I think I can speak for everyone when I say Solo Leveling is amazing both on the screen and on the page. I have only read a few manga series before. As an anime lover, the only time I read a manga/manhwa/webtoon is when a series is so good that I can't wait a week to see what's next. So far, I've read Tower of God, Jujutsu Kaisen, and now, Solo Leveling. The Solo Leveling anime is what drew me to the webtoon initially, and boy, oh boy, it didn't disappoint.
The Solo Leveling webtoon's feel is perfectly captured in the anime. While I still prefer the anime and anime in general, I loved the webtoon. The one thing I wish was a bit better was the ending. The ending of Solo Leveling left a lot to be desired. While it wasn't the worst thing in the world (looking at you, The Promised Neverland), I thought that a series that reached the heights that Solo Leveling did could have ended a little better.
Solo Leveling's Ending Was Odd
There's Almost No Consequences After Jinwoo's Dramatic Journey
Technically, the ending of Solo Leveling makes sense. As the only person/Hunter in the world that can actually get stronger, Sung Jinwoo eventually ascends to Godhood. He transcends any former convention he used to adhere to, making him one of the strongest characters in anime towards the end of the series. There are actually two separate points in the series you could refer to as the ending of the series, counting the side stories that make up the final chapters of the webtoon.
The first ending is when Jinwoo first uses the legendary Cup of Reincarnation to rewind time by ten years to reset everything. The story ends with him talking to a representative of the Rulers, telling him that Jinwoo himself will handle everything on his own going forward. He then catches a glimpse of his future/past love interest, Cha Hae-In, and runs out to see her for the first time in the new timeline.
Solo Leveling Delay Announced Ahead of Season 2's Impending Finale
Fans of Solo Leveling just received a sad update as the anime has officially announced a short delay before its episode drops on Crunchyroll.
The second ending is after the side stories take place and Sung Suho becomes the new main character. Both endings come after Jinwoo's titanic fight with Antares, the Dragon King and the Monarch of Destruction. Both endings occur after Jinwoo has broken all the rules and reset time, avoiding any and all the consequences that came with his last timeline.
Solo Leveling Peaks With Jeju Island
It's Somewhat Downhill From There
Unfortunately, the peak of Solo Leveling is way before it ends. After reading the entirety of the Solo Leveling webtoon, I can say with confidence that the best of the series occurs during the Jeju Island Arc. In an arc that closely resembles the Chimera Ant Arc in Hunter x Hunter, Jinwoo finally reveals his true power to the entire world. I love Solo Leveling because of its status as one of the best edgy anime series of all time.
The best edgy anime are defined by a couple of key things. First, Jinwoo needs to be ridiculously strong, and by the Jeju Island Arc, he's one of the strongest Hunters in the series. Second, he needs a dark personality that couldn't care less about the fame his strength brings. Finally, he needs to be so strong, helpful, and secretive, nobody knows his true strength until it's desperately needed.
These three traits come to a perfect point during the Jeju Island Arc. Nothing is more exciting than seeing Jinwoo pop up to save the strongest Hunters in Korea in an instant, taking on a near National Level Threat while barely breaking a sweat. When this arc gets animated, I guarantee that Solo Leveling will break even more records than it already has. The only negative about the Jeju Island Arc, in my opinion, is how far away it is from the series ending, both literally and metaphorically.
Jinwoo vs. Extraterrestrial Beings Isn't a Great Ending
Solo Leveling Is at Its Best When Jinwoo Is Still Human
Naruto was at its peak during the Fourth Great Ninja War. Seeing the combined ninja forces of the world taking on Madara, the Ten-Tails, and the powers of the Rinnegan was the peak. When Kaguya came into the picture, things got a little blurry and felt like they had strayed away from what made Naruto so good.
The same can be said about Solo Leveling. is at its best when it's grounded in reality. I know that might sound silly, but seeing Jinwoo become the strongest human Hunter feels a lot different than seeing him become the strongest Monarch. I loved his fights against the Ant King, Kargalgan, and even every floor of the Demon Castle. Jinwoo fighting Monarchs at a level even other National Level Hunters can't reach feels a little too distant.
Solo Leveling loses its edgy vibe when Jinwoo becomes a God. Sure, he's still fighting people/beings stronger than him, but he isn't really. At the end of the series, even before the Monarchs have lost to Jinwoo, the new Shadow Monarch already feels omnipotent and omnipresent. He feels like an untouchable God in a bad way. Against Kargalgan, his limits were tested. Against the Ant King, he showed how strong he really is. Against the Monarchs, nothing new happens, as Jinwoo has already become insurmountable.
Solo Leveling Could Have Ended Better, but It Wasn't Horrible Either
Nailing an Ending Is Nearly Impossible
I don't want to sound like a negative Nelly. The ending of Solo Leveling wasn't the worst that I've ever seen, and it honestly made sense. Jinwoo's story is about a Hunter who always gets stronger. It makes perfect sense that his gains would know no limit, eventually taking Jinwoo past the point of no return and straight into Godhood. As a living God, Jinwoo is able to rewind time, keep his powers, and even dominate the Monarchs on their home turf.
It's Official: The Voice of My Hero Academia's All Might Just ed Solo Leveling
Kenta Miyake, who voices My Hero Academia's Symbol of Peace, All Might, has officially ed Solo Leveling season two to voice Kargalgan.
It just doesn't feel great. It feels like all the struggles I fell in love with were for nothing. Don't get me wrong, I was more than happy to see Go Gunhee again, and seeing Woo Jinchul as a hardworking detective was pretty cool. It wasn't satisfying though, and it would have been a lot cooler to see the world recovering under the new Shadow Monarch instead of completely reset.
I'll be happy if Solo Leveling gets a full adaptation (looking at the numbers, it's hard to see a world in which it doesn't). I can't wait for the Jeju Island Arc, and I'll even watch the Monarch War Arc with a smile on my face too, but that doesn't mean that Solo Leveling couldn't have ended a little bit stronger.
Solo Leveling
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
- Directors
- Shunsuke Nakashige
- Writers
- Noboru Kimura
Cast
Taito BanShun Mizushino (voice)-
Genta NakamuraKenta Morobishi (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Creator(s)
- Chugong
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