In spite of its solid 8.65 score on MAL, Mob Psycho 100 Season 3 has ranked considerably lower compared to Season 1 and 2. Whether the rankings accurately reflect the quality of the seasons is debatable, but they certainly show a downward trend in the number of viewers: Season 3 has 401 thousand members against the 1.3 million of Season 2. If the data is representative of the audience’s general response to the show, it looks like Mob Psycho 100 lost its charm.
Much like Season 1 and 2, Season 3 opened with a delightful episodic story -- this time, Reigen, Mob and Serizawa visited a client who believed he was possessed by an evil spirit. In a clever use of parallels, the episode managed to both show Mob’s character development and further his relationship with his psychic abilities and his mentor. It seemed like a great start, which was only reinforced by Dimple’s apparent demise in Episode 6 -- a powerful plot twist. Unfortunately, the rest of the season couldn't carry this momentum.
Mob Psycho 100’s Formula Doesn’t Work Anymore
Analyzing Mob Psycho 100's episodic structure, in Season 1, the various clients with their bizarre circumstances had the clear double function of introducing the characters and presenting the world of the series. While Mob and Reigen battled each new evil spirit, fans began to appreciate their personalities and values, as well as how Mob Psycho 100’s world of psychic powers worked. After ensuring that the viewers had a good understanding of what was going on, the story evolved, hitting Mob with serious enemies and hurdles to overcome. While Season 2 succeeded in a similar formula, the same couldn’t be accomplished a third time, because of the natural progression of the story. Once used to action-packed fights and high stakes, the audience can’t be asked to go back to square one -- they expect much more.
Sadly, perhaps because it had the unfortunate task of adapting around ten chapters from the manga against the 90+ of the previous seasons, Season 3 couldn't deliver. Always quite charming in their peculiarity, the episode didn’t usually provide character insight, nor did they further a gripping overarching plot. Instead, they appeared disjointed and random -- such as the hilarious Episode 8, whose ‘encounter with the aliens’ side story was fun but fell flat as a part of the overall series.
A strong source of conflict was also missing. While Season 1 challenged both its protagonist and the audience with a strong personal conflict -- Mob's relationship with his younger brother Ritsu, jealous and insecure because of Mob’s overwhelming powers, Season 3 failed to do so. Mob’s battle with Dimple got close, but the build-up to the fight was unsatisfactory as was the resolution which, despite being quite moving, was over too quickly. Dimple’s surrender and admission of guilt were also rushed and poorly justified. Mob’s awakening and the subsequent confrontation with Hanazawa, which could have been a good source of conflict and growth, was actually a wasted opportunity -- since Mob is not himself, their fight is only physical.
No Major Enemy Or Big Surprises In Sight
With ten episodes already out, there seems to be no great threat in sight, which is another flaw of the season. The mystery of the ‘Divine Tree’ implied the existence of a concealed enemy power that was silently taking over the city. And so it was, but only briefly. After Dimple was defeated, the power behind the ‘Divine Tree’ went back to being dormant. Even if the final few episodes were to bring it back, it wouldn’t be as effective as if the season had slowly been building up to it. Instead, it chose to go from one inconsequential event to another, wasting running time to cover trivial matters.
Mob’s awakening in Episode 10 could possibly change things, but it’s already too late. What’s more, fans have already faced Mob’s terrifying 100% power; it will be very hard for this season’s final few episodes to top the visually phenomenal scenes of Season 2’s final battle. Especially if the enemy is the same, which is what the end of Episode 10 seems to suggest. If Toichiro Suzuki is once more Mob’s opponent, how can the fight be any different? Mob and Toichiro’s powers might develop, but with the lack of an ideological battle, the last episodes may very well lose their meaning.
Tsubomi's Character Development Provides New Opportunities
Tsubomi’s presence in Mob Psycho Season 3 is perhaps the only real detail that carries some significance. Always in the background, her character had a little bit more space this season. If it was the news of her moving away that spurred Mob to prepare a love confession and, inadvertently, to awake his most terrifying power yet, perhaps she will be the key to the season’s final resolution. It would be interesting to see some development in Tsubomi and Mob’s relationship, especially if it had an impact on Mob’s psychic powers and his use of them. Tsubomi could be the answer to Mob Psycho 100’s unsolvable riddle: whether Mob's powers are a gift, or a curse.
Whether it be the lack of source material or the inability of a tried and tested formula to carry a series for too long, Mob Psycho Season 3 certainly seems inferior to its predecessors. Its failure to keep up the quality of the show proves that anime’s insistence on adapting works whose stories aren’t finished is perhaps a dangerous path. Whenever this happens, the series end up being picked up years later for a much more successful reboot -- for instance, it’s what happened with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. If nothing else, in case Mob Psycho 100 Season 3’s finale drops the ball completely, the audience can always hope for a reboot of the series -- unfortunately, it’s going to be a few years from now.