English Dub Review: Mob Psycho 100 “Even Then ~Continue Forward~”

Go, Mob go!

Overview (Spoilers Below)

Life returns to normal for Mob as he resumes his middle school life. However, in the world around Mob, the Psycho Helmet cult/religion has grown and grown in notoriety. At the same time, the school is having its yearly marathon race. Mob freaks out and remembers that he promised himself that he would ask out Tsubomi if he was able to place in the race’s top ten. Emi, who explains to Mob his fame as the leader of Psycho Helmet, wants to see Mob get out there to reveal his true powers and inspire his followers, so she decides to help him out.

Mob tells his friends about his desire to win the race, and they all decide to help him train. The fitness club gives him a new pair of shoes while his brother helps out at Reigen’s office to cover for Mob’s job. While there, Mob’s brother overhears Tsubomi asking Reigen if she should ask out a boy from cram school she likes. Ritsu vows not to tell Mob what he heard so as not to diminish his spirits, but it turns out that Tsubomi lied to Reigen, and is actually crushing on Mob.

The day of the race comes, and Mob puts everything he’s trained for to good use. He runs with the starting signal, but gets knocked around by the crowd early on and suffers a cut in his leg. Yet, he carries on, and through his own force of will, he’s able to overtake several runners. However, despite his best efforts, he eventually passes out and awakens in the school nurse’s office. He didn’t make his goal, but he is still happy that he’s done his best.

Back at Mob’s home, Ritsu is visited by an unfortunate caller. Suzuki Shou, a member of Claw, arrives at Mob’s home and threatens Mob’s family. While Mob is on his way home, he sees smoke coming from his house. He rushes back home to find his house ablaze. In a dreamlike trance, Mob enters his home, unaffected by the flames, only to find a grizzly sight: the scorched bodies of his family. Mob’s power level surges to unbelievable levels as he loses all sense of control.

Our Take:

Just when you think you’re safe, this show decides to pull a fast one on you and remind you that nothing good can ever truly stay. As I watched this episode, I was initially considering it to be somewhat boring. Mob dedicating himself to self-improvement and reaching goals is nothing new, but after the blockbuster episodes we’ve had before this, this race subplot felt a bit small for my liking. Little did I realize, however, that this was just the appetizer for the main course, the setup to the punchline, with extra punch. The ending of this episode is so unbelievable it’s hard to accept that it actually happened. Just as Mob has finally reached a point of happiness with himself, old demons return and make his family pay the ultimate price. It left a lasting impression on me that cemented this as one of the best episodes of the season, even if it is just because it sets up for so much more coming down the road.

The wholesomeness of this episode serves to be it’s the greatest strength, lulling you into a sense of security just in time to twist things around on you. But let’s be clear, this isn’t just faffing about on the part of the show. Mob’s journey to this point has been one of self-discovery and confidence-building. His time spent developing relationships, bettering himself and those around him has paid off in spades. Though he isn’t a great runner and he doesn’t take the race, he’s still victorious in the personal battles he’s fought and won.

As I continue enjoying this spectacular show, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Mob Psycho 100 is a true master of tone. Most of the time, it’s a comedy, catching viewer interest with its genuinely funny characters and creative situations, but at the drop of a pin, it can go from 0 to 100 (Quite literally) and bring us into the dark world of psychic power. In this way, the audience’s journey mirrors Mob’s innocence contrasted with the often dark and terrifying world around him. In a matter of seconds, one can be plunged headfirst into something truly wicked.

This makes Mob Psycho 100 a genre of the show entirely unto itself. There really is nothing else like this out there, and therefore episodes like this are a one-of-a-kind experience. This looks to be the beginning of one of the most epic arcs in this show to date, and I’m chomping at the bit to see what’s coming in the store. Whatever you do, don’t miss this, and brace yourself, because it’s going to be quite a ride.