The first two episodes of Solo Leveling season 2 are actually streaming on Crunchyroll.
Much just like the video video games it emulates, the anime collection Solo Leveling usually forces its protagonist to tediously grind away as a way to acquire expertise and degree up – a present distinctive to Sung Jinwoo on this universe of invading monsters and the magical “hunters” who maintain them at bay. But when that repetition is adopted by a giant, hyper-intense, and superior combat, it justifies the entire thing. This is a present that’s virtually criticism-proof: Just when it looks as if Solo Leveling is losing the viewers’s time with a subplot that goes nowhere or with aspect characters that threaten to steal our consideration away from Jinwoo’s feats of energy, it throws a dozen visually beautiful, jaw-dropping issues on the display screen. There’s not a lot substance to Solo Leveling past its thrilling fights, however the starting of season 2 remains to be an exhilarating, fist-pump-worthy good time.
Thanks to the flashy animation of A-1 Pictures and the rousing music of Hiroyuki Sawano, the already spectacular art work of the unique Solo Leveling webtoon turns into a second-season premiere stuffed with severed limbs, smashed skulls, and buckets of blood. The first season ended with Jinwoo buying a superpower that lets him resurrect useless enemies and add them to his military; the primary two episodes of season 2 are basically all about testing out these necromancy abilities, with dozens of latest faces cowering in concern to promote us on Jinwoo’s elevated abilities. Is there extra to the premiere than the fights and the wish-fulfillment of a forgettable, weak dude changing into essentially the most overpowered man on this planet? Yes! And additionally, not likely.
These two episodes see Jinwoo proceed his journey towards antiheroism (and at instances full-on villainy). They even increase some attention-grabbing questions concerning the corrupting nature of Jinwoo’s powers and make some hints that he’s changing into extra just like the monsters he fights within the dungeons. Yet all that’s rapidly brushed apart in favor of developments just like the arrival of vicious killer Hwang Dung-soo, who’s searching for Jinwoo as a way to avenge the demise of his brother. He’d be an intimidating presence if Solo Leveling had any sense of stakes, however everyone knows there’s zero likelihood of this man truly posing a risk to Jinwoo.
We additionally get extra of the White Tiger Guild chief’s curiosity in Jinwoo and whether or not or not he has reawakened, an attention-grabbing thriller with some probably enormous penalties for the bigger world of Solo Leveling. But that storyline is transferring at a snail’s tempo and it’s form of arduous to keep in mind that individuals discovering Jinwoo’s stupidly enormous enhance in energy is supposed to be vital. And, in fact, there’s the thriller of this system that permits Jinwoo to degree up, essentially the most compelling story of the present, however that’s one other pot that appears to be simmering within the background.
So there is extra to Solo Leveling than the motion, however within the early levels of season 2, the present appears tired of taking note of something aside from Jinwoo’s accomplishments in fight. Once these storylines transfer alongside, maybe the anime will acquire some precise substance. But for now, it does not matter. Everything is secondary to the depth of the combat scenes and the super variety of “hell yeahs” they elicit.
And what? It works. This will not be a present I look ahead to advanced characterizations, nuanced discussions of morality, intricate world-building, and even memorable characters. I sustain with Solo Leveling for a similar motive I watch players pull unimaginable acts of badassery in Elden Ring or play a sport utilizing each cheat code and mod obtainable. That’s the place Solo Leveling turns into a distinctively thrilling viewing expertise.
