There’s nothing inherently wrong with Solo Leveling. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Solo Leveling is, by all accounts, a strong anime adaptation that utilizes tense and kinetic action sequences with aplomb. However, six episodes in, there’s been little offered to make us care about these characters and the dire situations they find themselves in. This is especially true given that Jinwoo’s entire trajectory since the introductory two episodes has been in service of getting stronger with few — if any — setbacks. It’s early, so there’s plenty of likelihood that this will change and that Jinwoo will grow into a more enjoyable, dynamic character. However, until now, he’s remained static, and it’s the series most significant shortcomings.
This isn’t helped by a series so dictated by insular gaming jargon that it’s easy to lose causal viewers, myself included. That hindrance is, at least, easy to avoid as long as you accept that fate early on.
This is a shame because, again, there’s so much to love about Solo Leveling (Na Honjaman Rebeleop). Produced by A-1 Pictures and based on the webtoon by Chugong, the series looks terrific. As our protagonist faces off against increasingly stronger opponents, the fluidity of the action, too, improves. Take, for instance, the most recent episode, “The Real Hunt Begins.” Jinwoo utilizes all that he’s come to learn in his showdown with the C-Rank spider boss, his speed and power demonstrated through animation that feels the breadth of his impact. But the real stunning moment comes later when he turns to face the party that had abandoned him and D-Rank Yoo Jinho. Here, the series takes the necessary step and revitalizes its tone and energy.
Jinwoo’s showdown with Dongsuk and his crew isn’t just violent — it’s indicative of a wider world where hunters, unless employed at a reputable company such as the White Tiger Guild or the Hunters Guild — are both expendable and mere pawns. It’s heavily implied that Dongsuk has gotten away with allowing lower-tier team members to die many times in the past, and it’s something that’s been continuously overlooked by an apathetic community of hunters. The scene sings because it reflects Jinwoo’s earlier realization that the world is cruel, unfair, and dictated by “ugly human nurture.” His descent into cynicism and understanding of the nihilistic world he exists in makes for a much more interesting character. It also means that his hunting of Dongsuk and co. is suitably brutal.
It’s the level-up this character needed, not in strength or dexterity but in decisive personality building. His violent attack on the crew is nightmarish due to how swiftly he kills them, hardly flinching in facing their attacks. The brutality is less in the impact of his knife or fist but in the after-effects, as the men’s faces distort as the blood rushes. It’s a staggering piece of action and horror artistry, incredibly potent when he finally reaches Dongsuk, Jinwoo’s hand and the force behind it causing ripples of motion and flesh on the formers face. The animation plus the bombastic score gives the scene the necessary gravity. The voice acting too by Taito Ban is superb, as his intonation and pitch continue to change as he grows increasingly predatory. Yes, he’s already entered the game. But now there’s no turning back as he fully accepts that he’s a part of some system that needs him alive, ready to play his part without succumbing to being merely a tool.
Not every episode needs this level of carnage. But it does need personality and character-driven moments to develop our protagonist further. This is Jinwoo’s story. There’s no supporting ensemble yet or scene-stealing supporting player. Jinwoo is the sole focus, meaning he must be engaging. Other than the end of his first dungeon fight and Episode 6, he’s been lacking. Hopefully, with the fresh blood on his hands, he’ll be more consistently interesting, especially considering the rising stakes surrounding him. Solo Leveling has all the pieces to be a standout series of the year; it just needs a more engaging and flawed protagonist to center itself on.
Solo Leveling is available now on Crunchyroll
Featured images: © Solo Leveling Animation Partners
Based in New England, Allyson is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of InBetweenDrafts. Former Editor-in-Chief at TheYoungFolks, she is a member of the Boston Society of Film Critics and the Boston Online Film Critics Association. Her writing has also appeared at CambridgeDay, ThePlaylist, Pajiba, VagueVisages, RogerEbert, TheBostonGlobe, Inverse, Bustle, her Substack, and every scrap of paper within her reach.
