5 Point Discussions: Mob Psycho 100 2 – Episode 3

The second episode of Mob Psycho 100 2 dropped on January 21st, so let’s get right into it with a 5 Point Discussion. If you liked this article and other 5 Point Discussions, make sure to share on Facebook, Tumblr, or Twitter. If you have any questions or comments for me, you can find me @fistfuloftea on Twitter.

1.In this episode, we learn about yet another one of Reigen’s impressive skills – he’s a pro when it comes to both web design and SEO. Sure, his website might look like a fever dream from the early 2000s, but it’s doing its job – bringing in customers and cash. Is there anything is man can’t do, besides the obvious psychic powers thing?

2. Season 2 is really hitting viewers hard with the idea of mundane human cruelty. While in Season 1, most of the bad guys were either misguided children or over the top cults, what we’ve seen so far in Season 2 is different. In this episode, we saw a pervert using psychic powers to spy on his neighbor, and we saw a group of teenagers pull an r/ChoosingBeggars and try to get out of paying for Reigen’s services.

This stuff is more unsettling than what we’ve seen before, because we all know sexual offenders and we all know people who think they’re entitled to services without paying for them. Season 2 is realer than Season 1, and I’m still processing how I feel about it.

3. Speaking of hitting viewers with the hard stuff, Mob himself is starting to explore some serious philosophical questions. Why aren’t humans as frightening as spirits? The way this question is posed is fascinating. For human viewers without psychic powers its obvious that spirits – which we don’t understand and can’t defend against – are scarier.

But in this episode, none of the spirits tried to do hurt anyone. They were simply a family trying to live in peace. For Mob, who is human but who lives his life among spirits, the answer isn’t so easy. Can he keep destroying spirits indiscriminately, without considering their point of view? Probably not.

4. Reigen’s decision not to force Mob to kill the spirit family was a good one. The brief moment where it seemed like he could go either way was one of the most anxiety-inducing moments I’ve experienced watching anything else this season. Had he prioritized the customers, it would not only have destroyed his relationship with Mob, but also destroyed a part of the little boy’s soul.

One of the best things about this show is how much Reigen genuinely loves Mob and has his best interests at heart, even if he’s lying to him. I didn’t want to see that go away, and I’m glad I didn’t have to.

5. The end, where Mob falls asleep before he can truly process what happened to him, really helped set the tone of the rest of the episode. Yes, Mob Psycho 100 is a show that deals with some serious issues, but ultimately, the person dealing with them is a child – no different from any other child excepting his powers. That’s what makes this show so great.