Humility in Confidence (Mob Psycho 100 II)
*Spoiler Alert for Mob Psycho 100 II*
I initially didn't intend to write about the second season of Mob Psycho 100, but the completionist in me is compelling me to write about it. If there ever is a season 3 released, you can be sure I will write about that then, too. Though do note, these posts are not meant to be reviews, but rather my reactions to some of the ideas in the show.
I personally thought this season built on the ideas presented in season one of the show well. As I described in my first post, Mob Psycho 100's primary theme is that in spite of Mob's extraordinary powers, it is important to maintain a humble attitude and not think of oneself as being superior to others. There are no super-powered people in this world, at least as far as I know, but this lesson is one that still very much applies in our world.
Although there is no explanation given within the story to why the main character Shigeo Kageyama is referred to as Mob, that nickname's implication should be quite obvious. In spite of his psychic abilities, Shigeo is nothing more than a part of the mob to most of his classmates, especially at the beginning of the series. It is hard to argue his optimistic attitude toward others and his kind-hearted personality aren't extraordinary in their own right, but the story seems to stress that he is ultimately just one of the many people in the world. It is worth noting that Reigen, who most often refers to Shigeo as Mob, is also the one who insisted to Mob that he is "the protagonist of his own life." I will delve more into this seeming contradiction later.
In this season of Mob Psycho 100, we continue to see Mob grow emotionally, and the season culminates in a clash against the boss of the evil telekinetic organization Claw. As with the first season, I think the themes of the show are exemplified in the final conflicts of the season. The first season's lesson was that no matter what kinds of strengths or talents you may have, you ought not to think you are above others. The second season delves deeper into this concept and adds nuances I feel makes the ideas presented in the show more compelling.
The first season's final clash focused mainly on the self-image of these espers, but I think the second season goes more into their understanding of themselves in the context of the world in which they live. Throughout the show, Mob develops meaningful friendships with his schoolmates. The friendships Mob has cultivated help him overcome challenges and allow Mob to live a more fulfilling life. These relationships Mob engages with gives him a perspective the leader of Claw, Toichiro, was unable to see. Even if his friends do not have amazing telekinetic abilities, Mob still appreciated their companionship and the different aptitudes they might bring to the table. While Toichiro of Claw saw himself as the lone protagonist in a world full of nobodies, Mob knew he could not continue his way of life if not for the help of others.
Confronted with the selfishness of some of the fledgling espers in Claw, Mob asks them a few rhetorical questions revealing his philosophy about his relationship to others. He asks them,
"Can you guys manufacture this can? Could you actually grow the vegetables in this sandwich? Could you fix the glass door that you just broke? Could your powers help you hit upon the idea of giving out a freebie for a lucky draw? You guys are making a huge mistake, thinking you are special just because of your powers. You should realize that you're only able to survive thanks to the help of others." Once again, the show stresses these telekinetic abilities do not inherently make someone special, but adds a new element to consider; even if you have talents in doing one thing, you must still rely on others for their abilities.
Now, if this were the only thing Mob Psycho was trying to say, it might seem like a little bit of a ridiculous theme to convey through Mob's character. As Mob's powers have continued to scale up throughout the series, it's becoming less and less reasonable to keep downplaying the abilities espers posses, especially Mob's. That's where Reigen's comment that Mob is a protagonist of his own life comes into play. This is a sentiment even Mob eventually comes to accept, repeating this idea to Toichiro in the final battle. The idea that one must rely on others to survive and maintain their current quality of life is reciprocal. Not only does one rely on others, but one also has things to provide for others. I believe when Mob says to Toichiro that "I am the protagonist of my own life," he comes to accept that he is also a part of the vast web of people working together to keep society going. Mob might not be exceptional in the sense that he is better than others, but Mob is unique in that he might be the only one who can stop Toichiro from taking over the world at this point.
At the beginning of the show, Mob lacked confidence in himself and was maybe too humble about his abilities. And now, at the end of season two, Mob finally has the confidence in himself to be assertive about his opinions and accept his own strength as an esper. Understanding that everyone has something unique to bring to the table finally allows Mob to recognize that he has something unique to offer as well. Strength is not all there is to the world, but it is an element that sometimes becomes necessary in the face of an imminent threat. Mob can be the one to come to others' aid when their strength alone is not enough. It is a balancing act, one that Mob can now perform well. Just because you are talented doesn't mean you are better than others. But just because you aren't better than others doesn't mean you can't be proud of what you have to offer.
Post by Kai
I initially didn't intend to write about the second season of Mob Psycho 100, but the completionist in me is compelling me to write about it. If there ever is a season 3 released, you can be sure I will write about that then, too. Though do note, these posts are not meant to be reviews, but rather my reactions to some of the ideas in the show.
I personally thought this season built on the ideas presented in season one of the show well. As I described in my first post, Mob Psycho 100's primary theme is that in spite of Mob's extraordinary powers, it is important to maintain a humble attitude and not think of oneself as being superior to others. There are no super-powered people in this world, at least as far as I know, but this lesson is one that still very much applies in our world.
Although there is no explanation given within the story to why the main character Shigeo Kageyama is referred to as Mob, that nickname's implication should be quite obvious. In spite of his psychic abilities, Shigeo is nothing more than a part of the mob to most of his classmates, especially at the beginning of the series. It is hard to argue his optimistic attitude toward others and his kind-hearted personality aren't extraordinary in their own right, but the story seems to stress that he is ultimately just one of the many people in the world. It is worth noting that Reigen, who most often refers to Shigeo as Mob, is also the one who insisted to Mob that he is "the protagonist of his own life." I will delve more into this seeming contradiction later.
In this season of Mob Psycho 100, we continue to see Mob grow emotionally, and the season culminates in a clash against the boss of the evil telekinetic organization Claw. As with the first season, I think the themes of the show are exemplified in the final conflicts of the season. The first season's lesson was that no matter what kinds of strengths or talents you may have, you ought not to think you are above others. The second season delves deeper into this concept and adds nuances I feel makes the ideas presented in the show more compelling.
The first season's final clash focused mainly on the self-image of these espers, but I think the second season goes more into their understanding of themselves in the context of the world in which they live. Throughout the show, Mob develops meaningful friendships with his schoolmates. The friendships Mob has cultivated help him overcome challenges and allow Mob to live a more fulfilling life. These relationships Mob engages with gives him a perspective the leader of Claw, Toichiro, was unable to see. Even if his friends do not have amazing telekinetic abilities, Mob still appreciated their companionship and the different aptitudes they might bring to the table. While Toichiro of Claw saw himself as the lone protagonist in a world full of nobodies, Mob knew he could not continue his way of life if not for the help of others.
Confronted with the selfishness of some of the fledgling espers in Claw, Mob asks them a few rhetorical questions revealing his philosophy about his relationship to others. He asks them,
"Can you guys manufacture this can? Could you actually grow the vegetables in this sandwich? Could you fix the glass door that you just broke? Could your powers help you hit upon the idea of giving out a freebie for a lucky draw? You guys are making a huge mistake, thinking you are special just because of your powers. You should realize that you're only able to survive thanks to the help of others." Once again, the show stresses these telekinetic abilities do not inherently make someone special, but adds a new element to consider; even if you have talents in doing one thing, you must still rely on others for their abilities.
Now, if this were the only thing Mob Psycho was trying to say, it might seem like a little bit of a ridiculous theme to convey through Mob's character. As Mob's powers have continued to scale up throughout the series, it's becoming less and less reasonable to keep downplaying the abilities espers posses, especially Mob's. That's where Reigen's comment that Mob is a protagonist of his own life comes into play. This is a sentiment even Mob eventually comes to accept, repeating this idea to Toichiro in the final battle. The idea that one must rely on others to survive and maintain their current quality of life is reciprocal. Not only does one rely on others, but one also has things to provide for others. I believe when Mob says to Toichiro that "I am the protagonist of my own life," he comes to accept that he is also a part of the vast web of people working together to keep society going. Mob might not be exceptional in the sense that he is better than others, but Mob is unique in that he might be the only one who can stop Toichiro from taking over the world at this point.
At the beginning of the show, Mob lacked confidence in himself and was maybe too humble about his abilities. And now, at the end of season two, Mob finally has the confidence in himself to be assertive about his opinions and accept his own strength as an esper. Understanding that everyone has something unique to bring to the table finally allows Mob to recognize that he has something unique to offer as well. Strength is not all there is to the world, but it is an element that sometimes becomes necessary in the face of an imminent threat. Mob can be the one to come to others' aid when their strength alone is not enough. It is a balancing act, one that Mob can now perform well. Just because you are talented doesn't mean you are better than others. But just because you aren't better than others doesn't mean you can't be proud of what you have to offer.
Post by Kai
Comments
Post a Comment