1 Crucial Change to Solo Leveling's Story Would Easily Make the Anime 10x Better

Solo Leveling is amongst the top-rated anime inside the final two years, following the former underdog Sung Jinwoo in his relentless pursuit to grow to be the strongest for the sake of his household and himself. He’s solely ready to achieve this thanks to the assist of “The System,” which grants him the skill to attain feats of energy that no different individual in his world is in a position to obtain. Thanks to it, Jinwoo rose in recognition as considered one of the most hyped-up and overpowered anime characters of all time.

As of Solo Leveling Episode 22, “We Need a Hero,” Jinwoo has every part: fame, fortune, and household. One may say that his path since powering up has grow to be too simple, and they might be appropriate. Jinwoo experiences only a few hardships that might add layers of depth to a narrative that has grow to be nothing however a parade of conquests throughout each dungeon, a problem that might be rectified if Jinwoo truly paid the value for the energy he was given.

Solo Leveling Teases at Jinwoo’s Decline in Humanity With No Payoff

Jinwoo is Supposedly Meant to Become a Darker Character as the Anime Progresses

The story of Solo Leveling primarily focuses on Sung Jinwoo’s ascension in direction of larger and larger energy after having spent years as “mankind’s weakest hunter.” It’s not till The Cartenon Temple (also referred to as the “Double Dungeon”) at the very starting of the collection — the place he felt alone, deserted, and utterly powerless — that issues lastly modified for him. After surviving the temple lengthy sufficient, a mysterious entity referred to as “The System” selected him and gave him an opportunity for survival.

With the steady assist of The System, Jinwoo’s energy grows with each enemy he defeats, multiplying his preliminary energy and magical talents to a degree that far surpasses that of every other hunter. This distinctive skill to advance in rank, one thing that different hunters are incapable of doing, not solely offers him a bonus over others but additionally makes his arc a near-perfect underdog story related to that of Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia.

However, Jinwoo’s rising energy comes at a price. Early on, he realizes that every level-up strips away part of himself. This foreshadows a darkish transformation, suggesting that as he continues slaying monsters, his morality and humanity could slowly erode. The first turning level in Jinwoo’s climb up the meals chain is seen in Solo Leveling Episode 6.

Hwang Dongsuk and his strike crew initially deliberate to sacrifice Jinwoo and Yoo Jinho to the dungeon boss, taking the rewards for themselves. Afterward, the system labeled them as enemies, forcing Jinwoo to act. Though it was his first time taking human lives, he killed all six members of Dongsuk’s crew with out hesitation. Jinwoo grows extra snug not solely with killing but additionally with utilizing his enemies’ deaths to his benefit.

In Solo Leveling Episode 14, he expects Kim Chul’s violent response after Chul turns into enraged. Jinwoo, realizing he is a menace, swiftly eliminates Chul and instantly resurrects his shadow to assist in the battle towards Baruka. While these moments could show Jinwoo’s colder and extra calculating, his actions stem from survival fairly than a whole lack of humanity. At his core, his character stays unchanged.

Despite the Constant Power Leveling, Jinwoo Hasn’t Really Changed

Jinwoo initially grew to become a hunter to present and look after his household, which he has been doing for the higher a part of ten years after the disappearance of his father left him—the eldest little one—as the primary caretaker of his ailing mom and his youthful sister. Strength and self-preservation are priorities, but it surely’s all in the title of having the ability to take care of his family members. Solo Leveling Episode 21 noticed Jinwoo being decreased to tears after he watched his mom lastly get up from the Eternal Sleep Disease that she had been plagued with for the final 4 years.

The anime’s newest episode, “We Need a Hero,” had Jinwoo placing his household first and opting out of the Fourth Jeju Island Raid to assist his lately recovered mom. By selecting not to participate in the Jeju Island Raid, Jinwoo had forsaken the probability to struggle stronger beasts and degree up, thus proving that being there for his household mattered to him greater than rising his energy. In reality, Jinwoo’s considerations about being absent from the raid leaned extra towards the well-being of the different hunters fairly than any lack of leveling alternative.

Related

No, Sung Jinwoo is Not Too Overpowered in Solo Leveling

Sung Jinwoo is certainly overpowered in Solo Leveling, however that’s much less a flaw of the story than it’s a vital function of the narrative.

​​​​​​An earlier instance of Jinwoo’s look after others is witnessed in Solo Leveling episode 17, the place he empathizes with Son Kihoon’s crew after realizing they’ve dedicated their lives to guaranteeing that the High Orcs stay on the proper facet of the Gate. Another is throughout the shock Red Gate incident in episode 13, when he protected Han Song-Yi and saved the different members of the remaining get together secure from surrounding risks.

Jinwoo prioritizing his household and his show of concern for the different hunters is proof of the incontrovertible fact that he was by no means corrupted by the energy that The System allowed him to achieve. Protecting and offering for his family members stays Jinwoo’s true goal, and he nonetheless retains sufficient kindness in his coronary heart to look after others outdoors his private circle. Overall, Jinwoo stays a likable character with good intentions. He holds no unwell will or ulterior motive towards individuals who’ve by no means carried out him any improper, nor does he make any energetic plans to benefit from these weaker than him for the sake of his personal objectives.

Solo Leveling is All Reward and No Consequence

Godly Powers Have a Hefty Price, and Other Anime have Explored That Better

Ten episodes deep into Solo Leveling’s second season, and Jinwoo’s solely victims are murderers and those that have sought to kill him. He hasn’t taken any lives that might warrant larger penalties—nor have the penalties of the lives he’s already taken been completely explored other than Hwang Dongsoo’s need for revenge over the demise of his brother (which, as of this level, is a subplot that has been left on the again burner).

Other famend anime the place the primary protagonist has gained a uncommon energy that permits them an enormous benefit over others have additionally explored the main penalties of their actions and the value that they had to pay for acquiring the energy. Lelouch vi Britannia from Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion realized that his actions would end in the struggling of harmless folks early on. Death Note’s Light Yagami, in alternate for utilizing the Death Note, gave up his soul’s proper to Heaven and Hell and allowed his personal sense of righteousness to cloud his morals.

Related

Solo Leveling Has the Subtlety of a Boss Raid… and the Predictability of One Too

Even followers who have not learn the manhwa or novel ought to have the option to predict the destiny of this model new character from his dialogue alone.

​​​​​Solo Leveling doesn’t discover any true sacrifice or repercussions on Jinwoo’s half for all the powers he’s gained, regardless of presenting the concept that he turns into a darker character with each enemy conquered. After the bloodbath of Hwang Dongsuk and his strike crew, it has been victory after victory. Rather than seeing any unfavourable consequence from his extra unsavory actions, Jinwoo as a substitute beneficial properties allies and optimistic recognition from that time ahead.

There ought to undoubtedly be a reward for arduous work in a very good story about an underdog, however that’s all the Solo Leveling anime has at present grow to be—Jinwoo conquers an enemy, provides to his energy, after which the crowd goes wild. His infinite degree of energy has eliminated any threat or true battle. Apart from the mysterious intent of The System, Solo Leveling has little intrigue and even much less depth.

Solo Leveling Missed a Huge Opportunity with Jinwoo’s Corruption Arc

Sung Jinwoo is Braver and Better, however his Character is No Deeper

Solo Leveling season 2 has damaged Crunchyroll’s data (and crashed its servers) due to its large recognition, and for good purpose. The anime builds up the hype of an especially likable and noble primary character getting powers akin to a god, and A-1 Pictures takes each alternative to present that off with their superb animation. Not solely that, however each enemy that the viewers meets is legitimately scary, even when viewers know Jinwoo will triumph in the finish.

Jinwoo’s unparalleled energy makes the anime so profitable, but it surely does not have to lose that to be even higher. Other anime have carried out related issues as Solo Leveling and affected their audiences for years after the ultimate episode aired as a result of that they had deeper and higher written character arcs that realized the many issues that might go improper when a single individual is given insurmountable energy.

Solo Leveling consistently guarantees a shift in Jinwoo’s character, implying that The System is altering him, but it surely doesn’t ship on something except for giving Jinwoo a willingness to take a human life in instances of want. Each occasion of homicide he dedicated, nonetheless, was carried out in self-defense himself and others. Hwang Donsuk calls Jinwoo a monster, however, surely, he’s only a man with monstrous energy.

Related

Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 10 Was Right to Cut 1 of the Manhwa’s Darkest Scenes – But It Shouldn’t Forget it Entirely

Solo Leveling Episode 22 inadvertently confirmed that the anime’s Jinwoo won’t ever be like the manhwa’s by eradicating a minor scene with a significant theme.

Son Kihoon’s total crew was composed of extraordinarily highly effective hunters, and Jinwoo had each probability to kill them in episode 17 in order that he may summon their shadows as he had carried out with Kim Chul, but he did not as a result of he is nonetheless a very good individual. Jinwoo may have seen an analogous alternative by taking part in the Fourth Jeju Island Raid however remained together with his household as a result of being a household man is the core of his humanity, which he’s removed from dropping.

By anime requirements, homicide does not make an individual right into a monster. What makes a personality inhumane is a scarcity of empathy, knowingly sacrificing harmless folks for private objectives, and dropping sight of the very purpose they wished energy. Jinwoo displays none of this. He maintains his kindness and compassion, even when it is hidden below a braver and extra assured face. The well-known quote, “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” does not apply to Solo Leveling‘s hero, however it could be so significantly better if it did.

Solo Leveling

Release Date

January 7, 2024

Directors

Shunsuke Nakashige

Writers

Noboru Kimura

• 

  Taito Ban

  Shun Mizushino (voice)

• 

  Genta Nakamura

  Kenta Morobishi (voice)

•