I have noticed that the shows that have the greatest tendency to resonate with me are those which defy genre conventions, and you'd be hard pressed to find a better example than this. What happens when you merge shonen action with slice of life? You get a masterpiece, that's what.
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___Mob Psycho 100_ is a masterwork of character writing bursting at the seams with passion and soul.__
> You're the one with the power to maximize your potential.
Characters: 10/10
The heart and soul of this show are its characters. If you don't like loose mechanics that act as symbolic vehicles to drive characters and themes, do not watch this show, because it will go completely over your head. Some of the most profound character development in anime history is exactly what our two protagonists, Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama and Reigen Arataka, go through. These two alone not only have an immensely unique and entertaining dynamic, but also have two individual arcs that interact throughout the show in such an authentic manner that they are the closest I have ever felt anime has gotten to making me think these are real people. The supporting cast that surrounds them is great too, from the sarcastic and scheming Dimple to Mob's ambitious but kind brother Ritsu. They each have their own things to learn that push the main two forward. The only real issue I have with the characters is a small gaff in season 3 episode 11:
Spoiler, click to viewclick to hide
During Ritsu's confrontation with Mob, he says something about a shock but then has a dramatic realization that he should... keep doing what he was doing. I thought this didn't make a whole lot of sense, so I checked the manga, and it makes more sense there, in which the "shock" refers to Ritsu thinking he should let Mob hurt him and allow the shock of hurting his brother to fix Mob's issue, but then realizes that would never work because for Mob to trust him he needs to be able to earnestly compete with him as a brother.
The show also has a rather extensive slew of side characters who can be a little challenging to keep straight at times. The vast majority of them don't matter a whole lot but I wasn't a fan of the detour season 3 took for a particular few side characters in episodes 7 and 8 that felt like wasted time; maybe I let the meaning of that arc fly over my own head...
> What do I want to do… do I have anything I want to do? Does everyone else have something? Something enjoyable? Something I’m envious of?
Themes: 100/10
One of my favorite things about this show is how not subtle it is. In the first two openings it essentially tells you what you're supposed to take from it in plain English: your life is your own. It's not so simple that there is one right answer; you have to find an answer that works for you, and the only one who can decide if it's the "right" answer is you. While every character varies in personality and in the finer details of their arcs, this is one lesson they all learn in some way or another, but with Mob's complex and all, it might take him a season or three to figure everything out. While there are other works of fiction in which the action is a symbolic clashing of ideals, including my favorite of all time, Madoka Magica, there is likely no work in which it is more appropriate to point out than it is here. As I hinted at earlier, Mob Psycho 100 doesn't really have any semblance of a power system. In fact, I'd go as far as to say the fights border on parody in terms of power scaling, as characters frequently pull moves out of their asses and shout out the corny names of those moves as they perform them. Almost everything that happens in this show can have some sort of thematic meaning attributed to it; so I'll shut up now and let you discover the finer details yourself!
> He who can live his life the way he wants is a strong person.
Visuals 9.5/10
Silly and metaphorical they may be, but the action sequences in this show deliver in terms of animation too, with a sense of scale unmatched even by ufotable's best work. Arguably studio bones' most impressive accomplishment is managing to adapt the... erm... minimalistic art of the manga into one of the most expressive anime ever created. From the exaggerated facial expressions to one-shot changes in art style to the rough lines used to draw Mob's mysterious ???% figure, I've seen very few anime that compare to this one's unique aesthetic. I do have a couple of issues, though; particularly with a few episodes in season 3 that look as if they were rushed a bit...
> If I ever want to eradicate humans instead of evil spirits, I wonder if there will be anyone to stop me.
Sound: 8/10
I've always thought this aspect of the show was a little bit overrated. I'm only a fan of the third opening song wise, although all three are visually excellent. The ending sequences are all pretty good, with a particular shoutout to season 3's insert song, Exist. However, the track that plays during most action sequences is rather flat, and besides that, not much else stood out to me.
> The truth behind one's charm is kindness. So just be a good person! That's all!
Conclusion
Hell, it's not perfect. But it's DAMN close. Between medium defying animation, genre defying storytelling, and reality-encroaching life lessons, an anime this unique is hard to come by. Most of my issues with it are minor and come into play almost entirely in season 3; wonky pacing at times, a gaff in a certain character's dialogue, a couple of forced plot points, juvenile comedy... minor blemishes on an otherwise masterfully told story. Anyone who bothers to engage intellectually with the media they consume is doing themself a disservice by sleeping on this. 
