Buzz
The main character's overwhelming power in Solo Leveling isn't something every anime fan may find appealing
Solo Leveling anime debuted in Winter 2024, becoming a global phenomenon thanks to its stunning animation and thrilling action scenes. The second season, part of the Winter 2025 lineup, shattered several records.
The story follows Sung Jinwoo, an E-Rank hunter, known as the weakest hunter among humanity. Ten years ago, mysterious gates filled with monsters and treasures appeared worldwide. These creatures were incredibly powerful, immune to modern weaponry. After the gates' arrival, humans began awakening special abilities to combat these threats.
Hunters are ranked from S-Rank to E-Rank based on their strength. Once a hunter awakens their power, their rank becomes fixed, regardless of how much they train. Despite lacking strength, Jinwoo continues to raid dungeons to provide for his family.
However, after a near-death experience in a double dungeon, Jinwoo acquires a system that allows him to level up infinitely. In a short time, he surpasses nearly every character in the story. However, due to the main character's excessive power, some fans may not enjoy the series.
The main character's overwhelming strength in Solo Leveling is the central focus of the story
The plot mainly follows Sung Jinwoo, who levels up after every battle. He continuously raids dungeons, demonstrating significant growth along the way. However, due to his unmatched strength, Jinwoo easily wins nearly every battle.
The concept of a weak individual rising to possess overwhelming power is the series' greatest strength. Watching his journey to becoming the strongest is incredibly rewarding. However, Jinwoo's unparalleled strength also places a heavy burden on him.
Time and again, Jinwoo finds himself in situations where he must not only defeat enemies but also protect others. At times, even the most renowned hunters struggle against powerful monsters, but Jinwoo does not. The Jeju Island incident is a perfect example.
Most of the strongest hunters from South Korea and Japan joined forces to conquer an S-Rank dungeon, and thousands of others were assembled to fight the monsters. Yet, even the combined efforts of thousands of hunters weren't enough, but Jinwoo handled it alone. His strength goes beyond merely winning battles—it challenges him to grow emotionally and make difficult decisions.
The focus on Jinwoo's development doesn't captivate everyone
Since Jinwoo becomes extremely powerful right from the start of the story, it diminishes the tension in the battles. Most anime fans are accustomed to seeing intense fights where the protagonist barely wins. This keeps them on the edge of their seats, uncertain about how the battle will unfold. For example, character development is often highly valued in shows like Jujutsu Kaisen.
One reason for this is that when the show primarily focuses on the main character, secondary characters often don't receive much attention. Viewers who appreciate well-developed supporting casts or the relationships between characters may feel disappointed, as these characters tend to be overlooked.
