This episode really showed the friendship between Arale and Ritsu. It’s sad the damage that Viola caused. Arale being as pure as she was and now feeling traumatized is saddening. In many ways, Ritsu Arale was someone who motivated. Now she just has guilt when seeing Arale. As we see at the end of the episode, just the connection of Ritsu causes pain for Arale.
It’s clear how nasty Viola is because it wasn’t her seeking revenge against Arale. She wanted to be controlling the group. The former leader was looking out for the safety of two middle school-aged girls, and it’s clear Viola pushed her out. The video she pushed out for Arale because she didn’t fit with what she wanted of the band. This is the first BanG Dream series where it really showcases the power of social media and how it can be used in a manipulative sense.
