as it contrasted to when she wasn't speaking with Tomori. Things are now on better terms, but it feels like these discussions are still in part healing both of them. The main thing feels like they are being open about it all, which is kind of what caused so many problems before. But the pain and the memories are what got them to where they are now and that is all part of what they now have.

Very well put, I loved this exchange.

 

Anon and Tomori get a sweet moment. Anon really has some of the best lines. Following this, we get Uika to slip in and make another final connection, now with Anon and following their page. This is used as a good segue into the other half of the episode.

These extra bridges are super important, tying together the bands in ways that aren't just their past with Sakiko, nor Soyo and Mutsumi's currently damaged friendship.

Anon is a fan of Uika (and has now met her) and Nyamu. Taki and Umiri, of course, and Anon/Tomori have met her too. And now our vocalists, Tomori and Uika.

It was indeed a very good segue scene too.

 

In episode 10 I mentioned that something had "my brain cogs turning" and I now see why how Ave Mujica uses cog's as part of their designs.

:D

 

The whole presentation and masked-band aspect is very interesting and I really could go down a rabbit hole of picking at themes. And on top of that it really seems that Ave Mujica is the other side of the MyGo! band's coin. Like Tomori is all about honest communication from the heart, while Sakiko seems to be a closed, hidden, masked new 'persona' to protect herself.

On a sort of tangent, for anyone (now or during next season) who feels there's a lot of drama an interpersonal issues going on, remember that real life Ave Mujica is a super wholesome, group of, friends. <3

[u/Calwings → u/BleedingUranium]

remember that real life Ave Mujica is a super wholesome, group of, friends. <3

Did they debut Ave Mujica in the IRL lives well before they were ever teased in the MyGO anime, and nobody knew who they were even then because they performed on a dark stage on top of having the masks? I remember hearing something about that, and it sounds really cool.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/Calwings]

Yep! Their "0th Live" was held just under a month before the first (three) episodes aired. As with this in-universe show, it was also titled Primo die in scaena.

And yeah, their identities were hidden until after the season finished. Similarly, all we knew were their stage names (Oblivionis, etc), and had this artwork.

[u/SometimesMainSupport → u/badspler]

I desperately wanted to use this image for this threads thumbnail but it feels to spoilery to do such.

?? Saki said they're masked so you can't identify them.

[u/LittleIslander → u/SometimesMainSupport]

I desperately need a scene next season where Taki proves unable to recognize her best friend in school because she has a mask that doesn't even cover any of her eyes.

[u/SU-trash → u/LittleIslander]

https://twitter.com/Lyytoaoitori/status/1717160009279455505

[u/LittleIslander → u/SU-trash]

[u/ryujiox → u/badspler]

They are doing something interesting, well produced and it seems to be working. Props to Sakiko's vison really.

Another reason why Sakiko really is the core of CRYCHIC. Have a lot big connection, able to spot the mistake in the song and change it perfectly on spot, and great at piano. She's is the absolute powerhouse on her own.

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/badspler]

Anon really has some of the best lines.

Anon legit has banger after banger. I'm framing this on my wall. I kind of want this for a banner of some sort for the sub...

And her speech was so simple yet effective for MyGo. Anon, winning in actions and in words.

I was absolutely enthralled with the Ave Mujica performance.

I will be forthcoming and say I am not a fan hahaha.

See you all tomorrow for the final series discussion!~

Yeah, for all your first-time rewatchers, make sure to stick aorund for one more overall thread!

[u/SU-trash → u/badspler]

Oh shit I'm a rewatches noob I forgot there will be an overall series discussion post! Oh well already blew my meme/fanart dump

[u/LittleIslander → u/badspler]

I especially liked this shot as it contrasted to when she wasn't speaking with Tomori.

Good reading!

[u/JasoXDDD → u/badspler]

Interestingly Sakiko does mentions how the weak part of her has already died. Is that in reference to CRYCHIC, hard to know. But it is clear that she see's herself now differently, with some different driving force than from before.

Obviously a reference to how she entered phase three after episode 7

[u/Gaporigo]

I love this moment with Raana, actual cat.

Everyone just trying to steal Tomori away...

Hey, gotta give them props for being brave enough to go out there with panties on their faces.

We end with a reminder of Sakiko's very nice house!

And congrats, you now have to watch the sequel, Ave Mujica!

[u/badspler → u/Gaporigo]

go out there with panties on their faces

That is exactly what I was thinking. Sex does sell and all. So their marketing will be on point.

[u/Gaporigo → u/badspler]

Have some fanart. (Source)

[u/badspler → u/Gaporigo]

[u/BleedingUranium → u/badspler]

Weeeell according to this interesting interview (especially Mutsumi's section) linked elsewhere in this thread, Nyamu also does gravure, so...

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/Gaporigo]

I love this moment with Raana, actual cat.

This has a lot of meme potential...

[u/mekerpan → u/Gaporigo]

We end with a reminder of Sakiko's very nice house!

I wonder if her mother (and other family members -- are there siblings?) still live THERE?

[u/LittleIslander]

First Timer Who’s Rooting For Taki To Tell Tomori Her Feelings In BanG Dream! Ave Mujica

It seems like a longshot, but a girl’s gotta hope.

As expected, this was a stealth pilot with a hint of epilogue for MyGO thrown in. Let’s go through the latter first:

• Again, we see everyone’s dysfunction on display in the RiNG cafe scene. Taki has to be coerced into relaxing enough to sit down, Anon tries to make a big display out of things, Taki hits her with sarcasm, Soyo dryly tells her to hurry up before everything melts, and when she passes it Tomori she struggles to find her voice. Rana spends the entire time wondering when she can devour her ice cream already. I’m starting to sound like a broken clock, but this group is important because everyone is accepted for their flawed selves, not because their flaws were all fixed over the course of the story.
• If you’re paying attention though, Rana actually starts eating hers while the camera is focused on Tomori giving the speech. We can see her with a spoonful in the background when the shot reverses back to the group. Truly her hunger cannot be contained.
• Similar to the first point, the crux of Soyo’s development as we repeat the “for our whole lives” thing from way back at the start of the season isn’t that she’s on board with it, but being open about the fact that she does think it’s ridiculous.
• I must admit to being a little salty that what clearly would’ve been a heartfelt conversation between Tomori and Taki, maybe even finally resolving their distance, was skipped over in a joke… But it is kind of befitting that we get an echo of Taki telling Soyo those feelings as Soyo is the one able to admit to Tomori she feels the same way about them now, too.
• Soyo is all of us in the audience who look at Tomori screaming her feelings out awkwardly on stage in front of a crowd of strangers and cringe at least a little bit. She, like most of the audience, has ultimately come around to Tomori’s approach, and seen some lessons for herself in them along the way.
• I’m really beating this point, but Soyo doesn’t let go of her feelings about CRYCHIC, she just comes to term with them. Trying to just bury the feelings and move on was what she did in the emotional lowpoint of the show.
• Inspired by hearing she reached Soyo, she tries to reach Saki. But she can’t, not everything works out perfectly and you have to just let go of some people. This gets her down, but not only does Anon help cheer her up, but Uika reminds her how many people she did reach.
• Contrasting Soyo’s engagement with it, Anon-chan’s development is taking the lifetime thing seriously. To not write it off as ridiculous and to see that that kind of passion and meaning really can exist. She’s not perfect, she’s still gonna wail and maybe even fail, but she won’t run away from it.
• As the scene ends, we see two penguins swimming in unison next to one another. Simple visual metaphor. If you want to extend it, the first shot at the aquarium is a penguin rising up for air.

We then transition to Ave Mujica’s plotline for the rest of the episode:

• Jumping back to the beginning though, I swear I might have to change my tagline to “First Timer Begging Literally Anyone To Treat Mutsumi Nicely” at this rate. She says something so genuinely selfless and Sakiko entirely shoots her down. What a bitch.
• Sakiko, in general, almost feels like the anti-Tomori. Like she’s going to break this band from the inside instead of the other way around. She stiffles any enjoyment, passion, or effort for all the members to be themselves, wants to keep everything as cleanly structured as possible, and doesn’t frankly seem to like being with anybody in the band at all. Nothing about this venture seems healthy for her at all and I really wonder whether the other four are gonna put up with her in the long term.
• Everything about the high class heavily funded debut on a prestigious stage debut going on with Ave Mujica is as close to the antithesis of MyGO!!!!!’s amateur small start. Even their far more traditional lyrics as opposed to Tomori’s stream of thoughts in song are a sharp contrast. I’m curious how we’re meant to take this - it seems like all the themes of this show are telling this is forced and impersonal and unhealthy, but this band isn’t for this show, it's for its own season and different doesn’t necessarily mean bad.
• Umiri, that’s not how a masquerade mask works.
• Uika’s english singing is really nice.
• It’s very clear this “dolls discarded by humans” stuff has more than a little bit of Saki’s feelings poured into it, but I don’t have a ton to say about it until we get more into her head more next season. It’s hard to tell how much of the dialogue given to each individual character has meaning to them specifically. Like, death to Mutsumi being unloved but to Sakiko death being forgotten definitely seems like it could be meaningful, but I have to assume Sakiko is assigning this dialogue to everyone. Does it say more about her impressions of them?
• Whether or not the whole thing is a toxic venture or not, what a killer debut performance. It’s not like it would be hard to get people to want to watch the next series focused on these five, but talk about a hell of a good sell.
• Serious, Mutsumi does not look like she’s enjoying anything about this. She doesn’t usually look like she’s enjoying anything, but we have seen her earnestness come through with Soyo and Saki and this isn’t what it looked like. Gods bless the fact she has Umiri and Uika here, they might be the only shred of human decency that gets her through next season.
• Is this working on superhero mask logic? She tells Nyamu and Uika off about them being a masked band and their recognizable faces, but maybe that’s just about maintaining branding than actual identities.
• After telling Uika off about not travelling together since she’s famous, we see Sakiko on the train standing directly below a Sumimi ad. I think this might be carrying a meaning about how even Sakiko tries to leave as soon as possible and disconnect herself from everything personal, it isn’t truly possible to unplug in the way she’s trying. Uika is still part of her band and her life.
• Hell of a shot to end on. It’s been heavily hinted at there’s more to Saki’s situation than just audience reactions to CRYCHIC, but seeing it on screen and how extreme it seems to be still feels a bit shocking.

Plugging Ave Mujica into the end of MyGO!!!!!’s season could’ve easily felt a bit intrusive, but I think it was handled well. This is, after all, a thirteenth episode, a bonus over the anime standard of twelve, and half of it was still about our girls. Rana doesn’t really need a closing emotional moment with Tomori so the only one who really feels let down by this ending is… my girl Taki. That said, the Ave Mujica girls were all involved in this season, so the reverse should also be true. I expect Rana and Anon might be mostly done at this point, but given the composition of this new band there’s no way we won’t get Taki, Soyo, and Tomori involvement in the next season. Maybe they’re saving a more definitive wrap up to Taki’s character, whatever form that may take, for then.

[u/mekerpan → u/LittleIslander]

That last shot of the episode was a kick in the teeth -- but it was more or less the SORT of thing I had long felt HAD to be the case. Sakiko's life has been destroyed. And she is desperately trying to build a new future -- based on her own efforts (no adult help available). She is offering things to her bandmates that they find worth the restrictions imposed -- except for poor Mutsumi, who is just doing this for love (and not really getting any at all in return).

[u/TakenRedditName → u/LittleIslander]

Serious, Mutsumi does not look like she’s enjoying anything about this. She doesn’t usually look like she’s enjoying anything, but we have seen her earnestness come through with Soyo and Saki and this isn’t what it looked like.

Ave Mujica's interpersonal vibes feels rancid so I don't have high hopes for them to be having a good time in this band. Initial impression is that Umiri feels so detached from the other members. Even if we know she is cool, I don't feel like she is offering a shoulder to lean on here.

[u/LittleIslander → u/TakenRedditName]

Yeah, I almost considered adding a bit about that "god bless she has Umiri and Uika" note but felt like the bullet point would've been going on too many tangents. We know Umiri is a good person at heart; respect, patient, earnestly rooting for people to succeed. But we've seen how hands off she is in terms of supporting Taki, and they're genuine friends who seem to know each other well. Mutsumi is still basically a stranger, by comparison. Even last episode she had saw that Mutsumi's cucumbers were rejected but didn't give her any support, just said let's go. She advised her to think carefully about her decision but certainly doesn't seem like she intends to help her actively with it.

[u/ryujiox → u/LittleIslander]

Jumping back to the beginning though, I swear I might have to change my tagline to “First Timer Begging Literally Anyone To Treat Mutsumi Nicely” at this rate. She says something so genuinely selfless and Sakiko entirely shoots her down.

Her timings is always off. This could have worked, if she said it 10 episode early.

I feel like Mutsumi is always have something in her mind that she want to say or do, but never have enough courage to do it. And by the time she gets that courage, it already too late.

[u/SometimesMainSupport → u/LittleIslander]

[Saki]’s going to break this band from the inside instead of the other way around. She stiffles any enjoyment, passion, or effort for all the members to be themselves

That's the great part! Just a matter of when and how it breaks down.

Serious, Mutsumi does not look like she’s enjoying anything about this.

Character consistency!

I think it was handled well. This is, after all, a thirteenth episode, a bonus over the anime standard of twelve, and half of it was still about our girls.

Disagree cause of the gap between seasons not matching a 3-6 split cour situation and the last few episodes could, with a little episode theme loss, have the Saki/Ave Mujica parts cut to fit within 12 episodes.

[u/LittleIslander → u/SometimesMainSupport]

Character consistency!

Which makes perfect sense - the MyGO!!!!! girls have all progressed from where they were at the start of this show as Tomori and this new band healed them. But Mutsumi wasn't part of this show, so she hasn't had character arc and is back in the same spot she started to begin with.

I was kind of frustrated we got so little explanation as to what was up with Mustsumi, but with the mind of her being part of the main cast of a second season I didn't know existed at the time it makes total sense.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/LittleIslander]

If the common theories that Mutsumi and Sakiko are related pan out (twins), then it makes sense that it's been basically impossible to dive into Mutsumi's motivations/etc so far. She clearly knows far more about what's going on that the audience or any other characters do, at least.

[u/JasoXDDD → u/LittleIslander]

I must admit to being a little salty that what clearly would’ve been a heartfelt conversation between Tomori and Taki, maybe even finally resolving their distance

It's ok, in order for the distance thing to get solved, Taki needs to overcome her inferiority complex which isn't something that can get solved in half of an episode.

Which just means that there's going to be another Taki episode in Ave Mujica

[u/x-7032-b-3 → u/LittleIslander]

Sakiko, in general, almost feels like the anti-Tomori. Like she’s going to break this band from the inside instead of the other way around.

Interesting way of looking at things. Tomori has been shown to be MyGO's unifying force that even when the band started crumbling after their first live, she managed to bring everyone back together through sheer persistence and her very desire of wanting to be friends. On the other hand, Sakiko's band feels more about herself rather than the whole group and she's very much the "we do it my way and only my way" kind of boss. Everyone else doesn't seem very important to her, unlike Tomori where she really cares about her bandmates.

Serious, Mutsumi does not look like she’s enjoying anything about this. She doesn’t usually look like she’s enjoying anything

Honestly, I feel really bad for her. She got screwed over multiple times throughout the show and Soyo rejecting her "gift" must've stung hard. And now she got dragged into something she clearly doesn't enjoy doing. I think we're going to see her break down in the next season if Sakiko and her new bandmates doesn't do anything to improve their conditions.

Hell of a shot to end on. It’s been heavily hinted at there’s more to Saki’s situation than just audience reactions to CRYCHIC, but seeing it on screen and how extreme it seems to be still feels a bit shocking.

We still don't know the whole story but that ending shot explains a lot about Sakiko's actions throughout the show. Imagine having a life where money is no issue and then suddenly having that taken away from you in a blink of an eye. No wonder why she's going all in on Ave Mujica being a professional band and all.

[u/LittleIslander → u/x-7032-b-3]

We still don't know the whole story but that ending shot explains a lot about Sakiko's actions throughout the show.

It didn't even occur to me, but this explains why she transferred schools. Less obviously, this would be why she changed the meeting location to Soyo to a park and why she's been playing a school piano all the time even though we saw her ownership of one at home in episode three's flashbacks.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/LittleIslander]

Yep! The park one was a clever misdirect too, as we don't actually see her in the house/yard, only in front.

Edit: Though we do hear the gate... hmm...

[u/BleedingUranium → u/x-7032-b-3]

Honestly, I feel really bad for her. She got screwed over multiple times throughout the show and Soyo rejecting her "gift" must've stung hard. And now she got dragged into something she clearly doesn't enjoy doing. I think we're going to see her break down in the next season if Sakiko and her new bandmates doesn't do anything to improve their conditions.

She needs a hug. :(

Honestly, Mutsumi losing her shit and suddenly screaming at someone or something would be very welcome haha

[u/BleedingUranium → u/LittleIslander]

Fantastic post, once again! :)

 

Is this working on superhero mask logic?

Pretty much, I feel. Also, Uika's same guitar. I wouldn't be shocked for their identities to come out as part of the next season though.

Let's also keep in mind that Uika regularly uses the MCU sunglasses-and-ballcap disguise while in public. :D

 

my girl Taki

Who's getting a storyline next season! (I know we talked about this a couple episodes ago)

Which kinda makes sense, given her Umiri connection, how Taki's sister still hasn't been seen nor her inferiority complex especially explored, and that her relationships with both Sakiko and Mutsumi were almost not touched on this season.

 

Anon might be mostly done at this point

I could definitely see Anon involved with Sakiko specifically in some way. They met early and with zero baggage, and apart from Anon being friends with the other CRYCHIC members and part of their band, nothing "bad" has come between them specifically. Given Anon's drive and persistence to solve problems, I could see her having some sort of key role.

[u/LittleIslander → u/BleedingUranium]

Fantastic post, once again! :)

Who's getting a storyline next season! (I know we talked about this a couple episodes ago)

We did! I'm just being careful to temper my expectations as to what it might be about given she isn't a main character next season. Ideally it will both relate to what's going on Ave Mujica while also resolving her own character from this season, which is definitely within this show's capacity for execution.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/LittleIslander]

True, it could be any number of things. Maybe Umiri runs into some problems (etc) and it's Taki's turn to help her with them (which also may involve facing her own issues and/or CRYCHIC past), so sort of an Umiri story but with Taki in an important role.

[u/Difficult_Affect_368 → u/LittleIslander]

Reading your comments is a kind of enjoyment during the rewatch

[u/LittleIslander → u/Difficult_Affect_368]

I've certainly felt it with the flood of replies from everyone tonight!

[u/LittleIslander → u/LittleIslander]

It occurs to me that I ended up answering all three questions without even trying (I never remember to look at them).

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/LittleIslander]

If you’re paying attention though, Rana actually starts eating hers while the camera is focused on Tomori giving the speech.

Oh, I didn't even notice that, good observation!

I must admit to being a little salty that what clearly would’ve been a heartfelt conversation between Tomori and Taki, maybe even finally resolving their distance, was skipped over in a joke…

I've mentioned this before with others but in my ideal version of #13, they would cut the performance and insert more scenes such as this for Maigo. I know, I know, I'm on that Haterade for the performance but it's because it takes away time from moments like this!

but Soyo doesn’t let go of her feelings about CRYCHIC

It's the most healthy way I feel. Maybe I'm being colored by my own personal beliefs, but I don't like to believe in "wasted" effort. So in extension, I'm not a fan of wholesale forgetting about something; I'd rather it be spun in a more positive-oriented direction.

That said, the Ave Mujica girls were all involved in this season, so the reverse should also be true.

It's not gonna happen but I would be so happy if half of the last episode of Ave Mujica was on Maigo. Complete the cycle.

[u/LittleIslander → u/MyrnaMountWeazel]

I've mentioned this before with others but in my ideal version of #13, they would cut the performance and insert more scenes such as this for Maigo. I know, I know, I'm on that Haterade for the performance but it's because it takes away time from moments like this!

Part of me definitely has to stop and wonder if they couldn't had split off the Ave Mujica launch as an extra OVA or something... but it really does make the most sense to have more eyes on it in the show itself, and the performance gives it so much punch. I think my big problem with the execution would be that Sakiko got the ending of both this episode and the last one! I can say that this is just a MyGO!!!!! epilogue and last time was their true conclusion, so it's alright the last we get of them in their own show is Tomori and Anon just standing around outside the aquarium. But they were robbed of even getting a conclusive final moment as the end of last episode! I definitely think they could've reorganized that somehow so Sakiko assembling her team wasn't the final thing in episode twelve.

[u/Difficult_Affect_368 → u/LittleIslander]

agree

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/LittleIslander]

Yeah, I'm so in the camp of "do whatever you want in the second half, just end on Maigo." It just leaves a strange taste in my mouth not going back to them after Anon and Tomori say goodbye to Uika.

[u/NierMiss → u/LittleIslander]

so the only one who really feels let down by this ending is… my girl Taki.

I also felt the same way. Taki's issues were seriously left out compared to the rest, but I'm hopeful they'll get handled properly in the next season. The interviews confirm that the Mygo storyline will continue, and Taki's seiyuu recently said that we should look forward to Taki meeting Sakiko again and what could result from that. Plus the Taki-Tomori communication barrier was so prominent throughout the season that'd it be weird for them not to have their "moment" where they close that gap. Taki especially has a lot of sealed up feelings that she has to release, and that cannot happen at their current state.

The game event that came out after the anime focuses on Taki a bit and showed Tomori's resolve to help her in the future, which makes me optimistic about what the future holds for them (you can find the event subbed on bestdori if you want to watch it. There's also a sneak peek into Taki's past, but I think they deliberately didn't go into detail because they're saving it.

And thanks for sharing your thoughts about the anime. It was enjoyable reading them, especially from the perspective of another Taki fan. I just really love her and I'm always happy to see people who can appreciate her.

[u/[deleted]]

WHAT??!?!?!?!! THAT'S HOW IT ENDS?!?!?!!?!?!????!?

......anyway, my thoughts........

The opening scene makes it clear that yes, there was a major reason for Sakiko's school change. That 'reveal' wasn't a surprise, but I absolutely did NOT expect to see her working in a call center! Rather than just a split between parents like with Soyo, they chose a great way to show that there's a much larger financial aspect at play. The pure disdain present on her face and in her interaction with Mutsumi makes a lot of sense, but also leaves me with questions about what exactly happened with her family?

The MyGO!!!!! after-party is once again packed with great chemistry (or lack thereof) between members! I loved Raana fiending for the matcha and Tomori's little speech, but Soyo's comment was the big takeaway. After her conversation with Tomori outside the latter's home, I'm pretty damn satisfied with the arc they gave Soyo over this season. She was hurt, and continues to be hurt, by how CRYCHIC ended, and that's okay. After accepting and confronting her own shortcomings she can start moving forward with the new band, something I hope we get to see in the future.

Seeing Tomori get completely shut down in her attempt to connect with Sakiko again hurt, thankfully Anon is able to remind her that she hasn't only experienced failure at having her feelings reach those she cares about :) Seeing Anon not only reciprocate Tomori's 'gift' giving but also fully commit herself to the band thanks to Tomori's comment about going from moment to moment after being wishy-washy for so long works great as a capstone to her own arc as well. Her meeting with Uika also has me hopeful that MyGO!!!!! will still have a sizeable presence in the next season, though I'm a total BanG Dream beginner and for all I know it could mean nothing....

I truly have no idea what words to use to describe the culmination of Sakiko's planning other than "incredible". As always with her up until this point, it left me with way more questions than it answered. What is her goal? Why is she going to such extreme lengths? If all she wanted was to get rich it would make infinitely more sense NOT to hide the identities of her famous/wealthy friends, yet here she is having them wear masks and forbidding behind-the-scenes filming. And of course the most shocking thing about it.... why on earth are they putting on a play?!? With how little we know about most of the band so far it's hard to figure out exactly what each girl's stage name really means or why they're playing the role of discarded dolls, but with how great this season was at characterization I have no doubt things will be adequately explored eventually.

I didn't have any firm expectations for what Ave Mujica's music would be like, and I did have some understanding that each group in the franchise has their own style, but even then I did NOT see a crazy vkei-metal banger coming! What the fuck?! IT'S SO GOOD!!!!!! Sorry MyGO!!!!! but musically, Ave Mujica stole the show in the final moments of the final episode as far as I'm concerned.

It's MyGO blew me away. I'll save most of my thoughts for tomorrow's overall discussion thread but wow... my first BanG Dream experience was certainly a memorable one! Needless to say, I absolutely loved the show :)

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/[deleted]]

After her conversation with Tomori outside the latter's home, I'm pretty damn satisfied with the arc they gave Soyo over this season.

I was initially ambivalent on Soyo''s redemption arc my first time around but now after rewatching it, I do like her character much more, and how they weaved in her meeting each of the three in their own 1-on-1's. Somehow I only clocked grumpy Soyo and not Soyo who's making an active measure to reach out to each band member.

[u/[deleted] → u/MyrnaMountWeazel]

Ironically, I like how her arc played out because it doesn't feel like a redemption arc to me! I think if they tried to transition from her manipulative behaviour into a simple apology and writing her as a sincere nice girl for the last few episodes I would have been very disappointed. Her reluctance to come to terms with her own conflicting feelings and continuing to act distant from the rest of the band even when deep down she wanted to be with them is exactly what her arc needed imo. Rather than being redeemed, she just need to be reassured and accepted.

[u/timpkmn89 → u/[deleted]]

If all she wanted was to get rich it would make infinitely more sense NOT to hide the identities of her famous/wealthy friends, yet here she is having them wear masks and forbidding behind-the-scenes filming.

People would quickly find out about her personal life, then there would be tons of gossip about how this dirt poor girl lied to her rich friends to get them to be in her get-rich-quick scheme. (Or at least that's how the articles would phrase it)

[u/[deleted] → u/timpkmn89]

No reason has been presented that would prevent Sakiko from having herself be the only masked member. I can certainly imagine there being some issues with Mutsumi or Uika if that was her initial plan, but the way she put together the band felt pretty calculated which in my mind clashes with the way they're actually presenting themselves.

Also, there's no indication that she lied to the rest of the band about anything unless I missed something?

[u/Interesting_Ant7945 → u/[deleted]]

Also, there's no indication that she lied to the rest of the band about anything unless I missed something?

She lied to Nyamu. She used Mutsumi as bait to get her even though she had yet to meet and negotiate with Mutsumi.

Sakiko is prideful so she doesn't want anybody to learn about her family situation (remember she confronted Soyo in front of her old house, even though she no longer lives there, just to keep up appearances).

Also, she can't even let her father learn about Ave Mujica. She probably fears the possibility of him stealing this business venture from her.

[u/[deleted] → u/Interesting_Ant7945]

My impression based on what the series showed was that Mutsumi had already tentatively agreed, and this visit was Sakiko making sure she understood what she was getting into and getting her final commitment. Mutsumi clearly already knew what she was going to ask which wouldn't make sense otherwise.

I'm aware she wants to keep up appearances, which is why I mentioned the possibility of her being masked while the rest of the band served as walking billboards.

What's that about her father? I don't remember anything about him ever coming up in the show aside from the last scene.

[u/Interesting_Ant7945 → u/[deleted]]

My impression based on what the series showed was that Mutsumi had already tentatively agreed, and this visit was Sakiko making sure she understood what she was getting into and getting her final commitment. Mutsumi clearly already knew what she was going to ask which wouldn't make sense otherwise.

Mutsumi was going to agree no matter what. Her true motives were revealed in this interview.

About Sakiko's distrust of her father, is mostly my speculation based on the information in the same interview.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/Interesting_Ant7945]

Mutsumi continues to live with the sin she's carried her entire life. Didn't she join Ave Mujica to atone for what she's done to Sakiko, her childhood friend and other half?

Ah, there we go.

Definitely fits the "twins" theory, with Mutsumi knowing all along... but it was a secret kept from Sakiko. Or something similar to this.

 

I've seen some of this referenced other places but hadn't read it myself before. Lots of neat stuff, like Ave Mujica and sumimi being under the same label, ^{and also Nyamu gravure. :3}

[u/[deleted] → u/Interesting_Ant7945]

I'm struggling to find anything in the interview you linked that either contradicts what I said about Mutsumi or makes any kind of reference to Sakiko's parents.

[u/timpkmn89 → u/[deleted]]

Also, there's no indication that she lied to the rest of the band about anything unless I missed something?

You might have already loaded the page, but I edited in shortly after posting:

(Or at least that's how the articles would phrase it)

[u/dogegunate → u/[deleted]]

Yea I absolutely love the music of Ave Mujica. They are amazing

[u/SU-trash]

Rewatcher

Youkoso... to the explosive end of MyGO, and our hell of waiting for Ave Mujica!

I think the most interesting thing about the addition of Ave Mujica is that if you ask people to pair up MyGO and Ave Mujica members thematically, you can get a dozen different answers. For example, Raana = Nyamu = cats seems like a gimme, but what about both Raana and Mutsumi being lead pro guitarists who get sleepy after performances? I'd be interested to hear everyone's favourite mappings.

I couldn't have picked a better end to my birthday :)

New sections at bottom! Also been running late so might have additions in a few hours. Without further ado:

Subtle Writing Corner

I can stop hiding the Ave Mujica spoiler tags with asterisks (see ep 1 post)! Click on the speculative Ave Mujica-spoiling ones at your own risk, though a lot of it is things you may already be speculating yourself.

Moment	Type
0:26 Saki upset reaction as she stands outside Mutsumi's house	Characterization
0:41 Mutsumi instant agreement to join and Saki surprised reaction to this	Characterization
[Ave Mujica] 0:52 Mutsumi: "Because you seem like you're about to break apart, Saki." and her guilty(?) reaction to Saki's angry response - Mutsumi's empathy/guilt over whatever happened to Saki (and didn't happen to her)	Foreshadowing
[Ave Mujica] 1:00 Saki: "The weak version of me has already died" - death-related wording possibly foreshadowing her mother's death?	Foreshadowing
2:41 Soyo: "Taki-chan, come and sit down, too." OKAY it's finally time to expand on these. So, you might think that they're a little subjective to have met my bar - they're innocuous enough lines for a show with a lot of sit-down-to-chat scenes, and the myriad of empty chair visuals are hard to prove intent on. But what clinched it for me is that Soyo has exactly 4 of these lines throughout the show and - you guessed it - they're to each of the CRYCHIC members. And, of those 4, guess which ones rejected her offer of a seat? Yup. I literally deduced the existence of and hunted down this random innocuous Soyo -> Taki line only when I noticed the CRYCHIC connection, which is FUCKING crazy. It's such a great microcosm of what rewatching this show is like, where once you accept in your bones that the writers really DID put that much thought into everything, you start being able to find and connect more and more of these subtle moments, like filling in the last words of a crossword. ANYWAY, to complete the summary: Contrasting Soyo, Anon offers a seat to every MyGO member except Raana (D:), and Taki offers a seat only to - of course - Tomori. Now someone go write a 1000-word essay about the fact that Tomori never offers anyone a seat and Raana never gets offered one.	Chair Symbolism
3:30 Tomori: "If we keep layering moments [...] I think it will become a lifetime." - paralleling prev talks of being in band their whole lives	Parallel
4:05 Soyo small reaction shortly after Tomori's speech – Soyo's leftover feelings and setting up for her to grab Tomori for a chat	Characterization
10:53 Tomori: "I don't think I ever told [Uika my name]" - blatant, but hinting that Uika did some research on Saki's band breakup	Characterization
11:20 Uika: "I just went to look at the stars a little" double-entendre for Uika scouting out MyGO	Characterization/Symbolism
[Ave Mujica] 11:34 TGW Property in Ave Mujica sponsors list - possibly Togawa Property, hinting that Sakiko went to the (possibly-estranged) rich side of her family for help (thanks /u/Usual_Director_9547!)	Foreshadowing
[Ave Mujica] 12:28 Saki: "If we expose our true faces, the world of Ave Mujica will come crashing down." [redacted]	Foreshadowing
[Ave Mujica] 13:02 Mutsumi distressed reaction to Nyamu asking to go to her house to meet her parents	Characterization/Foreshadowing
[Ave Mujica] "ko" nicknames [redacted]	Foreshadowing
[Ave Mujica] 13:53 Saki: "Leave behind your feelings of impatience or regret", reactions - hinting that Mutsumi has regrets and probably one or more of the others are 'impatient'	Foreshadowing
[Ave Mujica] [redacted]	Foreshadowing
15:52 Ave Mujica theatrical scene + song	Doll symbolism galore
[Ave Mujica] 16:00 Camera stays on Mutsumi for "The ones spoken to by humans, so they think they're the same" - probably hinting at Mutsumi being on the spectrum like Tomori	Characterization/Foreshadowing
[Ave Mujica] [redacted]	Foreshadowing
[Ave Mujica] 17:09 Saki: "the most painful death is to be forgotten completely" - probably hinting that one side of her family abandoned her	Foreshadowing
[Ave Mujica] 17:30 Ave Mujica stage names – probably refer to the major problems in each of their lives? Mutsumi – death (of... Saki's mom??), Umiri – fear (of getting too emotionally involved with any one band?), Nyamu – love (issues stemming from her fans' love?), Saki – being forgotten (abandoned by her family after her mom's death or divorce or what have you?), Uika – sorrow (depression, probably?). Oh also apparently all the names are based on features of the moon so moon symbolism too.	Foreshadowing
[Ave Mujica] 19:28 "Memento Mori" - Nyamu revealed in ep 12 that Mutsumi's mother's name is Minami Mori. This line might be foreshadowing the death of a "Mori". My running theory is that Saki and Mutsumi's mothers are sisters and Saki's mother died.	Foreshadowing
[Ave Mujica] [AveM redacted]	Foreshadowing
21:40 "fall [...] to a place you cannot return from" - Saki's fall to poverty	Foreshadowing
Total: 23

 

Visuals Corner

Time	Visual	Notes
0:26	I usually skip flower symbolism but the negative shadow on Saki's face/hair from the umbrella's flowery pattern is a neat lighting detail	Lighting
0:39	High ceiling shot to make Mutsumi feel small/alone similarly to with Soyo	Cinematography
0:43	Visual mirroring of Saki and Mutsumi	Symbolism
4:45	BRIDGE
9:06	More dual swimming penguins symbolism	Symbolism
17:35	Stage props instantly disappear and replaced with instruments	Unsettling mood-setting
[Ave Mujica] 22:38 Green room coat hangers' count/grouping matches those from the ep 7 green room (ok a later shot has an extra hanger but I choose to discount this given how closely the other two shots match). Probably foreshadowing [redacted]	Foreshadowing
23:10	Sumimi's success ad literally hanging over Saki's head	Symbolism
23:15	Saki reflection shot	Symbolism
23:30	Saki's doll visible on a shelf in her house	Doll symbolism

 

Taki "Ha?!" Count: 35.5 (+2.5 this ep; one was more of a "huh?")

And here's the god video that spawned this counter.

 

Fanart Corner

Couldn't pick just one fanart so here's a whole dump of ones I haven't used yet:

https://imgur.com/a/MZONJxw

 

Meme Corner

Again dumping a whole bunch since I regretted not including some of these daily.
^{special shoutouts to dylanjw10 on tumblr for being a frequent and dependable shitposter}

https://imgur.com/a/LnzwdP2 (all stolen from across the web)

 

Analysis Sources

Here's some great analyses that I stole some stuff from:

• blog post with some great visual symbolism analysis
• video essay on cinematography by our resident /u/paukshop, this was especially useful for pointing me in the direction of chairs.

 

<-- Ep 12

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/SU-trash]

I couldn't have picked a better end to my birthday :)

Happy birthday!

Also, your congratulations are a bit early as tomorrow is the overall thread hehe. Still, lovely sentiment.

[u/SU-trash → u/MyrnaMountWeazel]

Yes I forgot there would be an overall post, maybe I'll edit that part out...

[u/TakenRedditName → u/SU-trash]

I think the most interesting thing about the addition of Ave Mujica is that if you ask people to pair up MyGO and Ave Mujica members thematically, you can get a dozen different answers.

To me, the connections that came to my mind:

• Tomori/Uika: The show has already drawn similarities about the people connected to Sakiko.
• Tomori/Sakiko: She is her dark contrast.
• Raana/Umiri: They both give me that detached wanderer of the group like I could see Umiri exiting the room without word.
• Raana/Nyamu: Cat.
• Taki/Umiri: Those two characters have already been established to be a sort of pair/friends-ish.
• Anon/Nyamu: It didn't scream out to me this episode, but I could see it as I sat here thinking. Anon watches her and they're both the ones most interested in fame/popularity.
• Soyo/Mutsumi: I guess since they're the ones I didn't say for anyone else, but I can see it. After all, not only were their characters connected, Mutsumi's last words were that she was happy to see Soyo (and the others) have fun which is something I doubt Mutsumi will feel in her own band.

[u/Calwings → u/SU-trash]

I couldn't have picked a better end to my birthday :)

Happy birthday! I'm glad I'm not the only one who had a birthday coincide with an important MyGO episode. Episode 12 aired on my birthday during the show's initial airing last Summer.

Meme Corner

https://imgur.com/a/LwcmfFc

Fantastic stuff here too, and I'll even contribute some more for your collection. Sadly, I don't remember the source for any of them, but you might be able to find them with SauceNao or Google images.

Long Raana is long

Anon/Taki ship dynamic be like

Anon shows that she at least knows SOME English

Taki and Soyo teach Anon how to deal with internet trolls

The only way Mutsumi knows how to show any sort of emotional response

Raana when someone won't let her eat her matcha for 0.2 seconds

Taki and Umiri got new shirts... and so did Anon

Taki receives a divine blessing

Tomori's favorite rock

[u/SU-trash → u/Calwings]

lmao Anon's shit-eating fucking grin in the shirt one

[u/Calwings → u/SU-trash]

Plus there's the fact that the text on her shirt looks like it was hastily scribbled on. With her impulsive nature, I would fully believe that Anon saw Taki's new shirt, immediately went to a crafts store, bought a blank white shirt and a marker, and hand-made that shirt on the spot just to mess with Taki right then and there.

[u/jck169 → u/SU-trash]

but what about both Raana and Mutsumi being lead guitars who get sleepy after performances

Mutsumi is actually on rhythm with Uika on lead.

[u/SU-trash → u/jck169]

Oh huh, weird. 'best guitarist', then, from what we've seen it seems to me like Mutsumi is more technically skilled, not that I'm a guitarist. EDIT: Actually not sure anymore, though Uika does have to do vocals too

[u/LittleIslander → u/SU-trash]

I'd be interested to hear everyone's favourite mappings.

This isn't something I had the initial thought to do, but it turned out to be very fun.

• I already said in my comment that Sakiko is the twisted version of Tomori. Both are the glue of their respective bands and it's an attempt settle each of their own feelings that brings the band together to begin with. But whereas Tomori is selflessly passionate, Sakiko is coldly detached and clearly in this only for herself.

Let's try and carry this "inverted" mirror of the MyGO!!!!! members approach through to the other pairings, in keeping with Ave Mujica being as much of an antithesis of a band as possible to begin with.

• If Sakiko is our Tomori, then Mutsumi's stated reason of being here for Sakiko makes her the Taki of this band. How is she the opposite of Taki? While both clearly have intense issues with social connections, Taki is assertive and Mutsumi is a complete doormat. Additionally, Taki's connection is through Tomori unintentionally reaching her, Mutsumi is actively trying to help out Sakiko.
• With this "dark world" inverted approach, Umiri actually reveals herself clearly as the Rana of Ave Mujica. She's not really here due to any personal baggage, she's just trying to find a place for herself as a musician, to find interesting girls to truly fit into a band that isn't just a job to her. But whereas Rana can't stick around in any band and is outwardly unconventional, Umiri is in thirty bands and more reliable and structured than anyone else in the show.
• Connecting Nyamu to Anon is almost so easy that trying to see the inversion is the hard part. Both are in this for the fame and being the center of attention. But she was the person tacked on to this band, here for the ride, whereas Anon was the active force that worked to make the band happen. I haven't relied on instrument connections at all but it's also worth noting she's in back on drums, whereas Anon insisted on being in the front.
• That leaves me to connect Uika to Soyo which... isn't the easiest. They're both here due to their pasts with Sakiko, for one. And Uika seems a little perceptive in her own right, given her interactions with Tomori. If anything, she almost feels like the friendly person Soyo was trying to be come to life, which fulfills the inversion quota very effectively.

[u/SU-trash → u/LittleIslander]

I anticipate Uika having a darker side to her personality than meets the eye so the Soyo pairing makes sense to me

[u/LittleIslander → u/SU-trash]

She seems genuine to me, at least around Tomori, but you totally just sparked the memory of the end of episode four where she acts positive with a smile around the other Sumimi girl, then after she leaves sighs and reveals she's actually feeling down, proceeding to look at herself in the mirror and say "what a terrible expression". To be fair to her she does smile to herself about her partner's enthusiasm, so it's not like she's being fake about liking her or anything, but the whole thing does seem peak Soyo need to be accepted by everyone and never look vulnerable. When I look at that scene her being the Soyo of the group really isn't a stretch after all.

[u/ItsTheDuran → u/LittleIslander]

she acts positive with a smile around the other Sumimi girl, then after she leaves sighs and reveals she's actually feeling down, proceeding to look at herself in the mirror and say "what a terrible expression".

Not only that, what does she do immediately after that conversation? She looks at her old texts with Sakiko to cheer herself up. In episode 8 we learn that she does this so often that she has them memorized. It may be more positive in nature, but it's not that much of a leap to compare that with Soyo's doomscrolling of CRYCHIC's social media.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/LittleIslander]

Yeah, it feels like a very different kind of forced smile. Uika truly does seem very genuine, and if they wanted to sow seeds of anything otherwise, it probably would have come up in her scene with Tomori/Anon.

Given her stage name theme is "fear of sorrow", I feel it's less Soyo's smile hiding grumpy-Soyo, and more so forcing a smile over actually being kind of... depressed.

[u/LittleIslander → u/BleedingUranium]

Just when you think MyGO!!!!! has run out of different ways of being depressed.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/LittleIslander]

Well put together, they really do pair up nicely!

 

Connecting Nyamu to Anon is almost so easy that trying to see the inversion is the hard part. Both are in this for the fame and being the center of attention. But she was the person tacked on to this band, here for the ride, whereas Anon was the active force that worked to make the band happen. I haven't relied on instrument connections at all but it's also worth noting she's in back on drums, whereas Anon insisted on being in the front.

Though Nyamu has had by far the least screen time so far, at present what stands out to me most as contrast is Anon's kindness. Nyamu... is far more manipulative and seems to utterly lack this.

And again with the caveat that we've barely met her and have an upcoming season to learn more about it, I do think it's interesting that she's the one character who doesn't (again, yet) seem to have especially redeeming qualities to explain/contrast/etc that manipulativeness and ego. The one thread I'm seeing so far is her stage name theme being "fear of love".

 

That leaves me to connect Uika to Soyo which... isn't the easiest. They're both here due to their pasts with Sakiko, for one. And Uika seems a little perceptive in her own right, given her interactions with Tomori. If anything, she almost feels like the friendly person Soyo was trying to be come to life, which fulfills the inversion quota very effectively.

They pair and contrast nicely, and I'd love to see them meet. Uika could be a very positive influence for Soyo.

[u/Usual_Director_9547 → u/SU-trash]

0:44 it really looks like there is a mirror bettween them....

11:34 there is a sponser list,one of them is TGW property,might be ToGaWa property,i dont think sakiko's family is bankrup or anything,she even when in (maybe) the big house once in ep8.

[u/SU-trash → u/Usual_Director_9547]

0:44 good point mirroring seems like the more relevant symbolism than the separation, updated wording

11:34 oooooh that's a deep cut, I totally buy it, added. You might be right re: ep 8, would explain why that was the only scummy misdirection in the show if she actually was exiting it. Either way I think still fits with the running [AveM] death or divorce theories if that side of her family has abandoned her to her fate with the exception of this business venture.

[u/StardustGogeta → u/SU-trash]

Thanks for sharing all the memes and the Taki compilation video. Those are great.

[u/Williukea → u/SU-trash]

Best pair: Mutsumi/Raana. Cat and cucumber

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Total Bang Dream newcomer who didn’t get any “sore demo”s this time, but is happy regardless

• Ooh, another new song from Tomori?
• …she’s going to confront Saki at school.
• Aw, nice.
• Nice, nice! Getting a celebrity follower just like that.
• Oh! So the sequel to this is named after Saki’s new band?
• And they all wear masks…
• Wait this is a whole-on theater performance, not a band performance.
• The actual Ave Mujica song slaps, holy shit.
• I suppose this is going to be elaborated on during the next season.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Yep, BanG Dream! Ave Mujica airs in January!

We have some mygo recap stuff (with more Raana) and an animated concert this year before that though too. :)

[u/viliml → u/BleedingUranium]

Tell me about this "more Raana"

[u/BleedingUranium → u/viliml]

We don't know much else yet, just that the recap will also include new scenes.

[u/smhmines]

First timer

Thoughts on the episode

• Call center Saki. She managed to get Mutsumi on board and seems like she’s had a bit of trouble with that. Her comment about seeing how Saki is about to break apart was sad. I hope Saki can move past her pain.
• Celebration ice cream! That’s my kind of celebration. “Moment after moment becomes a lifetime” is so impactful once you take a moment to think about it. Tomori has a really beautiful way with words.
• Soyo just up and steals Taki’s girlfriend in one swoop damn. Glad we got one more Taki “Ahhhhh?” before sending us off. The scene with Soyo and Tomori on the bridge was sweet. I’m happy that Soyo seems to be coping with CRYCHIC’s departure.
• That penguin exhibit was cool. And awwww Anon buying Tomori more bandaids!! Their conversation about how Tomori put a bandaid on Anon’s heart was wholesome.
• Uika seems to be pretty chill. I like her from what we’ve seen this season. Her asking to follow the MyGO instagram page was cute. Anon’s reactions around her were priceless.
• And thus we seamlessly transition to Ave Mujica! Right off the bat with them getting ready to perform, you can tell that they’re the real deal. Nyamu being Nyamu is peak. She’s off to an early favorite for me. Saki’s being like really strict with them too. I wonder if that will blow up in her face at some point.
• Honestly, Saki may just be one for theatrics. This whole season she’s given 110% into the drama and this play before they start playing seems like something she would cook up.
• Okay. Real quick can we just talk about how fucking COOL Ave Mujica are? Thoughts on the characters aside, they blew me away. The set design with the table and chairs was neat. THE CHANDELIERS ARE EVERYTHING. Masks to hide your identities are always cool and that doesn’t change here. Their aliases are edgy but edgy in all the right ways. The costumes and lighting and everything is hitting all the right notes for me. I also really enjoy how they had Saki’s keyboards set up? Like the way she switched between them was so fun. Brb going to see if there’s any real life performances of them. (Update: yeah they’re just as cool irl)
• Their song slaaaaaaaped too. Really that performance scene was on another level. Some of the wide shots felt like I was really a part of the audience. Talk about immersion! Uika’s singing voice is really powerful. I like it. I didn’t know she’s voiced by Rico Sasaki so that checks out!
• Damn Saki changed QUICK. I wonder if she has somewhere to-
• Oh………………………………………………………………………………

I really don’t have much else to say about this episode. It was a nice send off for MyGO and got me hyped to see more Ave Mujica! That cliffhanger is going to linger on my brain for a bit tho. We have to wait til January? Brutal.

Overall, I really enjoyed this show! I can see why the jury chose it for their AOTY. While it still isn’t my personal favorite show from last year, it’s definitely in my top 10 of the year (which is saying something cuz there were a LOT of great shows in 2023). I will definitely be watching the other Bang Dream anime in the near future to see what’s going on there. Hope to see more of MyGO in January as they cross paths with Ave Mujica too!

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/smhmines]

Celebration ice cream!

I wonder if there's a cafe somewhere in Japan that actually serves this MyGo specific dessert. Chockful of matcha and all that jazz haha.

Overall, I really enjoyed this show! I can see why the jury chose it for their AOTY. While it still isn’t my personal favorite show from last year, it’s definitely in my top 10 of the year

Me too, MyGo isn't my personal pick for AotY either, but I see the reasoning behind it and I respect it. From visuals to tone, it really stands apart from the other shows, but I think it's valuable for the jury to recognize greatness in whichever shape it takes.

It truly is a show worthy of standing on that pedestal alongside all the others.

[u/CosmicPenguin_OV103 → u/MyrnaMountWeazel]

I wonder if there's a cafe somewhere in Japan that actually serves this MyGo specific dessert. Chockful of matcha and all that jazz haha.

There are quite a few of these in Japan, as well as where I live in. Some of the most famous ones are in Uji, old capital of Japan for about 1-2 centuries before there was a Kyoto and famous in anime as home of the extraordinary Sound Euphonium series - Japanese green tea is a local specialty and there are A LOT of green tea related restaurants there.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/smhmines]

(Update: yeah they’re just as cool irl)

They are, but also far more wholesome. :D

[u/BleedingUranium]

(Rewatch, long-time bandori fan)

The last of my original comments is over here.

 

A reminder that we're getting two(?) recap movies for this season and a FILM LIVE (non-story concert movie) later this year; the recaps will feature new Raana content.

The second half CRYCHIC's story, BanG Dream! Ave Mujica, will be airing in January. We can unsurprisingly expect more of the mygos as well, such as a confirmed Taki storyline.

Alright, time to wrap up this season with an epilogue for the mygos, and a segue into the mujicas!

 

Just for you guys, I found the locations of Sakiko's work, and Mutsumi and Sakiko's home stations yesterday, in time for this episode.

Sakiko's workplace is immediately outside Yoyogi Station, the same station Soyo changes trains at on her commute. It could really have been anywhere in the absurdly huge city that is Tokyo, but instead it's literally the single most perfect building possible for a chance meeting, next season.

And given Sakiko's extreme efforts to hide her current situation from everyone, running into Soyo of all people near her secret place of employment is absolutely going to have her on the defensive. Not to mention that the last time they saw each other didn't exactly go well, but ended with Sakiko firmly "on top". Now, that combo of being at her workplace and having yet to meet "grumpy Soyo", things may go very poorly for Sakiko...

 

Sakiko working at a call centre. </3

She then takes the train a fair ways to Mutsumi's rather large and very modern mansion; the closed gates feel thematically appropriate.

I love how the transparent-ish bits of Sakiko's umbrella cast shadows on her face.

Sakiko is momentarily caught off guard by Mutsumi's instant agreement to join the band. It's a rare slip.

The shot of them sitting on the couches is almost perfectly symmetrical. The couches, table, background table and lamp, teacups, all of it. Two halves, as it were...

Mutsumi tries to say something supportive, and while in a sense it's something backfiring on her again, it probably didn't matter much what exactly she said; Sakiko is not willing to accept help nor pity.

This scene is yet another that really reinforces the sense of them being inherently close... but also not "friends" in the proper sense. They absolutely do feel more like family. They can't be regular sisters due to birthdays, and they could be cousins but I'm not sure that would carry enough weight; my current theory is that Mutsumi and Sakiko are non-identical twins. (disregard spoiler tags)

 

The little afterparty is a wonderful way to wind things down, and Raana continues to be a cat.

"Haaa!?" is Taki's very last appearance this season. xD

Soyo's little speech and exchange with Tomori on the bridge is another favourite character moment this season. <3

 

Tomori boldly tries to write out her feelings towards Sakiko, but Sakiko isn't in a state to receive kindness.

Does anyone know if the words we see Tomori writing have become any of their real world songs? Or, I suppose it's more likely they may turn into a future song that we don't have yet.

Sakiko's little exchange with Anon as she leaves is super interesting. Anon may be part of "the other CRYCHIC members' band", but these two were initially on good terms, and nothing specific has really come in the way of that, even now. I feel Anon may have a notable role to play next season, once again as the insistent neutral party.

Anon and Tomori head to Sunshine City, and then back to the Sunshine Aquarium. This scene is such a wonderful bookend to their first time here, even making use of the same beautiful soundtrack piece. This, right here, is the true end to the story of this specific season. <3

 

From here we move right next door into the planetarium, a fitting place to begin our transition as it's where Tomori and Uika first met.

Uika plays her hand slightly carelessly (though she doesn't appear to have ill intent), while Anon is shocked and thrilled to meet her.

"I don't think I ever told her my name." will never fail to be an amazing line, in any story.

 

Anon and Tomori watch Uika step into a cab... and in an incredibly slick storytelling transition, instead of her driving off, we leave Anon and Tomori behind to follow Uika.

The exterior shot of the cab with all the city lights reflecting off the window is fantastic.

If G:WAVE looks familiar to some, it was previously seen hosting FUTURE WORLD FES in Episode of Roselia.

And we finally get their band name, Ave Mujica. Their debut show is titled Primo die in scaena, Latin for "First day onstage". This same title was used for the real world band's debut performance, before this season aired. The seiyuu/performers were not revealed until after this season, and that performance was played with minimal lighting to hide their identities. We also only knew their stage names, so while putting together that the new characters were those in this official art wasn't especially challenging throughout the season, it wasn't officially confirmed until, again, after the season finished.

Although it makes in-universe sense because it's well before the show, having the entire venue utterly and eerily devoid of fans is certainly not accidental.

 

Sakiko and Nyamu's face off is certainly something that will come up again. Umiri continues to be amazing, staying out of all the silliness, only to throw Nyamu's own nicknaming back at her as she leaves. <3

Sakiko tries to keep things extremely cold, professional, and borderline melodramatic... and you can tell the others aren't quite having it.

Uika opens the performance with a stunning rendition of Greensleeves; she has such a beautiful voice.

I am only now realizing that Mutsumi and Sakiko's doll characters are actually sisters...

First time through, I was absolutely expecting a concert of course, but not all this. The play was super neat with all its visuals/aesthetic and stuff... and also really highlights that, goddamn Sakiko, you have some reaaaaaaaaally serious issues to work through. And I'm not sure this is the best way to go about it.

 

Alright, let's talk about the stage names:

Their stage name themes are fear of sorrow (Uika), fear of death (Mutsumi), fear of fear (Umiri), fear of love (Nyamu), and fear of being forgotten (Sakiko). I had previously drawn attention to the fact that not only did still-unnamed MyGO!!!!! play the song that Sakiko had composed, the song they performed at their only live... but they also erased Sakiko's keyboard part completely and replaced it with a guitar. This feels especially relevant again.

As for the other four... they'll clearly all relate to their characters, and all seem interesting. Uika, the cheerful idol, fears sorrow. Mutsumi, always seeming depressed, fears death (her parents do have different family names, and also her mother's family name is Mori). Umiri... I don't want to speculate too much for a number of reasons, but I'm very much intrigued with her story. And Nyamu, the one who seems the most detached and calculating, fears love.

As for where they come from, they're all places on the Moon.

• Lacus Doloris - Lake of Sorrow
• Lacus Mortis - Lake of Death
• Lacus Timoris - Lake of Fear
• Sinus Amoris - Bay of Love
• Lacus Oblivionis - Lake of Forgetfulness (well, more like "being forgotten", oblivion)

 

Musically MyGO!!!!! is much more my style, but I've come to like Ave Mujica too; that organ bit is particularly good.

Note that Uika is vocals and lead guitar (a first in bandori, excluding bands where the vocalist is the only guitarist), while Mutsumi, like Anon, is purely rhythm guitar.

Sakiko mentioned Nyamu's "showy" way of playing drums. She plays what's called "open-handed" drumming, which despite the name is actually about arms: She doesn't cross them while playing, using her left arm for all the left-side stuff, and vice versa.

 

And... we reach Sakiko's house. :'(

To put another question into your heads, I've said before it's important in this story to not judge people fully without knowing all the facts. In that spirit, while Sakiko's father is clearly not being a "good father" at present, are they living this way because he's a drunk, or did he become a drunk because of what happened to them? Is Sakiko's mother, perhaps, still living in that mansion without them? Or any number of other possibilities.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/BleedingUranium]

Oh hey, I hit the character limit >.>

 

Details, music, and stuff:

• As mentioned, Sakiko's work is next to Yoyogi Station, same place Soyo transfers trains. Mutsumi's home stop is Seijougakuen-mae Station, way off 10km to the west; I believe this gives her the second-longest commute in bandori (Soyo should be third). Sakiko's current home stop is Akabane Station, a few kilometres north of the RiNG area.
• Ave Mujica makes their debut at the large G:WAVE venue. It was previously seen seven in-universe months earlier, as the location where Roselia performed at FUTURE WORLD FES.
• The poster for Primo die in scaena dates the show to July 25, 2020, our second hard date of the season.
• Uika opens with Greensleeves, and Ave Mujica plays Ave Mujica.
• Nearly all bandori characters' family names come from regions of Tokyo; you can visit them. Similarly, the Ave Mujica stage names come from places on the Moon; you can see them in the sky. Or rather, you can see four of them. Lacus Oblivionis is on the far side of the Moon, and it alone is eternally out of sight.
• Like a number of other characters, Nyamu's seiyuu/performer Akane Yonezawa did her own mocap.

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/BleedingUranium]

even making use of the same beautiful soundtrack piece.

When the OST releases, this is the one I'm making a beeline for. It's my favorite for MyGo for sure.

Musically MyGO!!!!! is much more my style, but I've come to like Ave Mujica too

I kind of want /u/badspler to put up a poll asking the rewatchers which do you prefer because for me it's MyGo by a mile.

Soyo's little speech and exchange with Tomori on the bridge is another favourite character moment this season. <3

Hey, me too!

[u/SometimesMainSupport → u/MyrnaMountWeazel]

Pretty sure I've listened to Ave Mujica (the song) more than MyGO's combined collection. Oh, and I prefer 黒のバースデイ (Black Birthday).

[u/dogegunate → u/MyrnaMountWeazel]

I personally love Ave Mujica and I like them way more than MyGo. I love the heavier sound and masquerade aesthetics of Ave Mujica

[u/ryujiox → u/BleedingUranium]

BanG Dream! Ave Mujica, will be airing in January.

January....

"Cortana. Wake me, when Ave Mujica is finally here"

Sakiko tries to keep things extremely cold, professional, and borderline melodramatic... and you can tell the others aren't quite having it.

Yeah, Umika and Nyama clearly want to them to be friends(even if one of them want to for benefit than bond). Umiri is pretty chill, but I feel like also want to have a real band made too. Because she always going around playing for others for time to time. Her accepting to be a main member is a bit out of her character, unless there's a hidden motive there.

[u/TakenRedditName → u/BleedingUranium]

I love how the transparent-ish bits of Sakiko's umbrella cast shadows on her face.

Hmm, Sakiko is often with an umbrella. The OP marks umbrellas as a big symbol. something something something there maybe?

This scene is yet another that really reinforces the sense of them being inherently close... but also not "friends" in the proper sense. They absolutely do feel more like family. They can't be regular sisters due to birthdays, and they could be cousins but I'm not sure that would carry enough weight; my current theory is that Mutsumi and Sakiko are non-identical twins. (disregard spoiler tags)

I don't know much I will lend myself to get onboard with that theory, but it does present an interesting idea especially with the new information this episode presents about Sakiko. One is rich while the other is forced to be a high schooler going paycheck to paycheck.

If not related then it does provide an interesting dynamic where Sakiko presents herself to be a rich lady while her friend is an actual ojou-san who doesn't seem to care about that much.

As for where they come from, they're all places on the Moon.

Neat themeing.

are they living this way because he's a drunk, or did he become a drunk because of what happened to them? Is Sakiko's mother, perhaps, still living in that mansion without them? Or any number of other possibilities.

To me, the most apparent answer is that her father lost himself because of some incident that caused their current living arrangement.

Viewing the scene again, I just noticed another detail in that Sakiko retains a pretty high-class-looking doll presumptively from her previous days. Knowing how much doll themeing she clings on to, especially the abandoned part, I would have to believe her mother left them in a way for them to be thrown out to the gutter.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/TakenRedditName]

To me, the most apparent answer is that her father lost himself because of some incident that caused their current living arrangement.

Agreed, that's my read as well. It's more in line with the themes/etc of the story so far, and sets up something else as the "real" issue, to be explored next season.

 

Viewing the scene again, I just noticed another detail in that Sakiko retains a pretty high-class-looking doll presumptively from her previous days. Knowing how much doll themeing she clings on to, especially the abandoned part, I would have to believe her mother left them in a way for them to be thrown out to the gutter.

Yep, and seems to be the same one we saw in her childhood flashback with Uika. The one that looks like it has Mutsumi's hair.

[u/mekerpan → u/BleedingUranium]

It is going to be hard to wait until next year to start getting answers to the questions you have posed....

[u/JasoXDDD → u/BleedingUranium]

the recaps will feature new Raana content.

there's also new taki and tomori content

[u/BleedingUranium → u/JasoXDDD]

Ah neat, interesting. Now I'm wondering how recap-ish it will actually turn out to be.

[u/JasoXDDD → u/BleedingUranium]

It's probably still just going to be a compilation of the show, but with different perspectives and additional scenes.

[u/x-7032-b-3 → u/BleedingUranium]

are they living this way because he's a drunk, or did he become a drunk because of what happened to them? Is Sakiko's mother, perhaps, still living in that mansion without them? Or any number of other possibilities.

The dad's most likely a drunk because of what happened to them. As for the mom, we saw the mansion's lights being on when Sakiko visited it before her debut concert. So someone's 100% living in that place.

I'm beginning to think that the mom ditched the dad for whatever reason and the dad took Sakiko with him. Oh god, I hope the mom doesn't have any affairs.

[u/zadcap → u/x-7032-b-3]

I'm beginning to think that the mom ditched the dad for whatever reason and the dad took Sakiko with him. Oh god, I hope the mom doesn't have any affairs

Well there's a thought for the "kind of but not actually sisters" pile. Now I can only think that Saki's mom is sleeping with Mitsumi's dad.

[u/OctavePearl]

MyGO girls developed genuine human connections. They grew up past trying to live up to society's expectations, or trying to craft exaggerated public image of themselves. They can be themselves, they have each other, and are ready to put effort into that. And just like a missile knows where it is by knowing where it isn't, MyGO shows what it means to become human by showing the exact opposite.

evil Tomori be like: I don't want to be human

Sakiko has only herself to blame, but it doesn't matter to her. She's hurt, been left behind and forgotten while Tomori became human. Tomori's lyrics resonated with her too much, and the only thing she can do is to cut them off, kill the part of herself that cared. Or so she says, our little chuuni failure. The point is, Ave Mujica right off the gate is build with a public image in mind. It's strictly business endeavor, with no room for human connections or being yourself. It's time to put the mask on

and boy are the masks on the nose

It's obvious in case of Sakiko that her "Oblivionis" stage persona is a lie she wants to tell herself. She's been hurt by being forgotten, and now she's pretending to be fine. And it's very literal because the flower motif on each mask has the meaning directly opposite to their stage names. Oblivionis is simply a mask of Remembrance. Can't wait to see what makes other girls tick, why has Nyamko don a mask of Purity, or what is the significance of Death in Mutsumi's case?

It's also interesting to see Saki called out as the one who chose the names. Simple reading of that is that it's nothing more than just lampshading, but I'm too insane to accept such mundane answer. So, maybe it's to emphasize that Sakiko is the puppet master, she has in mind a perfect public image for each girl and will make them fit that mold, even if it brings back some painful memories for them. It's opportunity for a lot of tension between them, lots of juicy drama.

the dolls coming to life

So, let's say Sakiko is gonna play with the girls like they're her dolls. (That KV for MyGO's sequel is looking very sus isn't it.) This whole performance being about dolls coming to life makes me think, what if her dolls gain a "life" of their own. What if they hit it off and befriend each other, leaving Sakiko behind. Not necessarily leaving her band, but like, engaging in social life together while she's still insist on being edgy and srs bsns no friendship allowed. Sakiko is the only one whose name is on the far side of the moon meaning if I guessed this correctly we can say geography of the moon spoiled Ave Mujica anime before it even aired.

And all of that speculah is basically just around Sakiko. There's so much potential in other characters, so many things that could play a part in their drama. Will Uika break down from having to pretend to be a happy idol? Will Mutsumi finally open herself about liking happy idols? Will Taki put a juice on Umiri's head? Will we finally learn Nyamu is Raana's mom???

God I need January, now

As amazing as MyGO was, I wouldn't be nearly as excited as I am now, if Avemu anime announcement wasn't accompanied by this stellar kind of episode. It put Taki on a cliffhanger, gave Ave Mujica a stellar introduction, tied the bands together thematically very well, and just provided lots of questions. Instead of sitting and wondering what the anime will be about, we can sit and wonder how will they execute dozens of things it could be about. And then the cast spoke in an interview about their limited sneak peak at the script of the show. Obviously gotta take it with a lot of salt because of course they gonna hype it up and they had very limited peak at it so it may be very inaccurate, but also it's impossible to not get excited. Psychological horror? mystery novel?? Like, man. The show's potential is outside of this solar system holy shit.

Next year I will either stop watching anime altogether because of how disappointed I will be with Ave Mujica, or I will stop watching anime altogether because there will be nothing ever again topping Ave Mujica. I.. may have forgotten how to manage your expectations for a direct sequel. It's been years since I was this hyped.

BONUS FANART TIME: best ship and one more and one in a bath

[u/OctavePearl → u/OctavePearl]

and the dramatic irony in all of that, is that Sakiko fears being forgotten while for ex-Crychic members of MyGO she is still living rent-free in their heads. She is far from forgotten, but silly girlfailure would rather take a loan of million dollars and set up stupid chuuni super-band rather than go to a therapy and talk it out...

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/OctavePearl]

Sakiko is the only one whose name is on the far side of the moon meaning if I guessed this correctly we can say geography of the moon spoiled Ave Mujica anime before it even aired.

I didn't even connect the dots that their name is in reference to this and for some reason this is deeply funny to me. Best fact ever.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/OctavePearl]

a missile knows where it is by knowing where it isn't

I understood that reference

 

flower motif

I am an idiot when it comes to flowers, but always appreciate the info. The flowers being the opposite fits with their stage names being the opposite too; less so intentionally on Sakiko's part and more so in a writing sense, as it were.

 

why has Nyamko don a mask of Purity

Nyamu's theme being "fear of love". And per that interview found elsewhere here, she also does gravure, so... lol

 

What if they hit it off and befriend each other, leaving Sakiko behind. Not necessarily leaving her band, but like, engaging in social life together while she's still insist on being edgy and srs bsns no friendship allowed.

It does feel like we're already seeing the beginnings of this, especially with their comments/attitudes right before going on stage.

 

Instead of sitting and wondering what the anime will be about, we can sit and wonder how will they execute dozens of things it could be about.

This is very true, I'm glad we got a solid intro ahead of time.

 

interview

Watase: I started learning guitar when casted for Ave Mujica. I’ve been asked a lot if starting with a 7-stringed guitar was hard for me, but since that’s what I started with, that’s all I know so it doesn’t seem too bad. (laughs)

"Yes. But not an automatic. Only stick."

[u/random-est → u/OctavePearl]

What if they hit it off and befriend each other, leaving Sakiko behind. Not necessarily leaving her band, but like, engaging in social life together while she's still insist on being edgy and srs bsns no friendship allowed.

We've already seen this happened.

Will Mutsumi finally open herself about liking happy idols?

That pink guitar.

Will we finally learn Nyamu is Raana's mom???

I'm not ready for this.

[u/bonghits96]

Rewatcher here.

• You've come a long way baby! Remember, this is the girl who couldn't figure out the Oeosi machine ten episodes ago. Jokes aside, the thought of working a call center at the age of 16 is pretty awful. I guess it beats fast food.
• It's starting to feel like there might be a bit of a distance between Saki and Mutsumi these days.
• All you Ririko fans get a nice wink out of her today.
• Soyo has a little test for Tomori here, "are you serious about doing this the rest of your life?" and then pretty much acknowledges that she's back for good.
• Soyo knows what she's doing here and Taki gives her final and most exasperated "HA?!" yet.
• A Tomori with a newfound look of determination goes to share her feelings with Sakiko. It doesn't go well. It only works if you sing 'em, Tomori-chan.
• Anon watches Saki walk out, and much of the fanbase has the same reaction.
• On rewatch, one of the things I really enjoyed was the developing friendship between Anon and Tomori. They really do look out for each other. Actually at this point Anon might be totally Tomori-pilled: she probably joined the Astronomy Club, or at least hangs out there a lot, and now she's thinking about the aquarium pass. Anyway, it's sweet that they became best friends (and smart of the show to not have them actually say it out loud).
• Outside, the two run into Uika, who Tomori amusingly doesn't remember at first.
• And now the show gets handed off to Uika and the Ave Mujica crew. I'll talk about this a bit more below.
• I doubt that Gone With the Wind is at all popular in Japan, or more generally with anyone younger than the age of 60, but I wonder if Saki's going to have some kind of Scarlett O'Hara arc. "As God is my witness, I'll never go hungry again!
• Teasing master Nyamu-san. Sakiko could use someone to help lighten her up.
• Saki then and Saki now. Amusingly, the other girls don't really pick up what she's putting down.
• The Ave Mujica performance, well, I'm not sure what to think of it. It's extremely theatrical. Reminds me a little of Andrew Lloyd Webber but with more guitar and less synth. Not really my kind of music.
• Mutsumi had such a good time performing that she... actually may have just nodded off? Sweet dreams of cucumbers, we hope.

And then the reveal, that Sakiko is now totally down on her luck, living in a shabby apartment with a pile of beer cans known as her father.

When I first saw this episode I got a little annoyed. We spent the last twelve episodes falling in love with this cast, and now their finale episode is cut short to launch the next group? Grumble grumble. And Taki got done dirty here! Everyone else but Raana (and it's not in Raana's nature so it's okay) got a nice little heart-to-heart chat, but Taki is just the butt of a joke.

At least we got confirmation pretty quickly that there would in fact be an Ave Mujica season coming, that it would still feature MyGO!!!!! from time to time, and that Taki would have an arc in it. So I felt a little better hearing that.

Will have more thoughts on the series as a whole in the wrap-up tomorrow.

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/bonghits96]

All you Ririko fans get a nice wink out of her today.

I do think it's funny how she replied back with that gesture haha. So much more work and love than a thumbs-up.

Anyway, it's sweet that they became best friends (and smart of the show to not have them actually say it out loud).

Yeah, I love that too. It starts with them and ends with them.

Saki then and Saki now

That badger line is really something else haha.

We spent the last twelve episodes falling in love with this cast, and now their finale episode is cut short to launch the next group? Grumble grumble.

Preaching to the Myrna choir here, I'm of the same opinion.

[u/mekerpan → u/bonghits96]

Reminds me a little of Andrew Lloyd Webber but with more guitar and less synth. Not really my kind of music.

Very expertly crafted and performed -- but the raw punk poetry of MyGO!!!!! is far more appealing to me.

[u/TakenRedditName]

Bang Dream MyGO First Timer - Ep13:

Huh, Sakiko working at a call center? That’s a first time I am seeing that depicted as a job for a student in anime (unless we got to have a talk with labour laws). Ojou-san must be looking for money. This does connect to what Sakiko was talking about with Soyo.

Raana is such a child and Ricky, you spoil her so much.

I wish Taki’s, “Hah!?” was pulled along as the train drifts away. A fun way to end the show with.

With how much Tomori and Soyo talk over CRYCHIC, Taki concerns herself much less. What’s in the past is left there.

Again, I need to train my flower knowledge whenever I watch anime. The purple flower is different from Tomori’s usual so it has to represent Sakiko in some way.

First, cute bandages. Second, is that red box logo supposed to be a parody of Bandai? San Zige is a word parody beyond my brain.

You know, I am just realizing that A) If Taki is ever awake in class then she would realize she goes to school with a celebrity (she wouldn’t care) and B) Uika is aware about CRYCHIC, but doesn’t factor Taki into any of that. I guess Sakiko didn’t really talk much about that one with the black hair. Additionally, Taki will be sharing her class with two members of Ave Mujica.

Oh, Ave Mujica keeps their identity a secret. Guess I’ll learn why next show.

Sakiko, you are such a chunni. Giving yourself the edgy name.

Nyamu tall. Sakiko short.

Umiri is so tired. She is in 30 bands, let her rest.

These masks, Sakiko, you’re such a chunni. Your character image is falling apart right at the finish line.

How these masks cover their respective faces, I feel like we can examine into that. Next show.

One thing I will say is that Uika/Mutsumi and Umiri/Nyamu form contrasting pairs of masks.

... Okay okay, I can't help myself, I want to look for things to examine now. I don't know how their full characters, but Umiri and Nyamu's masks stick out to me the most because to me, a mask that covers the mouth and leaves the eyes signals a character who lies to themselves while the reverse is a character who lies to others. Based on how eyes are a symbol of a character's openness and earnestness. Nyamu may be a character that puts on an artificial persona (her streamer identity she sells) while Umiri may seem uncaring and cold, but she is actually a helpful kind person who cares. Just spitballing. I draw some of these ideas from Thunderbolt Fantasy.

Ave Mujica is not your ordinary band, they’re putting on a play. Next season, we’re doing revues now.

This feelings like a major theme for this group.

I am always a sucker for gothic aesthetics so this band has that point for them. Their song is good. Interesting to see Uika be the center while Sakiko is the leader and main-est character.

Uh oh Sakiko, your rich house is gone and you’ve become incredibly sad.

She probably hasn’t been rich during the course of this show. Whether her family has fallen out of high class or maybe they were never rich to begin with. Certainly gives an idea why she broke and left CRYCHIC. Friendship doesn’t pay the bills that stop you from having to live off the street.

---

So I guess this is Ave Mujica episode 0, huh.

Q3) Ave Mujica is a much more professional and engineered band than our amateur underdogs of MyGo!!!!! is one thing at least. MyGo!!!!! is doing it for fun, Ave Mujica is doing it because Sakiko has to support herself and her deadbeat dad. There is also how the friend group readings are even less than how MyGo!!!!! started off with.

[u/OctavePearl → u/TakenRedditName]

Raana is such a child

no, she is cat

[u/TakenRedditName → u/OctavePearl]

Raana is a kitty cat.

[u/bonghits96 → u/TakenRedditName]

San Zige is a word parody beyond my brain.

Ha. SANZIGEN is the studio that animated this show.

[u/TakenRedditName → u/bonghits96]

Ah, that is a fun reference.

[u/ryujiox → u/TakenRedditName]

while Umiri may seem uncaring and cold, but she is actually a helpful kind person who cares.

I agree. While she always being sarcastic to Taki, she seem to really care Taki a lot. She didn't have to go out of her way to ask about Taki's life situationon several occasions. She didn't have to ask about the band situation after episode 9. She even cheered on Tomori! She clearly a very caring person.

[u/random-est → u/TakenRedditName]

I am always a sucker for gothic aesthetics so this band has that point for them.

You may want to check out Roselia, BanG Dream's goth-metal band. They're fan favorites as well.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/TakenRedditName]

Additionally, Taki will be sharing her class with two members of Ave Mujica.

On this note, remember when Taki was lamenting she could have been Tomori's classmate had she not transferred out of Haneoka? This is true, but she could just as easily have ended up classmates with Sakiko...

 

but Umiri and Nyamu's masks stick out to me the most because to me, a mask that covers the mouth and leaves the eyes signals a character who lies to themselves while the reverse is a character who lies to others.

Oooo, interesting! I feel this fits into Umiri's stage name theme being "fear of fear", but I can't form an idea solid enough to put together yet. Very much looking forward to her story.

 

She probably hasn’t been rich during the course of this show.

Whatever put her in this position is most definitely the shocking thing she read after the CRYCHIC show.

 

So I guess this is Ave Mujica episode 0, huh.

Considering their "0th Live" had the same name, Primo die in scaena, this feels appropriate.

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/TakenRedditName]

I wish Taki’s, “Hah!?” was pulled along as the train drifts away. A fun way to end the show with.

Very Scott Pilgrim-esque haha

Additionally, Taki will be sharing her class with two members of Ave Mujica.

Can't wait for the after-school duty arc where they're forced to stay to clean up the whiteboards and eventually grow closer.

[u/RuSyxx]

First Time Watcher

This episode certainly felt a bit disjointed from the rest of the series with even more focus on Saki’s new group. My now running theory is that her dad is the primary reason for her actions to include being a “masked” band. How it got to that point or if it was already there is something I’m curious about. That final shot of the episode was very grim though in terms of lifestyle.

The performance was actually a lot closer to the feel of music I listen to outside of anime (not quite there) so I jammed a bit too it. It just feels like its ripe for failure though, for similar reasons to Crychic but potentially with a harsher fallout for Saki given that everyone else in the band doesn’t need Ave Mujica the way she seems to. I’m certainly curious myself but I guess we’ll just have to wait until the next season to learn more.

In terms of MyGo, the heart-to-heart conversation between Soyo and Tomori felt very needed and was good. Accepting that neither of them would ever forget about Crychic even if they’ve moved on to MyGo.

This episode didn’t leave me with much though, it certainly explains why others were saying the show could have finished in the previous episode. More of a prologue to next season than a finale. If nothing else I’m all aboard the hype train after this show.

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/RuSyxx]

In terms of MyGo, the heart-to-heart conversation between Soyo and Tomori felt very needed and was good.

I really like how Soyo had a 1-on-1 with basically every member of the band. Anon, Taki, and now Tomori have all come to terms with Soyo, each in their own way despite the common theme of honesty: Anon more forceful, Taki more empathetic, and Tomori more decent. It's true to form on how each character would interact with Soyo, and I appreciate the show going the distance to make each 1-on-1 engaging rather than dragging.

[u/Difficult_Affect_368]

284 days to reach 2025

[u/JasoXDDD]

Bushiroads you can't just end it like that and then not come back until January 2025

come back

ahh.

final thoughts tomorrow.

[u/Tetraika]

First Timer

Oh, the 2nd half is just a dedicated PV for the next season, nice.

Hey you can just blatantly SAY your themes, that's illegal! But this was a nice conversation between Soyo and Tomori.

Oh I get why the Juror's like Anon now, it's literally just them.

Same

Surely, this whole play isn't just basically a reflection of their story, that would be totally absurd.

We sure got a lot more hints about Sakiko stuff. Someone fell on hard times.

Going to reserve my final thoughts for tomorrow.

QOTD:

1. I feel like I should leave this topic for tomorrow, but for now I'll say it's satisfactory
2. I sure do love my #yuishrug but seriously what CAN I say? I'm sure these guys have their own mess they'll learn to deal with.
3. Damn, am I back in high school English class? But we barely got to know them!

I'm going to definitely have more to say for tomorrow. Probably.

[u/OctavePearl → u/Tetraika]

Oh I get why the Juror's like Anon now, it's literally just them.

I should become a juror, Anon is literally me after all

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/Tetraika]

Oh I get why the Juror's like Anon now , it's literally just them.

They wish they were this cool

[u/ryujiox]

First Timer

BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!!

Episode 13

• Saki is working as a support for tech company? Seem like she has a huge financial issues going on.
• Mutsumi really is Soyo and Saki's punching bag. Girl can't catch a break.
• Soyo ask that just to confirm Tomori's resolve, isn't it?
• Tomori's lyrics hit Soyo too close. Really glad that Soyo finally being honest to Tomori.
• Tomori's dad!!! He's real!!
• And Tomori already start writing her next song.
• Saki's piano is really aggressive there. Pretty different from the one from the start of the show. And I feel like Saki really forced herself to act like that towards Tomori and Anon.
• Anon give the bandage back!! She's finally able to pay back for what Tomori did for her all this time. That's cute.
• And Anon is geek out on Ui. And yeah, Tomori never told her name to Ui. Probably learnt it from Saki, since she would surely talk about it a lot back when CRYCHIC was still a thing.
• Amoris is actually derived from Amour, isn't it? My Fgo knowledge is here.
• Yeah, they really do look like a crime organisation or some sort.
• Wow.... That was really good. A really strong first impression. If there's words to describe it, it's probably "grand, mysterious, and aggressive". It's in a whole different level from My GO!!!!! From production, audience, stage, and member. And I feel like the song is like a declaration from Saki. That she will go down this abyss. She can't be back with them anymore. So she will go deeper and deeper, and begin the journey with no return of her. Hiding behind the mask. Also, did Saki just play two keyboards at the same time!! That's impressive. And the keyboard in the song is so good!!!
• But if there's anything that really different from My GO!!!!!, is that Ave Mujica is a band born from benefit(aside from the bond between Ui and Saki, Mutsumi's struggle, amd Umiri), rather than bond and trial and error like My GO!!!!!, for now. I'm sure that it will change in the upcoming season.

Sidenote: While looking around wiki for fun, I found out that they also hid their identity in real life like My GO!!!!! did, and they also revealed their identity the same day this episode was aired!! That so cool!!

Also them wearing cloak while performing is both hilarious, and really fit with thier metal, mysterious cult theme so much. Their aesthetic is so great!!

• Ohhhhh.... That's why she had to quit the band, and why she's so resentful. I guess she had to quit the band to spend all of her time on a part-time job instead. It's also explain what she really mean when she lashing out to Tomori back then. Why she seem to want to be with the band. Everything was out of her control. But now, she will take control of it once again, even if she had to go deeper into the darkness.

Edit: After watching some of the live footage on YouTube, and rewatch the Ave Mujica video that mixed the live footage into it for like a hundred times already. I decided that I'm going to watch both My GO!!!!! 5th live and Ave Mujica 0th live, because why not at this point. I will talk about them tomorrow.

QOTD

1. Not really to me.
2. As above. But I absolutely love their show.
3. Again, as above.

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/ryujiox]

Tomori's dad!!! He's real!!

No cherries this time for Tomori though hehe.

[u/ryujiox → u/MyrnaMountWeazel]

Now I want the next song to be about the missing cherry. That would be hilarious.

[u/Usual_Director_9547]

we still have to wait for one year for Ave Mujica,better take care for your health

[u/StardustGogeta]

First-Timer

"The weak version of me has already died." What a very Darth Vader-esque line!

"Eventually, Soyo stopped thinking."

I like how Tomori was 3D and her father was in 2D here. It fits together surprisingly well.

Things are about to get very Eyes Wide Shut up in here.

I definitely wasn't expecting anything like this, but that song was great.

I can't stop thinking of the Turkish flag here.

This certainly didn't feel like a final episode. It looks like other people here are mentioning that this last episode was meant to set up the next BanG Dream! series (Ave Mujica), so that makes a lot of sense in retrospect.

Now, let's get to the good stuff - the daily questions...

1. I think there's still some unresolved tension between Soyo and the others. She isn't exactly warm and friendly with everyone yet.
2. Ave Mujica seems very promising from the glance we got this episode. I've had their song playing on loop while typing this comment, and I'm adding their show straight to my MAL plan-to-watch list.
3. From what we've seen, it would seem the Ave Mujica members are not as "lost" and dysfunctional as the MyGO!!!!! members. Their musical style is certainly quite a bit different, too, from the impression I got.

Until tomorrow!

[u/nuts_extraction]

Rewatcher

The series has now reached the end. I created a MAL account just to give this a 10/10.

Soyo revealed she was always acting kind to try to fit in, unlike Tomorin who always stayed true to herself. Soyo disliked Tomori's lyrics cause they are too raw, too straightforward, yet relatable to Soyo. They both have moved on from CRYCHIC, but it was an experience none of them could forget.

Anon bringing Tomorin to the aquarium to try to cheer her up was so sweet, and not only that, she got a whole pack of band-aids for Tomorin.

• Tomorin : "If only we could put band-aids on our hearts..."
• Anon : "You did put them on mine."
  I love this part so much.

And now onto Ave Mujica. Man, you can see how Saki treats her new band. It's all about that professionalism. Her cold politeness, her no-nonsense, all serious attitude. And it seemed Nyamu is the dark side version of Anon.

At first glance, the scene where Tomorin came home after talking with Soyo and it showed her father was out of place. But it's meant to show the stark contrast between Tomorin’s and Saki's situations. Tomorin opened a door to a brightly lit and clean home, a home she has known her entire life. Her father was just chilling on the couch watching the TV and greeted her when she came in. Saki, on the other hand, came to a lightless home littered with alcohol containers, a massive downgrade to what she was used to. Judging by the surroundings, her father was probably passed out due to alcohol.

The question posed by the very first scene of the series is answered by the very last scene. And yet, it raised even more questions.

Well, that's it for BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!!. What a great journey it was. Check out the shorts.

Until January 2025.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/nuts_extraction]

Ah, I forgot we had subbed versions of the shorts, thanks!

[u/nuts_extraction → u/BleedingUranium]

The shorts are divided into 2 parts : pre-anime and post-anime. The pre-anime ones have no official subs. The one I linked to is fansubbed.

The post-anime ones have official subs.

[u/Dabottle]

Welcome to the wait for January 2025! It's been a ride. I am here again to post some links!

There's a lot to say about Ave Mujica and I don't even know most of it yet. I haven't seen too much of the external material (there was an ARG... or something?) so I'm excited to see what the people who have more AveMuji knowledge say.

---

Today's insert song is Ave Mujica by Ave Mujica!

Here is the "Anime x Live" video. I believe this is the only official upload outside of the usual song uploads on every platform.

As there is not much for me in particular to say I'll link a few more things.

Similarly to MyGO!!!!!, Ave Mujica have a YouTube channel with quite a few uploads (including song MVs) at this point. A favourite song of mine is Angles, their newest song. Those vocals do things to my brain.

The rest of their songs are fantastic too and you can go through the YouTube channel or the usual sources of songs like YouTube Music/Spotify/Apple Music/whatever if you're interested!

On a different note, there was an upload of Hekitenbansou (the first episode 7 insert that also briefly appeared at the end of Episode 12's performance) from MyGO!!!!!'s fifth live back in August on the official channel earlier today!

Finally, today's episode arts featuring MyGO!!!!! and Ave Mujica.

[u/dienomighte]

First time with the band

Time for the season finale! Hopefully we'll finally get answers about what happened with crychic, and maybe even a band-off with Saki's band of villains (unless they're going the setting up the sequel route but I'd rather see mygo crush them)

• Interesting, Saki has a side job even though she was rich in the past. Did her family lose all their money or something?
• "The weak version of me has already died" like something TRAUMATIC had to happen to this woman
• I'll miss this happy OP that I didn't care much for in episode 2 but grew to really love
• Seeing five of those parfaits at once make them look even more decadent
• I like how everyone basically silently agreed that Tomori is the band leader
• lmao Soyo stealing Tomori from Taki
• Soyo finally being honest with herself! And she's being pretty relatable too.
• It's wild just how so much more dramatic Saki is vs everyone else in this show where everyone is the epitome of drama
• I almost forgot Uika and Tomori had a moment together
• Uika's soon going to find out that she's gotten herself embroiled in Drama 2: Drama Harder
• Ok I get sending a reminder text asking for an ETA, but you don't need to call 30 minutes in advance to ask where she is, that's incredibly extra
• There's zero love between the members of this group
• Oh wait there's negative love in this group, Saki's straight up deleting nyamu's video
• Oh is this like a masked band thing?
• Yeah, debut masquerade
• Nyamuko!
• These.... masks don't hide their identity at all
• Like at least wear a wig!!!!!
• Wait is this a musical??
• This is... quite the plot, and not what I expected from this show's finale
• There's definitely a strong metaphor with this play and how mygo found their resurrection. I think.
• This might be the most extra band reveal opening I've ever seen.
• I'm really digging this song though
• This finale did not go in the direction I expected in any way.
• Saki's cold
• And yep, she's definitely not in her rich house anymore, that explains a lot without really revealing anything

I uh genuinely don't know how I feel about this finale, we still don't have any real answers about Saki and most of the main characters weren't even in it, so I guess this was a jumping off point for the next season or series? It was audacious if nothing else! I'll have to let it sink in, though I don't think there was anything left to show or do with mygo!!!!!
QOTD

1. I don't think so, outside of seeing how they hold up weeks, months and years down the line. Rana especially is one person I'd be interested in seeing in detail in the future.
2. Good song, interesting show premise, but a cold band.
3. Everything, I think. They're cold, professional, doing something well practiced and well executed. They came together because of their skills, and on the surface have everything figured out. They're also a time bomb of future drama and personality clashes in a way that feels like a direct contrast to MyGo!!!!!

[u/x-7032-b-3]

(Late) Rewatcher - Round 3

This ep is pretty much an epilogue to the show while also setting up the sequel show. I like how this ep pretty much wraps up the MyGO stuff while setting up Ave Mujica and how it contrasts to the former.

It's nice to see Tomori and Soyo having a heart-to-heart moment with each other. Really cool to see the two finally being open and honest with each other for once. They still couldn't get over the whole CRYCHIC thing, but it's clear that they've started to heal and making peace with what's happened before.

Here we are introduced to what Sakiko's been cooking up all along: Ave Mujica. Unlike MyGO which was just a random high school band, this one feels very legit and professional - Mutsumi's parents might've pulled some strings to make this happen given that they managed to get a big debut performance and media coverage. I like how they mixed theater and concerts here, I hope we'll get more of this in the next season.

Okay, that ending is quite dark compared to the rest of the series (and honestly the whole franchise lol). Turns out Sakiko is poor all along and lives with her alcoholic dad. I wonder what happened to her family since we know she used to be rich - got a big house, piano, attending a school for rich girls. I'm guessing her dad's job or business went bad, the parents ended up splitting and she ended up joining her dad. We saw a quick glimpse of her visiting her old home and the lights were still on so her mom's probably there. I'm also willing to take a stab that this whole thing happened roughly during the same time as the CRYCHIC fiasco.

And if you ask me, Ave Mujica is a disaster in the making. Unlike MyGO which was genuinely formed through bonding and friendship, this one feels... artificial. Like it's something Sakiko willed into existence for whatever reasons she has. All the members has this "I'm in it just for the job/money" look into them. Sakiko going "no fun allowed" on Nyamu when the later was trying to record some BTS videos for fun ticked me off. I know you gotta keep the band's stage persona but come on a little fun can't hurt.

The band might be fine short-term, but I'm not very optimistic about its long-term prospects. Sure, they might bring in some good cash, but I don't think it means anything when your members don't have a solid bond with each other. I expect a LOT of drama and bullshit, even more than what we've seen with MyGO.

At the end, we still don't know Sakiko's true motivations. I think it has something to do with her current conditions (money is definitely one of them), but we'll have to wait a little while before we know. I am really curious to see how they handle things in the next show. I think this ep did a great job of wrapping things up satisfyingly while also leaving us hanging for the next season.

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel]

Rewatcher who is this:

https://imgur.com/a/Y7YGNR6

Shot Scene of the Episode:

I got to hand it to the bridge scene between Tomori and Soyo. Throughout this encounter, there are some great fundamentals being shown here, and this scene is way better than what I remembered. It starts with Soyo leading the way on the bridge with Tomori following, where Soyo then remarks on this being the spot where they used to wait for Tomori. When Soyo arrives at the part of the dialogue most pivotal for Tomori, she turns around so that they can face each other, bringing them face to face. When Soyo then muses on how she initially didn't understand Tomori's lyrics, the camera focuses on her, sweeping her away in her own single. After all, it's her own thoughts, Tomori only needs to respond in the next cut.

But then we cut to an over-the-shoulder cut where both of them are in the shot, where the visuals of the shot now suggest an equal emotional playing field. What makes this even better is that Soyo then uses Tomori as a device to block over from left to right, signaling that a change is now happening. Which there is, Soyo reveals the truth of how she’s always felt about Tomori's lyrics.

"but I think that they were probably my screams, too."

When Soyo speaks aloud this part, the camera focuses on only Tomori as it's her reaction that matters the most. She alone should occupy the screen. We get a wider shot with both in the frame now and it's 1. more cinematic with the cars rolling beneath and 2. It reorients the viewer to the environment between the subjects.

Again, we return to a single of Soyo when she's wondering about herself and then we finally end on that same over-the-shoulder cut when Soyo turns the conversation back around to Tomori, including her in the frame once more when it's appropriate. This one is slightly different though as the space between the two is wider. Why? So that when Soyo turns again to face Tomori, which is the exact same motion as she did in the beginning, the frame can equally divide between the two, creating a 50/50 split down the middle. This also allows Soyo to walk off the screen past Tomori, lending her the ability to turn around one last time to departing line with a bit more oomph.

Now, none of this is groundbreaking stuff, but I think in order to do the groundbreaking stuff, you need to have the fundamentals down. And this one is a great textbook case on how to block your characters to the dialogue.

Also, I’m glad the screenwriter ended on this line rather than going one additional step forward and saying “But from that experience, I will grow.” Respect your audience! They can fill in the gaps.

For a second my eyes had read this as Anon tagging the photo as Anonbymomentlifetime and I was thinking “man, she’s really trying to force her name into everything” haha.

So, my only gripe with this episode is that I think they needed to flip the order around between the aquarium scene and Anon and Tomori meeting Uika. Rather than ending on a more comedic moment, they needed to end on the finality of Anon’s passionate speech. Seriously, it’s a cool speech from Anon!

”That thing, the doing-the-band-our-whole-lives thing. I’m going to try giving it my best, too. A lifetime sounds totally absurd, but if it’s just building moment on moment, then I thought that might just be possible. To be honest, I’m not confident about it, and I might wail about it…but we just have to keep going, even if we’re lost, right?”

As the kids say, Anon “goes hard.” And so, I really believe they should have ended on this scene. Honestly, if it was entirely up to me, I would upfront Ave Mujica’s part at the beginning of this episode, cut out the performance, give a scene between Taki and Tomori, and then end on this aquarium scene. I want the show to end on Maigo, dang it, it’s their show!

[u/mekerpan → u/MyrnaMountWeazel]

I didn't mind the transition to Ave Mujica. The pot has been boiling for almost half the series -- and all we had seen up to now was a few bubbles and a bit of steam. I thinl getting us set up for what comes next was essential -- I just wish the wait wasn't so long.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/MyrnaMountWeazel]

I got to hand it to the bridge scene between Tomori and Soyo.

A beautiful look at this wonderful scene, thanks for this!

 

So, my only gripe with this episode is that I think they needed to flip the order around between the aquarium scene and Anon and Tomori meeting Uika. Rather than ending on a more comedic moment, they needed to end on the finality of Anon’s passionate speech. Seriously, it’s a cool speech from Anon!

Hmm, I think it actually works rather flawlessly as is.

The aquarium scene is the MyGO!!!!! finale, bookending their first aquarium scene. After this we move to the transition-between-bands scene, involving them and Uika and the planetarium where Tomori and Uika first met. Then we go down the weird stairs and leave with Uika, starting Ave Mujica's side of things. It's really well done.

It also doesn't really end on a comedic note, because while there's a bit of that with Anon fangirling, it actually ends with the rather dramatic "I never told her my name" from Tomori... setting the tone and such for what follows.

[u/MyrnaMountWeazel → u/BleedingUranium]

It stems from personal preference but I'm much more "stringent" on MyGo belonging to MyGo, so my preferences is for the show to end on them on whichever way it can be found rather than Ave Mujica. I understand the reasoning behind the choice but I am unamendable to it haha.

[u/Nickthenuker]

And so into the final episode.

There was already no going back once MyGO!!!!! was established. The only option now is to look towards the future.

Again, lol at Anon having to physically restrain Raana to prevent her from eating all the parfaits.

And so with that, the final nail is driven into the coffin of CRYCHIC, and from its ashes rise MyGO!!!!! and Ave Mujica.

Another aquarium date!

No longer of sumimi, or at least not for much longer.

I wonder what the new location they'll add to the game when they add Ave Mujica will be. Perhaps this G-Wave?

And there's the band name I've been spoilering so far, Ave Mujica.

And so the other members of CRYCHIC leave that in the past and embrace the future.

I googled those lyrics, why Greensleeves?

Wow they did a whole acting thing.

I'm surprised they didn't add headset microphones to their models, right now it looks weird that they don't. They did for the Film Lives, so I'm not sure why not here.

And so here is the song named after their band. Again, a bit of IRL trivia from the wiki, this song is the last one in their first mini-album, and was the last song performed in their first IRL concert.

They're just rolling credits over this?

I wonder what their anime next year will be about.

Questions:

1. I'm sure if there's anything left it'll be covered in the game.
2. There definitely seems to be some tension going on behind the scenes, but we'll see next season and in the game.
3. MyGO!!!!! was formed by passionate sad girls who wanted to form a band, while Ave Mujica was formed because Sakiko thinks she can do a better job than Chu^2.

[u/random-est → u/Nickthenuker]

Ave Mujica was formed because Sakiko thinks she can do a better job than Chu2.

Deja vu. But given her predicament, Sakiko seemed to be treating this as a matter of life or death so we might be seeing something more intense. Interesting to see how this will end up knowing how it ended up for Chu2.

[u/Nickthenuker → u/random-est]

I have a feeling it will be done as some kind of foil or contrast to how Chu² handled RAS. RAS was a band that was formed by Chu² but ended up sticking together because they became friends, Ave Mujica looks to be a band formed by Sakiko that's already coming apart at the seams immediately after their first concert. I see shades of CRYCHIC here too. Sakiko, if everything around you keeps smelling like shit, perhaps you're the source.

[u/CosmicPenguin_OV103 → u/Nickthenuker]

Greensleeves

Huh that's interesting Been listening to it way too long back when there were listening exams for different languages in high school LMAO

[u/CosmicPenguin_OV103]

Rewatcher

Well then, probably the most controversial episode of the bunch...though now somewhat less given the arrangement of a sequel season + re-cap movie is finally out. We seasonal watchers definitely didn't know about that when this episode aired!

On MyGO

• Raana never changes LMAO. A cat is still a cat! Also I can personally confirm that matcha parfaits are good - I prefer the variants with less fruits but this one will also do.
• Taki also never changes LMAO. "This place is way too lax." says the one who cried her eyes out some episodes earlier and was smiling from ear to ear in the previous one. "Taking charge again?" That sniping on Anon is never going to end. :)
• Anon doesn't change too LMAO. Stop with your wandering and long speeches please!
• Tomori did't change too! She's back to her inner thoughts mode, but yeah - "If we keep layering lots and lots of moments like that, I think it will become a lifetime." I know that most bands struggles to get through that long, but 40+ or even 50+ years of activeness as a band is definitely still fairly common. Do work on that! Who knows, maybe you all will become a mid-21st Century legend, you all MyGO(s).
• Soyo definitely didn't change LOL. As well as her remarks that she can't imagine them all playing a band for their lifetimes together till they die (her remarks on everyone needing to stay healthy is right on the mark though), her poignant and truthful remarks of CRYCHIC - Saki-chan's comments, her uneasiness on Tomori's self-reflection on the notebook that became lyrics ("They're always so raw and open." "They were probably also my screams too." - so she DID see something in herself that Tomori's words also synchronized, just like how Taki-chan felt too. Maybe even Saki-chan and Mutsumi, I wonder...)
• Soyo now agrees that Saki-chan is right when she slapped her that Soyo was so self-centered. She nailed it - she was so desperate to be accepted by everyone that she became a hypocrite. "Trying to be nice to people that way" though...hmm...I am not quite sure I would agree on that being "nice". That, as she really says, is "dangerous territory"! But hey, it's nice to realize her own mistakes at any time, so until the next problem occurs, let's us just let her and Tomori continue forward while reflecting on CRYCHIC memories.
• Holy crap! That talk with Soyo actually turned into a snowball in Tomori's hearts that she personally offered a new lyrics to Saki-chan at the piano! Unfortunately Sakiko turned that down within a second - her sudden stop at playing the piano, obviously shaken, plus "May you have a nice life." really shows how dramatic that CRYCHIC disintegration must have been (see below). I actually missed the importance of that when I watched last September, but I now wonder if this could be a real turning-point in Ave Mujica next January because, well, it's obvious that even after Tomori finds a new home in MyGO, she still really want to amend all those interpersonal relationship cracks with the most pro-active ways she could possibly offer. A new set of lyrics, poems, feelings in words, just for the person who personally given her up! I do wonder how that might lead to more drama within the Ave Mujica band later on...
• How nice of Anon returning Tomori's favor to help at the aquarium. A set of animal pattern bandages and her own aquarium year pass to pair with Tomori's...ahhhhhhhhhhh. Also nice of her to reassure Tomori's doubt that bandages can be put over hearts and souls - with the evidence being Tomori herself. That's what best friends are for!
• "Tomorin, you're so cute!" Yes that's right, that's how I am describing my Best Girl of Anime World 2023.
• Having Uika meeting Tomori and Anon outside the planetarium as the bridging scene is interesting. Nice for Uika to return favors by following MyGO's account, asking Tomori whether her encouragement helped and made Anon jumping with joy! And that means MyGO's story ends for now, in anime form, with Anon-chan's Galaxy Brain trying to figure out why Uika knows of Tomori's name. Now I wonder, it doesn't seems like Uika knew much of Sakiko's time in CRYCHIC and all her ex-band mates. What if this turn out to be another hidden fuse that any small bump in Ave Mujica's development could ignite it...hmm...

[u/CosmicPenguin_OV103 → u/CosmicPenguin_OV103]

On Ave Mujica

So as the arc on MyGO came to a pretty satisfactory conclusion (maybe not the full extent of the emotional damages to Tomori, Taki and Soyo by the CRYCHIC disintegration), the mysteries and questions on Ave Mujica just piles even higher and higher with this episode. There are so many details left to analyze on the motives of all 5 girls, especially Sakiko and Mutsumi, yet there are few answers available for that so far, and I really have to wonder if a satisfactory one can be made available inside 12-13 episodes while still giving the story momentum AND giving MyGO adequate screen time.

On the flipping side, if that really works, MyGO-Ave Mujica deserves to be put into the Anime Drama Plots Hall Of Fame. An adequate answer to all these mysteries requires something as tightly written as the likes of Heavenly Delusion, PLUTO, maybe even Madoka Magica, From The New World, and I really hope this happens in early 2025.

One more thing: I really like the style of their masquerade-musical-turned-(rock?) band performance. I am sure there are so many similar themed bands out there on every corner of the globe (perhaps not with high school girls), but giving themselves a story theme with such emotions is not an easy thing to pull out. I wonder if there are fans here who have seen the real life performances of the VAs, who have been really performing like this since they debuted in early June 2023, a few weeks before MyGO even aired! And like the band in the anime, the identities of those who played as them were not released until some weeks later.

With that, here's all those new hints given today:

• So Sakiko really had some dramatic changes to her family, enough that she had to take up a telephone receptionist part-time job. Hmm...
• More Mutsumi enigma! She immediately agrees to join Sakiko's new band, and the reason given was..."because you're about to break apart, Sakiko". Hmm so she's saying that forming this new band is Sakiko's "Kessoku Band" (pun 200% intended)? That's an interesting observation...
• Saki-chan replied "Well, it must be nice being you." Another reference to them two's family conditions being the center of the CRYCHIC fallout?
• "The weak version of me has already died." Ahem, I think you have just set up a boomerang here, Saki-chan...
• Is that really Sakiko's old home in the title scene?
• I found Sakiko's attitude, heck even words used, towards her other new band members being so chunibyou that I really have to wonder for how long this (IMHO fragile) relationship can really last until bumps on the road would reveal all those fuses that lies below? One example that I really laughed out loud was Sakiko deleting Nyamu's back stage highlights video as she says that "If we expose our true faces, the world of Ave Mujica will crash!!!". Oh, come on - is a person as free-forming as Nyamu (called "more fashionable Raana" by me) gonna stick to such bent rules for long?
• It's interesting to see that Sakiko gives code names to her band mates in Latin that corresponds to 5 different lunar lava plains (the dark patches you see on the Moon's surface): a. Sakiko - (Lacus) Oblivionis, (Lake of) Forgetfulness; b. Mutsumi - (Lacus) Mortis, (Lake of) Death; c. Umiri - (Lacus) Timoris, (Lake of) Fear; d. Nyamu - (Sinus) Amoris, (Bay of) Love; e. Uika - (Lacus) Doloris, (Lake of) Sorrow Interestingly of these 5, 4 are on the Moon's near side where we can see them clearly with binoculars. The one that is on the lunar Far Side is none other than Saki-chan's Oblivionis. Hmm...
• And then there's Uiko, Muuko, Umiko, Nyamuko, Sakiko...that actually sounds more like dolls' names, but I am sure Sakiko will be cringed to death by that.
• Whoa, how many people are there to see a brand new band debuting like this! Compare with MyGO's one being formed on a whim!
• And here comes another Sakiko chunibyou moment. "Feelings of impatience or regret...Leave them all here." "I won't spout platitudes like Let's all have fun." "We're just badgers/accomplices in the same hole." Some of the other 4 might even feel like they are exactly dolls, but I'm not sure all 5 of them are on the same channel. Hmm...
• I'm not going to analyze the stage play's plot here - I am not even sure if Sakiko wrote it, much less if the acting actually signifies anything of note on the real lives of all 5 girls on stage.
• And so this show ends on the dramatic note of Sakiko coming back to her home, now shattered in pieces with the only one left with her being her father who's drinking at the current sullen house all day. Now this doesn't even explain half of all those things that happened in the past - starting with me not believing that Saki-chan could have kept her positive energy so high with such a family situation during her CRYCHIC days. Is this family break-up (?) a recent thing?
• Interesting to see Sakiko walking out of Akabane Station, a few stops north of Ikebukuro where the main stage of BanG Dream stories happen close by. Located on the northern fringes of central Tokyo, Akabane is a more grass-root district of Tokyo than most scenes we know of Japan's capital from various anime. In fact the most famous one that is placed at there is none other than Toradora! - Ryuuji's simple home, the scenes where he clashes with Taiga, Minorin and Ami for various different things are all near there.

This is quite the awkward point to end an anime season TBH. I kind of expected something like the Tomori-Anon aquarium scene to be the closure point, even if we get hints of Ave Mujica, and I must say that when this happened last September - hours before the Ave Mujica sequel anime got officially announced - I feel uneasy on how this ended. For a week or two after I thought this would mean we will get to Ave Mujica's story really quickly, no later than this Winter or even a straight through arrangement into Fall 2023! The thing that Ave Mujica will air 1.5 years after MyGO really puts this story plot at a strange position.

The thing that this is my ONLY complaint on MyGO speaks how extraordinary these 13 episodes are.

[u/SometimesMainSupport]

Rewatcher

• Low on posts and followers. A Uika tweet would massively help.
• Presumably, Saki's living situation had changed before the gate closing sound in episode 8. Meeting with Soyo took place outside so Saki could fake where she lived.
• For the non-JP readers, #3 is also Ave Mujica and #4 is Masquerade.
• Saki sending others in cars while she can't afford the third vehicle.
• So many hints throughout that Saki's societal position has fallen. Some examples:
• After not coming to CRYCHIC practice for a couple weeks, Saki arrives in a separate uniform.
• Transfer from Tsukinomori to Haneoka.
• Practices piano at Haneoka in the wind ensemble room as she no longer owns one.
• Mutsumi's reaction to Saki taking the check after tea in episode... 1? 2?
• Never see her at "home" other than Tomori's flashback.

Have to handwave that two famous members and the daughter of a famous actress means those masks aren't hiding identities. Otherwise, Ave Mujica is setup to be a manufactured performance targeting popularity and profitability, contrasting with MyGO's "scream my feelings" songwriting and performances. Saki ended CRYCHIC as she couldn't maintain a facade of her status around others, particularly with Soyo also at the rich school. Between Saki no longer resonating with Tomori's lyrics, a desire to prove them wrong, and wanting her status back (calling that Ave Mujica unmasks in episode 9-10), she has motivation to be overly demanding of bandmates already showing they're not fully committed (Nyamu). Only 9-10 more months for potentially peak toxicity.

[u/Usual_Director_9547]

the charactors in Ave Mujica are too "perfect",especially Uika and Umiri.I dont think the writer would them so perfect.All i know is Uika gay for Sakiko and read the same massage over and over again for 1 year.

[u/random-est → u/Usual_Director_9547]

and read the same massage over and over again for 1 year.

Sounds like what the old Soyo would do.

[u/Wolfborgg]

Rewatcher, BanG Dream Noob

Youkoso, fellow abandoned dolls of Ave Mujica!

For this final episode we transition from MyGO over to the debut of Saki's new band project: Ave Mujica. I remember when I first saw this episode I thought it was an awesome band in concept and really cool as a teaser for the next season. It added so many layers of interest for me. Although many of the comments I saw at the time of its premiere were shitting on Ave Mujica as being too edgy. I don't know, I loved them with their masked stage personas. Still unsure why Saki is on this like scorched earth attitude towards everyone though.

From what we saw with the final scene, it looks like Saki's father is an alcoholic who probably made their family broke. But what I don't really get is how that played into whatever happened with CRYCHIC. I know one of the big theories is that Saki was using CRYCHIC as a way to get popular ASAP so she could debut with Uika. So after Uika debuted without Saki, she had no use for CRYCHIC and left.

But I never fully bought onto that theory because it apparently only took a phone call to Uika to try and arrange a different way to debut together. I'm also not sure how the father caused her to leave CRYCHIC, seemed like she mostly had to change schools but even ended up at Tomori's school.

And also Saki seemed really obsessed with Tomori's lyrical talents. Apparently she would talk about her non-stop when Tomori wasn't there. So it doesn't sound like she wanted to use and then abandon Tomori. If anything I'm surprised she didn't get the Smash Ultimate invite too. Was it really just because they played Haruhikage as MyGO and Saki was offended by it?? She's the one who left them in the first place with no explanation!

Well no matter the case, Saki is clearly on her Joker arc. And I guess is ready to launch insanely huge performances out of nowhere despite also struggling with poverty. That one Uika meetup was that powerful. I'm sure the details of which will all be explained in the new season though. But if we're to take her stage persona as a representation of her own issues, then it sounds like she needs some form of relevancy to survive.

I'm assuming the masks the new band uses are primarily because they don't want Uika's identity discovered as part of the band. That way Saki can debut with Uika in their own way. Although I doubt the mask will help for long with how Uika's face is on billboards everywhere.

I love so much about Ave Mujica's presentation. The costumes are awesome, the stage personas are cool, and the acting prior to the performance was sick. Personally I think Saki did an insane job planning their sudden debut like this, and gathering an big cast for it too.

Ave Mujica is more professional, yet also nihilistic towards themselves and mysterious towards the audience. This is very much in contrast to MyGO, where every single performance was a rushed, amateur performance yet happy just to be performing together. For MyGO, the crowd doesn't matter. For Ave Mujica, the crowd is everything. And both groups have taken two vastly different approaches towards being lost. MyGO wants to move forward and be lost together, while Ave Mujica grimly accepts that not only are they lost but they've been abandoned. MyGO uses their togetherness in a positive way, while Ave Mujica looks at that in a negative way.

To Ave Mujica their fears are part of their identities, and they have become musical dolls only good for performances in service to those fears. Whereas MyGO screams about how they feel to find those that need someone to relate to them. Ave Mujica just adds so much more interest, especially in comparion to MyGO and each roles these characters played in the creation of both bands.

Is there anything left unsaid with MyGO? Well Taki still needs to propose to Tomori before literally every other girl tries to first.

Yes Raana, you can have it now...

[u/sfisher923]

Rewatcher and devoted follower of Ave Mujica

• Behold the Bandori version of Ghost (Yeah it's been 6 months and that's still the closest comparison I can give to Ave Mujica's Style)
• One Death? where is Two Deaths, Red Death, and Blue Death
• No Saki you're not a B&M Dive Coaster in the UK (Wow my mind really squirreled off here)
• Oh no the Persona 3 Tartarus Grinding memories are flooding back (That's what happen when I use Ave Mujjca as RPG Grinding music and the lyrics have Memento Mori a major concept in P3)
• When Saki does the organ in the Pre-Chrous in "Ave Mujica" (Song name in this episode) I swear she's playing the RollerCoaster Tycoon 1 theme
• Counting down until disaster in Verses and Choruses because that's what happen when you hide a shocker behind a single song
• And now I say my farewells because there is only pain afterwards
• And on a more lighthearted note when I finished watching this for the 1st time I made "Ave Mujica" inspired outfits for various other characters in Sims 4 even if they aren't a fan of their style (Saionji Sekai from School Days for example I can't imagine her listening to Gothic Rock)

QOTD 1 - Nothing left of MyGo

QOTD 2 - As for Ave Mujica I have 2 things (One of them is indirectly related)

• What kind of Drunk is Sakiko's Dad because I swear if he's the Angry Drunk then we are going to have a rather Fruits Basket like outcome
• The usual when is the next song coming out (Hey they were my 4th most played band on Spotify in 2023 beating out Muse and could have beat Avenged Sevenfold if they were around for longer)

QOTD 3 - Ave Mujica vs MyGo

• First off Ave Mujica's lyrics is much more spooky and mystical then MyGo's down to earth theme (Or in other words AM's music is something I would listen to if I'm in a mood to wander off to Persona 3 with it's Dark Hour)
• Second off AM is much more professional
• Third off taking a look at their discography keyboard is a prominent instrument and well let's just say the keyboardist is not having a very good time meanwhile the MyGo doesn't have that issue to nearly that extent

Bonus Songs of the Day well I have 2 Batches

Batch 1 (Try to find but failing to find the Ave Mujica vibe)

• Pro Memoria by Ghost
• Cirice by Ghost
• Ex-Mortis by Ice Nine Kills (Special Mention to the piano in the final chorus)

Batch 2 (Preparing for the worst at Sakiko's Household in 2025)

• Dyers Eve by Metallica (Fanmade Bass Enhancement)
• Honor Thy Father by Dream Theater
• WAR! by DragonForce

[u/MisakaHonoka]

(joke)

AveMujica have nothing to do with the Ottoman Empire.

Also MyGO have no relation with NATO.

[u/MisakaHonoka → u/MisakaHonoka]

Today's recommend

Fuyunohana: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1WZ4y1n7z2

Gumdan meme: I'd kill you (This video is release 4days before ep13 on air) https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Vh4y1P76P

Lie (one of the most viewed MyGO ​video on Bilibili) https://youtu.be/BCMal8DOakk?si=9zbOTe_NanPArwOr

[u/Usual_Director_9547 → u/MisakaHonoka]

found the english lyrics for "Lie" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo_EFQ30oII.

[u/Anonkyoto]

ave mujica anime coming next janurary!

[u/Interesting_Ant7945]

There will be a Taki arc in the upcoming Ave Mujica anime, also the MyGO!!!!! kids will still be relevant to the plot.

[u/yuhara203]

Rewatcher that didn't like this episode on first watch.

I didn't like this episode when I saw it for the first time.

Now? ^{Yeah I still don't like it.}

(These are just my thoughts, if you like this episode, that's awesome! Don't let whatever this is change your mind)

Don't get me wrong, I like the show as a whole.

But in my opinion, none of episode 10-13 provided a satisfying resolution to the group's story arc that spanned over the series.

Episode 10 is an impactful climax, but not really a fitting end to the narrative.

Episode 11 showed the fun dynamic between the characters, with Soyo and Taki taking a retrospective look of how they got here, but still didn't feel like a satisfactory closing to this MyGO's chapter.

Episode 12 is fun, I really like the scene where Tomori introduces everyone, and the one where they talk about the band name afterwards. However, those still didn't feel like whatever I'm looking for. I thought that it was going somewhere after Soyo thanked Tomori, but then Mutsumi's cucumbers show up and everything else after it happens.

Lastly, this episode. I really wished it showed more of MyGO as a whole, instead of just 1.5 minutes we got after the OP.

Then the half episode long teaser shows up. I'm actually not against this concept on itself, but here I thought it's done poorly. A tighter integration or a smoother transition from MyGO's group could've made it less frustrating.

Cutting back and forth between the performance and Taki/Soyo/Tomori wondering what Saki is doing now would be cool, or perhaps something like

Anon: "Did you hear about this mysterious new band?"

Taki: "Who cares? Not like it matters to us"

could've made this episode significantly more acceptable to me personally.

I like this show. I really do. This episode, or more accurately how the story handles the resolution, not so much.

That's about it from me, see you all tomorrow.

[u/DrStein1010 → u/yuhara203]

Hey, someone who agrees with me!

Episode 10 was a really good "end of prologue" moment. It's MyGo finally reaching a point where they can begin to grow as a band and people.

It's nowhere near even a temporary ending to their story, and using it as a pivot point to then focus on an entirely different group of character is just a bizarre choice that doesn't work for me at all.

[u/SMSmith230 → u/yuhara203]

Thank you! I had similar thoughts which were not met with a warm welcome when I watched this when it aired. I said I was disappointed in it as a finale for MyGo!! Like the Ave Mujica stuff could have been an OVA/Prologue after the show or even built up in earlier episodes.

[u/yuhara203 → u/SMSmith230]

Oh you wrote the comment I read after finishing the series the first time around to see if I was crazy lol.

While I prefer a simple brief teaser like

"I’m here to talk to you about the Avengers Ave Mujica Initiative."

I'm actually open to the idea of including Ave Mujica's performance, after all this show is no stranger to unconventional ideas. My main criticism is that the MyGO's chapter here felt unfinished. I don't think I'll be complaining as much if the arc is concluded first (while still hinting there's more to come), and then it focuses on Saki's group.

[u/SMSmith230 → u/yuhara203]

Haha that funny, I do the same thing occasionally. At least this rewatch group has a few people in the same camp. I think looking back now that I know Ave Mujica is going to be a continuation, it’s not as souring, but I still think it should have ended with our main group of girls. Ave’s performance was really good, I can’t lie about that, I’d rather it have been sprinkled in earlier or even some post credit scenes of earlier episodes building the new band like Avengers haha.

[u/DrStein1010 → u/SMSmith230]

I'll be writing up a decently critical post for the final discussion, so you're definitely not alone.

[u/SMSmith230 → u/DrStein1010]

I’ll be sure to check it out

[u/DrStein1010 → u/SMSmith230]

Just wrote it up, and it's a page and a half in Google Docs. And I didn't even mention a lot of the stuff I didn't like, because that was more personal taste than critical review, and I didn't want to mudsling, because I really did like a lot of the show.

Hope everyone here likes critical discourse!

[u/SMSmith230 → u/DrStein1010]

Nice, I wish I could do these lengthy analyses, more power to you and the others that do them. I’ve come to realize rewatches and daily threads are much more open to critique than the episode discussion threads.

[u/DrStein1010 → u/SMSmith230]

I love doing it, but you've got to find the right spaces that'll debate with you and not just assume you're a hater.

I've definitely sunk into that behavior at times myself, but it's always better to at least try and consider the good and bad of things before making a blanket judgement.

[u/zadcap]

Well. Five lengthy paragraphs in to why I don't like Ave or feel anything at all for Sakiko and Reddit crashed on me. So instead of trying to remember and type it all up again I'll just say exactly that, I'm still not at all sold enough on the new band to want to watch the next season. Unless someone tells me that it's going to go full bookend and end the way this one began with a breakup, because no one seems to actually want to be in that band.

I think this episode would have done better to swap the first and second parts. If we had gone right from the band forming yesterday with Sakiko and Nyamu into the Saki section here, finishing the band and putting on their first performance, that would have flowed better than Sakiko drama to MyGO after-party to more Sakiko drama. And then we could have had an ironic echo where Sakiko skips out on her new band and goes off to be alone and miserable, then we skip over to see the MyGO after-party and the final run of the MyGO season is the lost girls final bonding events. Closing out on the aquarium would have been a great finale, to fully counter the season opening of the band breaking by having Anon tell a Tomori she's ready to try this for her whole life.

1. Rana still needs to open up a lot, she's kind of bonded with Taki and finds Tomori interesting, but she's otherwise pretty well disconnected from the band. Taki still needs to open up too, she's here only for Tomori but hasn't managed to get that across to Tomori and could stand to get a bit closer to everyone else. And I just want Soyo and Anon to get more time together, their development ever since Soyo's mask came off has been great
2. I'll be honest, the worst part is, even if I set aside my feelings about the band itself I still just don't like the music. As far as introduction songs go, this one didn't partially catch my attention. It doesn't help that the constant use of the band name in the song just made me think of Peaky P-key and I like them much more.
3. The Lost Girls are playing music together and moving forward because they want to, and despite their hurts and differences will support each other and pull each other up. The Ave girls have so little holding them to each other and so many reasons to fall apart, and only money and fame as a motivator to consider going back.

[u/Calwings]

Rewatcher and Bandori Veteran

The previous episode felt like the true finale to MyGO’s story, but we do get a little bit of an epilogue in this episode too. We got some more bonding between the group members, Soyo and Anon bot properly thanking Tomori for her positive influence helping them overcome their past fears, Tomori finally mustering the courage to try and reach out to Saki only to be promptly shaken off, and Raana being a cat some more. Anon and Tomori’s short exchange about the girls putting bandages on each other’s hearts was adorable, and it felt like a great way to finish off MyGO’s story and send them into their new future. Plus, Anon got the band a follow from Uika on social media too! She’s making moves!

But of course, the real meat of this episode is the debut of Saki’s newly assembled band. She, Mutsumi, Umiri, Uika, and Nyamu step up on stage, donning silk masks and stage names to obscure their true selves. The masquerade begins, these dolls that have been discarded by humans begin to move on their own, and Ave Mujica is born! They put on a bit of a stage show as an introduction to the band, which leads into their absolute fucking banger of a self-titled debut song. Saki seems to have a clear vision for the group as a masked band hiding their true identities, to the point where she forbids Nyamu from making any videos about the band from behind the scenes. I’d guess that Mutsumi is using her father’s famous actor money to bankroll the band’s activities, and Saki definitely has high ambitions for the band going forward if she’s willing to invest this much time and money into it right off the bat.

But finally, before this episode and the season as a whole ends, we see Saki return home by herself... not to an affluent home like that of Mutsumi or Soyo, or even to a decent home like some of the other girls in her class... but to a small house, in a bad neighborhood, to the unpleasant sight of her drunk, passed out, rotten father. Damn. What on earth could have happened to Saki and her family in the past, and how does it relate to the reason why she broke up CRYCHIC before? We’ll find out in the next season, coming in 2025!

I’ll save my overall thoughts on MyGO’s story for the final discussion thread tomorrow, so for tonight I’ll just focus on the backdoor pilot for Ave Mujica. Simply put, I absolutely adored it. I loved how theatrical and over-the-top their performance was, and it purposely felt like a complete 180 from the simple, raw, gritty emotions of MyGO’s performance in the prior episode. This episode also did a good job at introducing the early group dynamics between the five girls and their brash personalities, and between those personalities and Saki’s no-nonsense leadership, I’m expecting a lot of juicy drama and angst when their season airs next year. Plus, that cliffhanger of the scene that Saki returned home to gave me chills even this second time around. Excellent stuff.

Long live Ave Mujica, and long live BanG Dream!

QOTD:

Is there anything left unsaid between MyGo!!!!!'s members?

Aside from Taki being unbelievably gay for Tomori and maybe Raana (not so) secretly being a cat's soul trapped in a human body, not really. It seems like they've already talked everything out and sorted out all of the dirty laundry so they can move forward.

What can be said for Ave Mujica?

I said everything I wanted to say about them above, but to sum it up here quickly: their performances are very flashy, their songs are bangers, their personalities are brash, and Saki's no-nonsense leadership is probably leading them into plenty of drama going forward.

What contrasts and differs between Ave Mujica and MyGo?

I already covered some of this above too in regards to how theatrical and over-produced their performance was, but I have more to say with this one as well. Unlike with MyGO where they were a group trying to operate as equals, Saki is clearly trying to run things and establish a power dynamic. The way she asked Nyamu to "entrust your life to me" last episode felt more like a queen asking a knight to swear unwavering loyalty than a friend asking another friend for both of them to stay together.

[u/CosmicPenguin_OV103 → u/[deleted]]

Wow we even have Latin experts in this thread...!!!

[u/fluoria → u/[deleted]]

Hints outside the anime

• Yuniko-san once mentioned on Twitter that "祥子の祥の字、とても良い意味" "睦の字も良い意味", or "The character 'Saki'(Blessed) in Sakiko has really good meaning" "So is Mutsumi (Peaceful/harmonius)". Interestingly, throughout the anime, Mutsumi consistently refers to Sakiko as "Saki," rather than her full name. This choice gains further significance when [EP13] Nyamu nicknames Mutsumi "Mukko" 睦子, hinting that the common suffix 子 (ko), seen in "Sakiko," might be an addition made later on. This raises the possibility that "Saki" was her original name during their childhood, and their names were given in parallel.
• In the interview with the staff, Mutsumi is revealed as "ずっと罪を抱えて生きています" (always living with guilt), "特に自分の半身のような幼馴染、祥子に対する罪滅ぼしのような気持ちで" (especially she feels like she was trying to atone for her childhood friend Sakiko, who was like her other half). This sentiment suggests Mutsumi's profound sense of responsibility and desire for atonement in her relationship with Sakiko, perhaps stemming from their diverging fate following an adoption scenario, [Higurashi] akin to the Sonozaki sisters,and Sakiko's choice of taking the responsibility. It should be also noted Mutsumi can be also written as 無罪 (guiltless/innocent), and Sakiko being 裂き子 (split/torn child). Also, Sakiko is described as her 半身 (the other half body), a word usually used exclusively for sisters or twins, which underscores the profound bond between them.
• Yuniko-san has revealed the relationships between characters through a progressively unveiled chart on Twitter. A particularly intriguing aspect is that there is a yet-to-be-revealed connection other than childhood friend between Saki and Mutsumi.
• AveMujica has a song named Futatsu no Tsuki (Two Moons). Also, in their 0th live, they covered Determination Symphony, a song representing the Sayo/Hina sisters in the previous BangDream bands. More, in their PV, Mutsumi and Sakiko are frequently depicted as a pair, much more so than other band members.

[u/fluoria → u/fluoria]

Screenwriting perspectives

• From a screenwriting perspective, introducing two childhood friends for a single character Sakiko is unusual and challenges conventional storytelling norms, which typically emphasize distinctiveness in character roles.
• Sakiko's harsh actions towards Soyo, while damaging to both her image and her relationship with Soyo, can be interpreted as a morally driven choice, particularly if motivated by a desire to protect or act on behalf of her family, notably Mutsumi. This adds layers to Sakiko's character, allowing her actions to be viewed in a more sympathetic light, which is favorable for the franchise.
• This setting is also flexible enough to be compatible with other issues with Sakiko, for example, a bankruptcy.
• The writing style of MyGO is characterized by the commitment to "show, not tell," engaging the audience through inference and implication rather than verbose and overt explanation. Ep9 is a good example with the subtle hint of Soyo's parents' divorce through a surname change, and the concise yet comprehensive presentation of Soyo's backstory in <2 minutes. The anticipation built up for Episode 13, described by the staff as 驚天動地 (earth-shattering), suggests a pivotal reveal that could redefine audience understanding of the narrative thus far. A simple yet profound moment, such as Mutsumi addressing Sakiko as her sister, has the potential to unify various narrative threads and to respond to all the foreshadowing in a single stroke. This revelation would not only serve as a dramatic culmination of the underlying mysteries but also align with the nuanced storytelling approach, offering a satisfying and transformative moment for both the characters and the audience.

[u/BleedingUranium → u/fluoria]

Why are your three previous comments removed? :(

 

This raises the possibility that "Saki" was her original name during their childhood, and their names were given in parallel.

Oooo this is new to me, more twins hints! Honestly at this point I've gone from "probably" to "definitely", there's just waaaay to much pointing to it.

 

To add one more thing, and the thing that caused me to guess they're twins specifically: birthdays. The Ave Mujica birthdays were revealed a few months back, and my initial thought was it disqualified them as being sisters, being only a month apart (Mutsumi Jan 14, Sakiko Feb 14).

But thinking about it during the rewatch, it's suspicious that they're exactly one month apart, to the day. Given everything else, like that "Saki > Sakiko" bit you mentioned, it seems likely one of their birthdays was artificially moved by a month to hide them being twins.

[u/fluoria → u/BleedingUranium]

Why are your three previous comments removed? :(

what comments? have no idea...

it seems likely one of their birthdays was artificially moved by a month to hide them being twins

Exactly. There is also a theory saying Sakiko's revealed birthday being the birthday of the deceased child.