Ep 12. Still Not Popular

Mob Psycho 100 is an anime TV series that released in 2016. The show is popular both in Japan and worldwide. The anime series is based on a manga of the same name illustrated by ONE. The show revolves around Shigeo Kageyama or Mob, who is an adolescent with incredible psychic abilities. The anime is a mix of comedy, action, and drama and has attracted a large audience due to its unique storyline and animation style.

Episode 12 of season 1, titled Still Not Popular, follows Mob's attempt to impress Tsubomi, the girl he has a crush on. In this episode, Mob decides to become popular with the girls, hoping to finally win Tsubomi's attention. Mob asks his friend and mentor, Arataka Reigen, for advice on how to become more popular.

Reigen, who runs a psychic agency, tells Mob that the key to being popular is to be confident and approachable. He also advises Mob to stay away from his psychic abilities since they would scare people. Reigen tries to teach Mob how to be confident by using his own experience as an example. However, his efforts to help Mob backfire, as Mob ends up being too confident and becomes arrogant.

Meanwhile, a group of teenage girls from Mob's school called the "Spirits and Such Consultation Office gang" are causing trouble around the city by trapping spirits in their bodies. The gang has made the spirits their allies and are using their powers to become popular. Their plan is working, and they have even gained the attention of the police.

Mob, who now believes that he has what it takes to become popular, decides to confront the gang. He meets them in their hideout and challenges their leader, Miki, to a battle. Despite Reigen telling him not to use his psychic abilities, Mob uses his powers to fight Miki. However, his lack of experience with fighting causes him to use too much power, resulting in a massive explosion that knocks everyone out.

Mob awakens to find himself surrounded by the members of the gang, who are now impressed by him and have become his fans. Mob's power display was more than enough to impress them and make him popular, but it also caused some unintended consequences. Mob realizes that being popular has its drawbacks and that it's not worth it if it means causing harm to others.

In the end, Mob returns to his normal life and decides to keep his psychic abilities hidden. He accepts that he may never win the affection of Tsubomi, but he's happy with who he is and the people who care for him.

Overall, episode 12 of season 1 of Mob Psycho 100, Still Not Popular, is a critical moment for Mob's character development. It highlights the importance of being true to oneself and not trying to change to fit into a certain mold. The episode also introduces a group of teenage girls who are working together to use their powers for selfish reasons, setting up for potential conflict in future episodes.