All eyes are on A-1 Studios for Solo Leveling Season 2’s final arc. The expectations are rightfully through the roof and the way both the manhwa and the novel had portrayed this arc make it the best of the series. So, needless to say, the stakes are too high and the margin for error is too little. The Jeju Island Arc holds a special place in everyone’s hearts, and I’m no different.
When I first read the manhwa, there was a certain level of thrill that came with this arc, something that I hadn’t expected at all and something that turned this otherwise flat and predictable story into something fun. While I cannot unsee its similarities with Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera arc, that doesn’t necessarily mean I can’t enjoy it either. The raid has only just begun, with a lot more to come, especially seeing how Sung Jinwoo isn’t even officially participating.
Solo Leveling set the bar too high
Throughout the season of Solo Leveling, there have been two things that A-1 Pictures has done. Firstly, there has been a consistency in quality and storytelling. Secondly, the constant omission of scenes that would otherwise hold value. While in some cases, those scenes don’t matter as much, there are also instances when they do. This episode has proven once again why minor scenes help in world-building so drastically. My biggest complaint will remain with how the anime cut out Choi Jong-In’s entry onto the island.
It spoke volumes of his power and the fact that it was nowhere to be seen took away from how meaningful his return was. Instead, it just showed him as an arrogant and cocky hunter which is far from the truth. The sparring scene was fun to watch, seeing how, despite their strength, there was a clear presence of camaraderie from the Korean hunters as compared to the hostility from Goto Ryuji’s team.
Overall, once again, the episode was good, but I cannot help but feel that it is lackluster. Then again, this arc has just started and the real fight is now going to begin. Beru’s entry at the very last minute was everything I had hoped for. Perhaps what is distracting me is the surrounding light colors in such a dark setting, but that seems to be a personal problem.
The best of the shadow soldiers
Beru’s entry was as terrifying as I had hoped for it to be. I do feel sad for the Japanese healer, but it was also a showcase of his intellect, going directly for the healer first. He is one of the best characters of the series, not just because of his strength but because of his love of K-dramas and I cannot wait for him to be a useful addition to Sung Jinwoo’s roster. Before his birth, the Jeju Island raid would have been a breeze for the S-Rank Hunters. However, the tides have turned into the ants’ favor.
Although Sung Jinwoo wasn’t an active part of the raid, he didn’t leave his team helpless. The 5 shadow soldiers he left in his wake act as his eyes and ears in places the cameras cannot reach. This way, he is both present in the raid and with his family. His mother has just come back from being in a coma for 4 years, so it is understandable why he would want to skip the raid.
If things keep going this way, I don’t think the arc would be fully adapted without sacrificing some crucial scenes. I knew that the pacing of the anime would eventually catch up to it, but this had never been something that I anticipated. I can only hope that things go the right way, otherwise, it would be a constant back-and-forth of fans’ disapproval and the anime’s need to meet deadlines. At the end of the day, there is nothing we can do about it except wait and watch.
Rating: 7/10
Solo Leveling is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
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