Ep 1. I Want to be Popular

Mob Psycho 100 is a Japanese anime series that follows Shigeo Kageyama, a middle school student who possesses powerful psychic abilities. In the first episode of the series titled "I Want to be Popular," viewers are introduced to Shigeo, or as he is commonly known, Mob.

Mob is a reserved boy who wants to live a normal life despite his extraordinary psychic powers. He works part-time at a paranormal agency run by Reigen Arataka, a self-proclaimed psychic and con artist who takes advantage of Mob's powers. Reigen teaches Mob how to control and use his powers to exorcise evil spirits for clients who pay for their services.

Mob's lack of social skills and his desire to be popular often make him a target for bullies in school. His only friend is a popular boy named Tsubomi who he has a crush on. Tsubomi's popularity is what Mob desires the most, but he doesn't know how to achieve it.

In this episode, Mob attempts to improve his popularity by joining the Body Improvement Club, a group of muscular boys who work out and play sports. Mob believes that if he becomes stronger and more athletic, he will become more popular. However, Mob's lack of athleticism and expertise in sports proves to be a major obstacle. Regardless, he tries his best to keep up with the club members' rigorous exercise routines.

Meanwhile, Reigen takes on a job to exorcise an evil spirit haunting a client's house. Mob accompanies Reigen to the job, hoping to put his psychic abilities to use. However, the client turns out to be a fraud, and the spirit is revealed to be a fake as well. Reigen makes matters worse by accidentally lighting the fake spirit on fire, causing chaos in the house.

As the episode progresses, a group of delinquents from a rival school confronts Mob and demands that he join their gang. Mob refuses and uses his psychic powers to defeat the delinquents easily. Despite his victory, Mob realizes that his actions may have negative consequences and decides to avoid using his powers in the future.

The episode ends with Mob returning to school, feeling dejected after failing to achieve his goal of becoming popular. However, Tsubomi approaches Mob and thanks him for his help with her homework. Although Mob doesn't express his feelings for her, he is thankful for their friendship.

"I Want to be Popular" sets the tone for the rest of the series by introducing the main character, his goals, and his struggles. It also establishes the relationship between Mob and Reigen, as well as the dynamics between Mob and his peers. The episode showcases Mob's psychic abilities while emphasizing his desire to be normal and his struggles to fit in. It establishes the comedic edge that is present throughout the series, offering plenty of laughs alongside Mob's emotional struggles. Overall, it is a strong start to an entertaining and engaging series.