Feb 2, 2025
Just when I thought Season 1 couldn't get any worse, Season 2 somehow came back and doubled-down on the worst aspects that made the prequel incredibly tedious to watch. The basic writing concepts of tension and stakes are still a myth even in this season. The story also just wants to flex how "strong", "badass" and "cool" Jin-Woo has become by presenting him in convenient scenarios that inevitably ends up in his favor with little to no conflict at all, it's baffling. This season honestly just made me feel like I'm reading someone's powerfantasy self-insert fanfic on Wattpad that they wrote in middle school.
Anyway, the
...
point is, the narrative seems like it's only interested in making Jin-Woo a "cool" character. However, for a character to be seen as cool, it often works best when it’s a byproduct of who they are rather than their primary goal. When a character strives to be "cool" for the sake of it, it just comes across as forced or one-dimensional, but when their "coolness" emerges naturally through their actions, values, and growth— it feels earned and authentic. For instance, a character who is competent, confident, or kind without trying too hard often are seen as cool exactly because of these traits. Think about characters like Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings or Aang from Avatar: TLAB as an example, they’re cool characters not because they aim to be, but because their choices, demeanor, and inner strength makes them compelling. If the narrative's end goal is simply to make Jin-Woo look "cool", then the risk is the character ultimately losing its depth and relatability (which is what's already happening in this season, unfortunately). The "coolness" factor should be an organic outcome of a well-rounded character, not the driving motivation.
One more thing I found frustrating is that Solo Leveling can't seem to find a balance between powerfantasy and meaningful character development. It's always the former at the expense of the latter. Take Mob Psycho for comparison— Mob is an insanely overpowered character, but the story doesn’t make his strength the focal point of his identity. Instead, it highlights his emotional growth, his struggles with self-worth, and his desire to be accepted for who he is beyond his powers. What makes Mob’s journey so compelling is that his powers are almost irrelevant to his core struggles. While he can obliterate anyone or anything, his real challenges are still deeply human— learning to navigate through relationships, handle emotions, and finding confidence in his ordinary self are all aspects that made Mob such a well-written character. The story also paces his growth beautifully, allowing moments of vulnerability, humor, and reflection that make his eventual triumphs feel earned and deeply satisfying. The difference between Mob and Jin-Woo is in how they define themselves. Mob doesn’t want to be defined by his powers, while Jin-Woo seems to lean into them as his new identity. The key to striking the balance is focusing on who the character is without their powers and letting the powerfantasy support their journey rather than overshadow it.
To make matters worse, the show's ratings are an over-inflated mess and doesn't truly reflect what it is, and the people in the 'recommended reviews' section lacks even a speck of decency to be transparent and critical about certain aspects of the show. They're cowards tucked inside their natural habitat; an echo-chamber. In truth, Solo Leveling is a meathead powerfantasy brainrot. Hey, if that's your thing then by all means go for it, BUT if you're someone who's mentally or physically above the age of 14 and find your time extremely valuable then I suggest skipping this show entirely as it's nothing more than a shallow, pointless spectacle equivalent to jangling keys in front of a baby.
Reviewer’s Rating: 1
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