Review of Mob Psycho 100 II
Giving anything a solid 10/10 is uncharacteristic of me in general. I tend to find things that fail in some way to execute on their intention or overall message, or think of a better way to have done things and tell a story. Even in Mob Psycho season 1, which I'd say the current 8.5 the show has at the time of writing this would be accurate, I could find things to pick at and show how they could have been better. Even so, the prospect of season 2 was exciting and I looked forward to binging it all which I did one week ago. Ican't be sure as to whether it just came into my life at an opportune time or what, but I can't find a single flaw in season 2. I've tried. I've rewatched episodes, I've analyzed the soundtrack and the many art styles and mediums they use to drive a joke home or create drama or tension. Despite my efforts, I cannot find a single thing to note about season 2 that isn't jaw-dropping, stunningly perfect in its concept and its execution. I'm not even infatuated with the show - it ended, I eagerly await a third season, but it's over for now and I've moved on. To me, this suggests I'm clear-headed and not looking at this show or its contents through any sort of lens. It is simply a masterpiece of a season and it has reshaped how I view other anime; more importantly, it has given me a substantial list of values and ideas to take away that I can and already have started to apply in my life.
So, a full breakdown of each category and why I'd justify their scores will be below.
Story:
The story insofar as it serves Mob and the cornucopia of characters in the show is done extremely well. Not in the sense that this is a unique plot tying in various cryptic elements and weaving together an intricate story, but that it is a relatable and fully human interpretation of what would most likely happen if psychic powers were real.
What makes the story stand out so much is the characters driving it, so in a way, the overarching plot has more to do with the characters than its actual plot points, but it works in tandem with each character. Moreover, everything is intentional, so some characters are not really well-equipped to handle certain situations just like you'd expect in a realistic scenario. On that point, the story is also unforgiving - the end of season 2 illustrates this well when Mob is forced to acknowledge that he isn't strong enough to do what he wants to do. He isn't forgiven, there's no literary mechanic that comes in to save the day. For a brief moment in the final fight, Mob loses and he knows it, the viewer knows it, and it really stings to see the stark reality that is a story that doesn't bend to its characters.
Moreover, the points intended to highlight the inconsistencies in most shounen anime are seen clearly here. Many say the real story of Mob Psycho is that Mob is an absurdly powerful, possibly godlike in sheer scale of power, middle-schooler who is trying to be a great person in spite of his innate psychic powers. He understands and accepts that he has these powers and can use them for good, but he'd much rather become a strong person by working for it. It's not like other shounen where the protagonist has some gift and grows into it - Mob largely dismisses it and doesn't even want to use it. Not because he's afraid of his power, but because he understands it doesn't make him as special as people think it does. That is profound and a lot of other show writers could take some notes from this show and how Mob deals with his strengths and weaknesses.
Art:
Downright impressive. I'd be hard-pressed to find a more colorful, expressive, and creative animation. Motion is done in a way that fits the overall style of the show and gives a real sense of force and movement to things. It's obviously exaggerated in a lot of ways which plays into the show's charm and I don't think I'd have it any other way.
A lot of people drop this show because of the art and I think that's one of the most pathetic things I've ever heard. It would have been a massive shame if this show had looked like every other anime out there and I'm glad Bones pulled out all the stops for this show. Visually, it was an absolute treat and some of the episodes (looking at you, S2E5) looked like they were on a full movie budget.
Sound:
Voice acting was spectacular in the Japanese dub. Can't vouch for any other language, but there were a lot of key moments that were dependent on the voice actors to deliver on the emotion in the scene and they never once disappointed. I want to highlight some of these moments, but they're honestly all just so good. My favorite little detail would go to Reigen's voice breaking at the end of S2E7 when he's on the bridge with Mob. That whole scene depended on their voice actors to come through and they did so masterfully in that moment as they did in every other in the show.
Music was phenomenal. Sajou no Hana was an incredible choice to use for their music and I've been listening to the rest of their music comfortably since being exposed to it in season 2. MOB CHOIR never disappoints, either. The opening theme was awesome. Fight themes felt nostalgic in a way - I've seen people compare certain themes (like Shimazaki vs. Teru) to gym leader fights in Pokemon and I definitely get that vibe. Kenji Kawai delivered on every theme and emotion in the music composed for season 2 from the whimsical wit to the intense high-stakes fights. Separated from the animation, all of the music used in the show still holds up on their own which isn't easy to do.
Character:
Downright perfect. Mob and Reigen's character development was nothing short of a 10. Their arcs in season 2 addressed issues raised in season 1 and in the earlier parts of season 2 and even every single side character that we might expect to see get put on the back burner and forgotten about got some kind of continuation of their development and in some cases, a suitable conclusion or bookend to that chapter of their development.
In particular, Reigen's character development was outstanding. For as much as Mob stood out in this season, Reigen stole the show for a good bit with his moral grayness and appreciation for Mob coming into the spotlight. I've seen some criticism that Reigen's two-part arc didn't feel necessary, but I thought that was actually the strongest part of the entire show. It perfectly encapsulated Mob's development as a character and the decisions people make in relationships. Without getting into too much detail, it shed light on why people choose the friends they have and why your real friends will stick with you no matter what.
The antagonists in this season were significantly stronger as characters than they were in season 1, which made the build-up a lot more interesting. I could feel what was at stake and got a sense of some of the underlying, darker themes at play (like Mob snapping and what that would entail). The ending with Toichiro was, at first, weak compared to the rest of the season. After rewatching the episode, however, I see now that it was exactly what had to happen for Mob's growth.
The kicker is that even though I feel these character arcs were done perfectly, they were not that complex. It was almost as if ONE started with an allegory and branched out a little from there, which is fine, all things considered. Of all the outstanding scores I gave this show, I'd have to say the characters stood out the most and even if some of the other parts of the show didn't deliver, the character developments and plots would easily carry them.
Enjoyment:
Simple, pure, vibrant fun. Season 2 had the same enjoyment factor of season 1 in that it was so pleasing to look at and pay attention to, with the addition of a lot of really wholesome and valuable moments. Without those moments, season 2 would have been a lot less enjoyable.
I'd say the show is ripe for rewatching, too. It's evident in just how much effort was put into the details of this show and in how much is being explored. The show has a lot to offer viewers and I don't think one pass-through would be enough if you wanted to see every idea being explored, but one watch is certainly more than enough to get pulled into the thrill and charm of season 2.
Overall:
Goes without saying this is my favorite anime of all-time at this point. As I mentioned at the beginning of this wall of text, giving a flawless score to anything is not common for me. I think there are very, very few masterpieces in storytelling, art direction, sound production, character development, etc. and this show just so happens to be a masterpiece in each.
I didn't immediately realize this show had become my favorite, but a couple days ago after really processing everything and hearing others' thoughts, I realized that my outlook on some things had changed a bit and that I really did take away more from this show than I had any other. It seemed pretty obvious to me then that this was the best show I'd ever seen.
My advice to new watchers: just take it in. There are some outright absurd moments that make no sense and that's kind of the point. Just step into it from Mob's perspective or try to place yourself into that frame of mind. Build up expectations and watch them get comically shattered time and time again. There's so much to love about Mob Psycho 100 and season 2 was honestly one of the most impressive things I've ever seen.