10 Shocking Flaws in ‘Solo Leveling’ You Never Noticed!

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Over the last few weeks, if you’ve dipped your toes in any anime enthusiasts’ corner of the web, you’ll likely have stumbled upon the uncontainable buzz surrounding “Solo Leveling“. Transformed from a Japanese light novel to a manhwa and now an anime, this series has captured hearts with its fresh perspective on the power fantasy genre. However, while it offers a thrilling ride, a closer examination of the plotline presents some moments that leave one scratching their head. As a movie reviewer, I found myself enjoying the spectacle, but couldn’t help but notice these narrative quirks.

Fundamentally, “Solo Leveling” revolves around Jinwoo, an ordinary man who discovers himself at the lowest rung in a world where people undergo transformations, acquire powers, and are categorized by their power levels represented as ranks. Despite being an E-rank Hunter, following a perilous ordeal within a twin dungeon, he obtains the capacity to amplify his strength through combat – a unique ability that propels him towards becoming one of the most potent Hunters ever known.

The show’s widespread appeal underscores the delight fans take in the power fantasy trope, offering a chance to live vicariously through an underdog’s journey to greatness. With pulse-pounding sequences and irresistible hook, Solo Leveling is a binge-worthy series. However, it’s not without its issues. The storyline and character development sometimes lack coherence, and we delve into these inconsistencies in this rundown of the top 10 perplexing moments from the anime – events that simply defy logic within the world of Solo Leveling.

10
Civilians Seem Oddly Calm and Unaffected by the Gates

Indeed, for more than a decade, these gates – serving as conduits between our world and the realm of monstrous beings – have persisted as a perpetual menace to our safety and peace. While it’s true that people may have adapted somewhat, the reality is that they inhabit a world where sudden death can materialize out of nowhere, where cities could be ravaged by monsters emerging from these gates. Is it not reasonable to expect some level of concern, even fear? Some apprehension or unease, perhaps?

In the captivating world of Solo Leveling, it’s as if everyday life carries on with Hunters maintaining a sense of control over everything. Even when catastrophic events like the S-rank Dungeon Break in Seoul shake the city, the impact on ordinary citizens is seldom delved into deeply. This disconnection between the players and the background extras leaves me feeling a bit detached, as if they’re mere props in this grand game. Even Jinwoo’s sister (now his mother) remains unfazed by his extraordinary abilities, never once showing signs of fear or desperation.

9
There Is Absolutely No Government Oversight

One intriguing aspect of the world in Solo Leveling is the absence of substantial rules or government oversight, despite the fact that supernatural gates opened a decade ago, releasing lethal monsters. In a world where such dangerous creatures have emerged, it’s troubling that there seems to be no intervention from official entities. Hunters, although they are part of guilds, typically function as independent contractors. There’s no real framework in place to monitor their behavior and ensure the destruction they cause is essential and not excessive.

It’s quite clear that this behavior is typical among S-rank Hunters, the world’s most potent individuals. For instance, Ryuji Goto from Japan is depicted as an overconfident Hunter who never acknowledges his mistakes. The absence of government oversight results in bizarre incidents. In the very first episode, Jinwoo and his group find themselves trapped within a dungeon, causing numerous casualties, yet no one is held liable. Later on, when Jinwoo obtains power himself, he disregards legal boundaries, treating society as if it’s his personal amusement park.

8
The World-Building Is Greatly Unbalanced

In the realm of Solo Leveling, we find a blend of magic, monsters, and Hunters living side by side. However, it’s important to note that this world isn’t always consistent or deeply developed. Some elements, such as the hierarchy of Hunters, their ranking system, and the guilds they are part of, are well-fleshed out. On the other hand, aspects like the origins of gates, the influence of the government, the consequences of magic use, and mana radiation – which can either awaken magical abilities or cause illness in people – are not as clearly explained.

In Solo Leveling, the story primarily revolves around Jinwoo’s personal journey and aspirations, giving the impression that the setting serves more as a stage for his power-driven fantasies, rather than a fully fleshed-out, immersive world like in series such as Fullmetal Alchemist. Unlike Fullmetal Alchemist, where the world-building is seamlessly woven into the narrative, Solo Leveling tends to overlook intricate details.

7
The Lack of Mental Health Support for Hunters

In the realm of Solo Leveling, it’s striking how little attention seems to be given to mental health care or resources for the Hunters. Given their line of work where death is a constant possibility, they encounter life-threatening scenarios, witness grim deaths, engage in excruciating battles, and experience unbearable trauma. However, there appears to be no support system in place to assist them in dealing with these hardships.

During the Double Dungeon incident, Sung Jinwoo and his associates endured intense psychological pressure as they witnessed fellow Hunters being brutally killed. This traumatic event led Lee Joohee, a B-rank healer, to leave her Hunter career altogether. However, there’s no record of any therapeutic or counseling support provided to the Hunters. Contrary to expectations, Hunters like Cha Hae-in and Baek Yoonho, who went through harrowing experiences, appear to be emotionally unaffected, which seems unrealistic.

6
The Dungeon Formula Is Quite Repetitive

Initially, the dungeon system in Solo Leveling appears to be an exciting premise – gates open, their strength is determined, a squad of suitable Hunters is gathered, who then charge in to vanquish the boss and seal the gate before a dungeon rupture takes place. However, after several arcs, this formula becomes monotonous. Typically, dungeons adhere to the same pattern where Hunters confront increasingly powerful armies, ultimately prevailing over the boss. It’s intriguing to ponder about an instance where the boss emerges victorious instead.

Instead of just repeating the same elements, there’s a need for more diversity and complexity within the dungeon system in Solo Leveling. This isn’t an impossible feat, as other RPG-inspired anime like Sword Art Online and Log Horizon have demonstrated creative approaches to their dungeon mechanics. However, currently, these dungeons in Solo Leveling seem to serve only as battlefields, lacking a deeper integration into the story. There’s potential to explore their origins further, making them a more organic and integral part of the narrative.

5
Supporting Characters Solely Exist to Praise Jin-Woo

One bothersome feature of the storyline in Solo Leveling is that each secondary character seems to exist only to idolize Sung Jinwoo. Regardless if it’s other Hunters, government personnel, guild leaders, or adversaries, as soon as they witness Jinwoo’s might, their individual characteristics fade away and they lavish him with unending admiration. Instead of having the chance to grow into multi-dimensional characters, they are relegated to being admirers.

Despite being a renowned S-rank Hunter, Cha Hae-In, known for her extraordinary skills and dedicated fanbase, often finds herself in awe of Jinwoo’s presence. This consistent admiration from supporting characters can make their interactions with Jinwoo feel shallow and overshadow the potential for their own growth. Consequently, this pattern of using side characters as cheerleaders for Jinwoo’s heroic journey may hinder the series’ overall capacity to develop complex and well-rounded characters.

4
The Fights Are Too Predictable

Once Sung Jinwoo commences advancing in levels, the encounters in the Solo Leveling series tend to follow a consistent pattern – he engages an adversary, grapples with difficulty for a short while, and subsequently acquires a new skill or effortlessly overpowers them using his might. Although this formula is entertaining for viewers who are fond of power-centric narrative tales, it strips the fights of any suspense and makes them distressingly foreseeable.

Instead of Igris and the Demon Castle arc, consider the fight against a certain knight in a different storyline. Initially, it may appear that our hero, Jinwoo, is at a disadvantage due to the knight’s extraordinary strength and tenacity. However, in just a flash, Jinwoo adjusts his tactics, responds effectively, and emerges victorious. This pattern repeats itself with the Ant King on Jeju Island. Though the creature was portrayed as a fearsome foe, it could only land one hit on Jinwoo who then quickly dispatched it. These battles seem to provide false optimism to the opponents every time, only for Jinwoo to effortlessly overpower them. The fights lack strategic complexity but are filled with visually striking moments.

3
The Injuries Are Never Realistic

In the intense conflicts of the manga ‘Solo Leveling’, battles are mercilessly grueling, yet seldom do the characters sustain lasting damage. Fighters endure powerful strikes, impalements, or grave wounds, but continue to fight, until ultimately a Healer arrives to heal them. However, it’s during the period before their recovery, as they struggle with life-threatening injuries inflicted by high-ranking monsters, that they demonstrate an astonishing capacity for quick recuperation.

The fights seem less intense because they lack authenticity. This pattern persists throughout the series. However, shows like Berserk effectively demonstrate the consequences of combat by portraying characters’ prolonged suffering after battles. Although it’s subjective, adding a more realistic touch to the narrative could enhance the overall experience.

2
Jin-woo’s Shadow Army Is Ridiculously Overpowered

Once Sung Jinwoo ascends to the Necromancer class and assumes the title of Shadow Monarch, he gains the Shadow Extraction skill and constructs an army of reanimated warriors, each more powerful than their former selves. This transformation not only makes Jinwoo virtually invincible as a Hunter, but also tips the scales significantly in his favor during battles. Admittedly, this power is quite impressive, but it’s undeniable that it diminishes the excitement of a fair fight.

In my humble opinion as a movie reviewer, during Season 2, an ordinary C-rank dungeon transformed into a formidable Red Gate, unveiling powerful adversaries such as ice bears and ice elves. Our protagonist, Jinwoo, overcame these foes with his Shadow Army, then harvested their shadows to bolster his combat force for the epic showdown against Baruka, the dungeon’s fearsome boss. The disproportionate power distribution between them left limited opportunities for Jinwoo to employ strategy or adapt his tactics. To heighten the drama and intensify the battles, it would be intriguing if the Shadow army had certain constraints – that way, the stakes could rise, and viewers like myself would find ourselves on the edge of our seats as we wonder how Jinwoo will prevail!

1
Jin-Woo’s Decision To Sit Out Jeju Island Battle Until the Last Minute

In the story of “Solo Leveling,” the Jeju Island Raid stands out as a crucial event in Season 2. Yet, it seems puzzling that Jinwoo opts to hold off joining other S-rank Hunters until the very end, given the circumstances. Given his immense power, his absence during this critical time leads to avoidable casualties and damage. His motivation for staying home to look after his mother is relatable. However, the strategic move of him assigning shadows to five different Hunters adds an interesting twist. Nevertheless, while the S-rank Hunters are in a life-or-death struggle, Jinwoo is instead found fulfilling his daily training objectives.

It’s not until the broadcast goes off air and the Ant King demonstrates immense power that Jinwoo decides to step in. His entrance is depicted as a triumphant moment, but it leaves us pondering: why didn’t he act sooner? Some fans speculate that the Japanese Hunters were trying to buy time, allowing the South Korean Hunters to destroy themselves so they could claim the credit. However, the delay also resulted in their elimination one by one. From a narrative standpoint, the delay serves to heighten the drama rather than being a logical choice for Jinwoo’s character.

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2025-04-25 05:05