OKAY I know that it’s like a year later and there have been wonderful metas on Reigen in the new episode, and I know that as an anime-only I’m way behind to write an actual good analysis, but it’s 12 am and I rewatched the second half again, and I needed to ramble a bit.
Reigen’s character development does not only happen when he reflects on his relationship with Mob. it does play a major role of course, but aside that, the part that really stood up for me was this part:
I know that it’s hilarious and all, but listen. Reigen is tired of acting all pleasant and satisfactory. look at him at the beginning of the conference. He stammers; he’s obviously trying to be civil (thanking people who have stalked him, called him a fraud, ruined his career and forced him to hold a press conference for coming there. I mean it’s the normal thing to do, but not for Reigen), he wants to make them satisfied. he printed out his mother’s apology letter, ready to say it and end the whole mess. He wants to be the good guy. He has been trying to do so since Mob left him.
Aside from the huge amount of secondhand embarrassment, the thing that really bothered me about this arc was how hard Reigen was trying to run away from himself.
as far as I saw, this scene was viewed as “Reigen getting over his depression and trying to overcome the problems”. But I don’t think so. He threw himself to his work, started overworking, trying his best to help the others and make himself known, not as a way of curing depression and his drag, but as an escape. He asks himself, “who am I?” and the answer he tries to achieve is not “Reigen Arataka”, it’s another version of himself, a successful man in his work that does not need friends or Mob specifically. That’s the whole reason that he decides to go to television, not out of selfishness or ego or self-confidence. He was desperate to show himself that he can be popular, to run away from his crushing loneliness. you won’t need friends if you’re popular and successful, isn’t it right? If Mob was around in that period of time, I highly doubt that Reigen would take the risk to go to national TV, or even take Mob to the show to exorcise a ghost. the whole mess starts from his desperation.
(I’d like to point this out that later in the press conference he DOES NOT say anything about Mogami situation which is very important. he could easily take all the credit, bragging about it there. but he knows that it’d involve Mob, and he does not want to put more pressure on him. yes Reigen is trash and selfish but he also cares about Mob deeply.)
The act of being nice and pleasant goes on. Reigen is not himself in ep 6 and the first half of ep 7. He’s not the man we know, the witty one with solutions up his sleeve. But suddenly, he gives up. his career is ruined, he has lost everything, so why does he need to be pleasant anymore? “It’s pretty common to suddenly get tired of all this shit at the last minute.” he’s not talking about the press conference, the pressure of people tailing him and asking questions and so on. he’s talking about running away, acting as someone else.his true self resurfaces again, calling the press on their bullshit.
there goes the reporters,
Again I know that the main focus was on Reigen and Mob’s relationship and how they affected each other, saved each other. but this part was necessary, for Reigen to stop running away and face what he has done, and what he truly is. only then he starts reflecting on his wrongdoings, and the harmful things he has said to Mob.
TL;DR: Reigen Arataka was running away for whole two episodes, and he’s starting to accept himself and who he is, with Mob’s help ofc. also he is a sad man and needs a hug. plenty of hugs. save him.
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