Solo Leveling is, without a doubt, one of the best anime to premiere in 2024. Fans had great expectations from the anime, especially after knowing how popular the manhwa was. The anime premiered on January 6, 2024. Season one has been divided into two parts. Both the parts will have twelve episodes with a three-month gap in between.
Even though the fans were pretty excited about the anime, there seemed to be a particular aspect that troubled them. Sung Jinwoo’s story, from being the weakest to the strongest hunter, has several phases, but the transition began after the Cartenon Temple arc. However, it seems Sung Jinwoo had become emotionless after the near-death experience, which might hurt Solo Leveling’s popularity.
Sung Jinwoo Had To Work Hard To Overcome His Fears
Sung Jinwoo’s story began when he became a hunter. His motive was to cure his mother’s illness, and had to save for his sister’s education. So, even if he was the weakest hunter of all, he always participated in raids and most of the time, ended up hurting badly. Physically, he was weak, but he still was able to read situations to help his colleagues. During the Cartenon Temple arc, he used his intellect to save a few of his colleagues’ lives.
After his near-death experience, he completely changed. Even though he was leveling up, it seemed to have lowered his ability to feel emotions. In the manhwa, the Cartenon Temple experience made him traumatic. His leveling up did not affect his trauma. Through every fight and training, he was reaching new heights, but the horrific experience always remained behind his head. The Solo Leveling anime is failing to uphold that side of Sung Jinwoo.
The anime entirely skipped his fear of the Cartenon Temple. Sung Jinwoo is leveling up to face the God Statue. The fear and trauma make it more interesting since the protagonist is always under pressure. Apart from physical growth, mental growth is also necessary. But this crucial aspect seems to be missing from the anime. The entire build-up is getting disrupted.
Solo Leveling Is Straying Away From Its Track
The Cartenon Temple arc is the junction from where Solo Leveling took a different route. However traumatic it was, Sung Jinwoo had to return to that particular dungeon. The manhwa beautifully portrayed it and humanized him. It is understandable that with all the powering up and constant battles, the protagonist’s mind is occupied, and then there is the system, which can only accessed by him.
But it will cancel out the feelings and connection between Sung Jinwoo and the God statue. It will become difficult for first-time watchers to understand and find the connection. The manhwa readers will find it difficult to relate. Solo Leveling has still several episodes in season one. Showing the Jinwoo’s fearful side will make the anime more appealing to the fans.
The temple was never his beginning. It was the thing that set him on the right path. In the manhwa, fear was always a part of his growth until he finally overcame it. Solo Leveling skipping one of its most crucial aspects might result in a deal breaker for them. But there is still time for them to rectify. The fans are hopeful that they will see a more humane form of Sung Jinwoo.
Solo Leveling is available on Crunchyroll.
