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It’s safe to say that Solo Leveling’s success has been divisive, with critics and haters going as far as claiming that it’s nothing more than a mediocre adaptation. However, one can’t deny the hype of the story and the immaculate animation that has given fans a box full of memorable fight scenes. Unfortunately, fans can’t help but feel that maybe Solo Leveling peaked too early and that after Season 1, the flaws and cracks in its narrative are starting to show.
It seems as if the anime series has been leaning too much into the ‘Overpowered Protagonist Syndrome’ that almost everything else fades into the background. Whether it’s the female characters or the villains, everything dims in comparison to Sung Jinwoo’s powers, and this has led many to fear that Solo Leveling is just another ticking bomb. Once the hype fades, fans might be disappointed if the anime doesn’t address the criticism.
10 Solo Leveling’s Approach To Romance Is Unsavory
It Feels Misdirected and Half-Heartedly Inserted In The Plot
Solo Leveling isn’t strictly a romance, but it is nonetheless a crucial aspect of the story. Cha Hae-In is Sung Jinwoo’s future wife, but up till Season 2, there’s almost no chemistry between her and Jinwoo. She’s just like any other supporting character who is there to bask in his glory. If Sung Jinwoo and Hae-In are meant to be, they should at least be made emotionally available to each other.
It’s distasteful at best because it severely undermines Hae-In’s character and puts her on the front as a way to highlight Sung Jinwoo’s best parts instead of herself. The anime should have had a nuanced approach to its romantic subplot, like many other shonen anime titles of this caliber have. Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, and more have plenty of action, but when it comes to romance, they may not be as pronounced, but it’s incorporated in a way that positively influences the narrative.
9 Solo Leveling's High-Risk Battles Conclude In A Single Episode
Most Of Sung Jinwoo's Battles Conclude Before The Credits Roll
Those were the days when a single high-stakes battle would often span several episodes, providing fans with the satisfaction of seeing the bad guy get their comeuppance. Every arc, twist, and turn leads to several pivotal confrontations that are crucial to the protagonist’s growth. However, despite Sung Jinwoo’s leveling up being central to the plot, every battle he had never lasted more than a single episode.
Even the most highly anticipated battle between him and the Ant King was wrapped in one episode, leaving fans wanting more. These battles carry almost no emotional weight because they are extremely one-sided and predictable. Fans have criticized that the lack of struggle for Sung Jinwoo leads to an incredibly predictable and boring outcome.
8 Poor Development Of Solo Leveling's Antagonists Makes Them Almost Non-Threatening
Viewers Even Felt Beru Was A Level Down Compared To Sung Jinwoo's Aura
There are no monsters, hunters, Rulers, or Monarchs that Sung Jinwoo can’t take on, and while it’s a welcoming trend, it has a short shelf life. An anime is not only as good as its story or hero, but also its villain. The bad guy isn’t just a source of motivation for the hero; they are supposed to show a different perspective, raise the stakes, and keep the protagonist on his toes. Sometimes, a villain has such a meaningful backstory that they end up overshadowing the main lead.
Unfortunately, antagonists in Solo Leveling only feel like a real threat when they are up against other hunters. They aren’t developed or explored enough to create tension, especially against a powerful opponent like Sung Jinwoo. Fans have started to feel disappointed by the anime’s inability to balance these elements, and they can only expect things to change when the Monarchs finally come into the picture.
7 Sung Jinwoo Is Overpowered To The Point of Predictability
Fans Always Know How It's Going To End
The appeal of an underdog becoming powerful is undeniable, as there’s nothing more emotionally stirring to the audience than presenting a hero with odds stacked against him. Sung Jinwoo’s struggles at the start of Solo Leveling were relatable and had viewers fiercely rooting for him. However, ever since he acquired the System, his journey has moved in a single direction, becoming more uninspiring and one-dimensional. Every battle felt repetitive with a predictable outcome.
It’s not like Sung Jinwoo is the first overpowered hero, but the trope is bound to be stretched too thin. It was initially thrilling, but now the lack of tension has turned the plot monotonous. Fans can’t relate to Sung Jinwoo other than just praising his god-tier powers that are bound to become stronger as he fights more enemies.
6 No Other Supporting Character Has A Worthwhile Role in Solo Leveling
Their Growth Is Almost Non-Existent
One of the biggest problems that fans have with Solo Leveling is the underwhelming development of its supporting characters. Ever since Sung Jinwoo’s power-up, every other hunter has faded into the background as if they never existed. Viewers have been skeptical about abruptly cutting out characters like Lee JooHee, who never got an opportunity to improve or shine. Not only that, but S-Rank hunters who were previously considered the epitome of greatness and power were reduced to third-grade fighters in every battle that ended up with Sung Jinwoo saving the day.
There have been countless overpowered MCs in the past, such as Goku, Naruto, Satoru Gojo, and Saitama, among others. However, none of them are without a good supporting cast. Although they may not save the day as often as the main hero, they are reliable enough to take on a few enemies. Unfortunately, Solo Leveling has completely disappointed on that front, and even diehard enthusiasts can’t deny it.
5 Sung Jinwoo’s Emotional Arc Is Almost Non-Existent
It Has Become Increasingly Difficult To Relate To Him
Before he encountered the System, Sung Jinwoo had an innocence to him, and fans felt connected to his struggles. However, after powering up, Sung Jinwoo suddenly became emotionally distant and aloof. It’s almost as if the anime suddenly decided to undo the emotional weight his character development promised in favor of leveling up and becoming strong. Understandably, that is the point of the series, but it comes at the cost of turning Sung Jinwoo into a one-dimensional character.
By Season 2, it’s difficult to relate to Sung Jinwoo at all besides that one time he became emotional when his mother woke up from her coma. Other than that, Sung Jinwoo has been stripped of all emotional vulnerability and sensitivity, rendering his inner development unexplored. Fans wanted to see Sung Jinwoo as the person who conquered the odds, not just Jinwoo the undefeatable hero.
4 Repetitive Plot Structure Has Hurt Solo Leveling’s Potential
Solo Leveling Is Great, But A Monotonous Plot Could Be Damaging
Eagle-eyed fans would agree that while Solo Leveling is good, a story like this has been done a million times. However, the redundancy is not due to a trope-filled plot, but rather that the story repeats itself in a predictable pattern. The hunters encounter a strong enemy; Sung Jinwoo intervenes, defeats them, powers up, and repeats.
There’s almost nothing unique about Sung Jinwoo’s encounters that would make fans eager for the next big fight. Fans wait for a twist in the story, an instance where Sung Jinwoo is outwitted, but it never comes, and the plot spirals down into a pit of boredom. Viewers had high expectations from the Jeju Island Arc, but that sense of urgency or tension never comes because it’s all just a setup for Sung Jinwoo to step in and save the day; there’s no deviation from that formula.
3 Solo Leveling Softens The Series’ Darker Elements
Solo Leveling Has Refrained From Being Too Dark
Sung Jinwoo has been implied to be an anti-hero of sorts in the manhwa. He’s a complex character and has done morally questionable things, mostly for self-preservation via the System. However, the anime doesn’t really get into his inner turmoil; rather, it even refrains from making him seem darker. Solo Leveling has contrasted his edgier side by omitting the darker aspects of him altogether, but that has severely undermined his growth.
It’s almost as if the anime is afraid to take it up a notch just so Sung Jinwoo doesn’t come off too unlikable. Moreover, fans have also criticized the anime’s approach to the manhwa’s nationalist tone. The anime even censored and altered the perspective of the Japanese hunters, refraining from portraying them in an antagonistic light, as seen in the manhwa, to avoid offending the sentiments of the Japanese audience.
2 Solo Leveling Has Rushed Through The Lore
Fans Felt That The Anime Could Have Benefitted From Having More Episodes
Seasoned fans believe that Solo Leveling was inconsistently rushed despite having a rich lore. With two seasons in, there are still several questions left unanswered, specifically about the origin of the gates and the monsters in them. It’s understandable that the anime was trying to set the stage for the Monarchs’ entry, but without some background information, it would feel too rushed and forced once it comes out in the open.
For instance, the Jeju Island Arc is the most critical in the manhwa, but the series covered it in only five episodes. Fans were furious that the anime rushed through the arc without allowing the tension to build. Moreover, even when Sung Jinwoo defeats Baran in the Demon Castle Arc, the anime doesn’t give any information about why this certain monster is so powerful or why he’s a Monarch.
1 Cha Hae-In Is The Most Uninteresting Female Lead
Solo Leveling Has Failed To Tap Into Cha Hae-In's Potential
When Hae-In was first introduced in the series, she was set up as one of the strongest hunters, and a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, the only time the fans do see her in action is briefly in the Jeju Island Arc, where she was practically brought to death’s door in a single blow by Beru. Therefore, it didn’t make much sense to set her up as the infamous ‘Dancer’ or one of Korea’s strongest S-Rank hunters when she was essentially never really helpful in that zone.
Other than that, there’s zero growth on her part, whether as a standalone character or a love interest. She feels flat and emotionless, and it disappointed fans because even if that’s how she is in the manhwa, the anime could have taken creative liberty to make her interesting. At this point, Jinah has a better screen presence than Hae-In, who has been reduced to being eye candy.
