The magnificent previous episode of Mob Psycho 100, was likely going to set this one up for failure. This episode opens with Reigen seemingly getting fired and renting a small apartment four years ago. In the present Mob accomplishes a new feat, 35 push ups. It’s a new record for him. Dimple notes that Mob has been developing a greater since of self, developing more confidence. Mob and the other celebrate the birthdays of Kijibayashi and Kumakawa. We rarely see Mob spending time with people other than Reigen. Mob finally is able to at least ask Reigen to do a job on his own. He fails to say no however.
Mob quickly arrives and destroys the ghosts. So far in this series Reigen has maintain a balance of being a sleazy con man to an important and positive adult that has had a good impression on Mob. In this episode I think he crosses a line. He belittles Mob’s personal life, telling him to “grow up.” He manipulates Mob, by telling that his friends don’t actually care about him. Here, Reigen’s manipulation fails and prompts Mob to state that he “doesn’t believe that” Reigen always tells the truth. Reigen is suggesting that Mob is being used by his friends, while using Mob powers.
Mob cuts ties with Reigen. Instead of heading to work he simply returns home. Reigen is sure that Mob will return to him. Mob admits that he felt that it was “easier” to just blindly follow Reigen. Mob has decided that stop relying on Reigen so much. As Mob goes on socializing, Reigen continues to tell himself that Mob will return to him. He clearly misses Mob and isn’t sure that he would return. While walking he runs into Mob walking with his friends. By “walking into” I mean he runs and hides from him. He notices that Mob may actually be having fun.
Reigen tries to manipulate Dimple, asking him if he wants to be “ordinary middle schooler’s pet forever.” It doesn’t really work. Reigen heads home to his small apartment. Mob and his friends head to karaoke. Meanwhile, Reigen searches a Facebook clone when he realizes that it’s his birthday and he has no birthday messages form his friends. We and Reigen have focused on Mob’s friendships but we never see Reigen with anyone other than Mob. He gets a condensing message from his mother telling him to find a “real” job.
Mob Psycho 100: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]
As Mob has fun at karaoke, Reigen doesn’t at a sad bar. He meets his “almost friends,” at the bar. Reigen reaches rock bottom as he realizes he friendless. as he throws up in an alley, he decides that he’s “just going to have to become somebody.” He expands his field of work, increasing the popularity of his agency. He got interviewed for a magazine and offer an opportunity to be on television. He appears on a show with Jodo, who appears to have it in for Reigen. Even though this series didn’t focus on action packed psychic battles, it may have been the most impact an episode has had yet. Focusing on the character development of Reigen and Mob is important.
Particularly, Reigen needed to be fleshed out. At the beginning of the episode he was terrible towards Mob. It turned out the criticism he had of Mob’s life was more true of his own. However, he became more of a sad figure, than one to scorn. Mob was actually his only friend. He had no real private life, he’s a fraud in all aspects of his life. He does dwell in his sorrow however. He gets back on his feet and manages to make himself even more successful. His change was more genuine this time, actually having success to speak of. The question remains, will Mob and him reunite? How? What does Jodo plan on doing to him?
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