So far, Ave Mujica – The Die is Cast – has impressed me and subverted my expectations for an idol-based anime series. After the end of the third episode, I definitely needed Ave Mujica – The Die is Cast – episode 4 to bring some answers regarding Mutsumi and the future of the Ave Mujica band. Fortunately, those answers came in what could be the most dramatic and insightful episode yet.
Ave Mujica episode 4 takes many twists and turns from hopeful to despair, happiness to emptiness. From start to finish, I was captivated by how the story progressed, and it continued to separate the glowing public image of Ave Mujica from its dark, tumultuous core. There’s so much to unpack with this episode, and it mostly starts with Mutsumi.
Spoiler warning: there will be story spoilers ahead for episode 4, including plot points, reveals, and major character choices.
Ave Mujica – The Die is Cast – Episode 4 Pushes Everyone to their Limit
Episode 4 begins on a more positive note, as Mutsumi adopts her more cheerful and optimistic persona. I was intrigued by her demeanor and what it could mean for the band in that moment, since it did appear that thoughts of disbanding were completely dispelled. However, it quickly becomes clear that this moment of unity for Ave Mujica was going to be brief.
Although Mutsumi is in a better mood, Sakiko is taken aback by her new personality and believes the group may be acting too laid back with the Fukuoka performance on the horizon. Sakiko’s reaction sets a doubtful tone for the rest of episode 4, and it continues to compound as cracks within Ave Mujica continue to emerge.
As the episode goes on, Mutsumi becomes more eerie and unsettling with her cheerfulness, though it may not seem that way for the rest of the members outside Sakiko. Her eagerness to be at the center of Ave Mujica weighs on Sakiko, eventually leading to a confrontation that reveals the reason for Mutsumi’s changes.
Dark Revelation
Despite her shift in personality, Mutsumi is unable to perform her role as guitarist for the upcoming performance. This only elevates the stress that Sakiko is dealing with, leading her to drag Mutsumi outside to get answers. After so much anticipation, it’s finally revealed to Sakiko that Mutsumi’s persona, Mortis, has taken over as she “sleeps,” which explains the drastic changes.
Sakiko’s selfishness and hyperfixation on the band pushed Mutsumi into a corner when she needed help the most, resulting in her current state. She claims to hate Sakiko and wants to protect both Mutsumi and the band, but she warns that if Sakiko continues her current path, the Mutsumi she knows might never come back. Understandably, this moment shakes Sakiko to her core, and she tells the rest of Ave Mujica about what happened.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t help the overall situation of the band when Mutsumi, in her Mortis mindset, returns to help plan out the band’s performance. Nyamu becomes fed up with Sakiko’s state of despair and reluctance when fans have worked hard to support Ave Mujica. As a result, talks of disbanding Ave Mujica became prevalent again among the five band members.
Uika brings no comfort despite her loyalty, and since Umiri agrees with Nyamu, Mutsumi is unable to bring any reassurance in this important moment. Mutsumi’s own attempts to de-escalate tensions fail when she’s questioned about her purpose for being in Ave Mujica, closing out the most dramatic episode yet.
A Brilliant Follow-Up to Episode 3
Ave Mujica episode 4 highlighted that the band is a team effort. One person slipping behind could cause the whole band to completely implode or disrupt itself. In this case, it became clear that Mutsumi’s attempt to shoulder the burdens of the band in its most vulnerable state became too much for her. An optimistic beginning gave way to a very bleak ending to episode 4, as Mutsumi is forced to deal with the hardship of a band that is crumbling in silence.
Once again, the dark narrative of Ave Mujica continues to be a vital and compelling part of the series, along with music that’s equally as brooding during these dramatic scenes. I was fully immersed in what was unfolding, especially during Mutsumi and Sakiko’s confrontation in the rain. This episode was certainly a rollercoaster, and I enjoy that this shocking turn of events is far from over.
Whether it’s Mortis or Mutsumi, it’s clear that the guitarist will need to step up and honor her commitment to Ave Mujica. This episode sets up what could be some of the most crucial and well-planned character development for Mutsumi yet, and it will certainly be interesting to see how Sakiko, Umiri, Uika, and Nyamu react in episode 5. My expectations are certainly high, but I’m sure Ave Mujica will deliver in Fukuoka.
Ave Mujica – The Die is Cast – is streaming right now on Crunchyroll, with new episodes premiering on Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. PST.
