Summary
As we learn the true identity of the Psycho Helmet Religion founder, it becomes clear that their reach has already spread across almost every resident of Seasoning City.
We recap the Crunchyroll anime series Mob Psycho 100 season 3, episode 4, “Divine Tree 1 ~The Founder Appears~” which contains spoilers.
While the first few episodes of Mob Psycho 100 season 3 weren’t as action-packed as some others, they laid the foundation for what’s about to come. Since the Divine Tree first appeared, it has held significant importance to the people of Seasoning City, and now viewers are finally going to see its true power. There’s a lot of information to unpack in the next few episodes as everything comes to a head, and even some major surprises to keep viewers on their toes.
Mob Psycho 100 season 3, episode 4 recap
The episode begins with Mob (voiced by Setsuo Ito) running into Mezato, who apologizes for standing Mob up the day before. She explains that just before the Founder’s Auditions, all of the “big wigs” held a meeting and the true founder of the Psycho Helmet Religion revealed himself. She apologizes for bothering him all this time, as she now knows he was never the founder.
It’s clear to Mob almost immediately that something is off, but he’s not sure what. In a meeting with the Telepathy Club, Tome is acting equally strange. She also apologizes for standing Mob up, and when he asks if her reasoning involves the Psycho Helmet Religion, she confirms his suspicion. She declares they are no longer the Telepathy Club but the Psycho Helmet Religion Salt Middle School Branch instead, and all they have to do is pray five minutes a day for a blessing.
At the Spirits and Such Office, Reigen (voiced by Takahiro Sakurai) and Mob look into the religion and notice the video of the founder revealing himself has over two million views. While he looks similar to Mob and is also a psychic, it’s clear that the person in the video is someone else. Reigen brushes it off; it’s okay since Mob probably wasn’t suited for the job anyway, and directs his attention toward some recent case photos to analyze. In the pictures are buildings that have suffered severe deterioration, but not because of faulty construction. The damage in these photos is due to overgrown roots coming from none other than the Divine Tree. He requests Mob’s help in destroying it, mainly because the tree is their fault in the first place.
Meanwhile, a new fad in Seasoning City seems to be spreading that involves eating treats made from the Divine Tree. On the streets, workers hand out candies containing Divine Tree powder to everyone passing by. Even Hanazawa receives a box of cookies made with the powder that claims to “increase your vitality,” but the moment he eats one, something odd happens. He suddenly feels better and begins attributing those feelings to the tree and the Psycho Helmet Religion. As a strong-willed psychic, he’s able to break free but realizes that the powder is instantly brainwashing people all over the city.
Without hesitation, Hanazawa goes to launch an attack on the Divine Tree with the goal of destroying it. To his surprise, not only is there a barrier protecting the tree, but he is also attacked by it. In the middle of the tree, he encounters the founder, whom he first mistakes for Mob. The founder introduces himself as god and attempts to brainwash Hanazawa again, but he continues to overcome and fight back. They launch into a battle, and Hanazawa reveals he knows all about brainwashing and how people with strong enough wills can overcome it.
At a nearby flower shop, former Claw member and psychic, Minegishi, expresses his concern over the plants. He tells his boss they were fine this morning, but now the plants are wilted and seem to have had the life sucked out of them. However, his boss does not seem concerned. As he observes some overgrown roots outside, he immediately understands the Divine Tree is stealing energy from the plants in the city. He tries to use his powers to stop the problem, but the tree absorbs his energy instead.
Hanazawa is still struggling in his fight against the founder, who keeps regenerating. After calling him by name, Hanazawa realizes that the founder is none other than Dimple, trying to exact another one of his evil plans.
The streets of Seasoning City are devoid of people as Mob and Reigen wander them discussing their plan. Reigen intends to have Mob use his psychic abilities to lift the tree and drop it in the Ocean. To help, they enlist Mob’s brother Ritsu, as Serizawa is stuck in night classes. Ritsu agrees as he’s been skeptical about the Psycho Helmet Religion and how it’s been gaining popularity so quickly. Reigen claims it’s more a small cult or lame fan club than a religion, but that doesn’t ease anyone’s mind. To deal with the stress of hanging out with Reigen, Ritsu eats a candy that was given to him at a student council meeting. He also offers candy to Mob and Reigen, but they choose to save theirs for later.
Mob Psycho 100 season 3, episode 4 ending
Ritsu asks if they can make a quick stop on their way to the tree and leads them to the Civic Center. Inside, it’s filled with members of the Psycho Helmet Religion, and they immediately begin accusing Mob and Reigen of trying to destroy the Divine Tree. They begin trying to offer them Divine Tree candies and food, but Mob and Reigen run from the building screaming.
Reigen makes Mob hand over his candy after realizing that’s likely how Ritsu and the others became brainwashed. A worried Mob’s progress until the next explosion increases to 55%. They try to think up a plan, but a nearby older man ominously tells them that Master Psycho Helmet (aka the founder) sees everything. Suddenly they’re being approached by strangers on the street, and it’s clear that everyone in the city has been brainwashed.
As they figure out what to do next, Reigen asks Mob his opinion of the religion and whether the followers are bad people. Mob says no, that he thinks they’re just people who found meaning in something together and were tricked by someone phony. This is where the tone of the conversation shifts, as Reigen asks how Mob would know that unless he’s the founder. He then begins to berate Mob, saying it would be too hard of a job for him anyway, but it feels distinctly different than earlier in the episode. It’s clear to the viewers that Reigen’s intent is malicious this time, despite his lighthearted tone.
Mob asks Reigen if he to has been brainwashed, and despite denying it, it’s clear now that he has been. Reigen begins singing the praises of the Divine Tree and Psycho Helmet Religion, so Mob chooses to walk away from him. He makes his way to the Divine Tree to meet with the founder directly. Everyone in the city seems to be brainwashed, waiting for him in front of the tree. As they move aside, they also begin to praise him as the original founder of the Psycho Helmet Religion. Progress towards his next explosion climbs to 61% as the followers share their excitement over having two founders.
There’s a lot of valuable information in this episode, but the most exciting reveal definitely comes toward the end. The Dimple reveal was fun, though not entirely unpredictable, given his history. However, seeing Reigen and Ritsu succumb to the Psycho Helmet Religion was unexpected. It’ll be interesting to see how Mob reacts to losing those closest to him.
What did you think of Mob Psycho 100 season 3, episode 4? Comment below.
