Solo Leveling is an anime adapted from the manhwa written by Chu-Gong. In the series, hunters battle monsters to protect humanity. Hunters are ranked from E to S depending on their magical abilities. Hunters aren’t able to increase their power level after they “awaken,” their power. The main character Sung Jinwoo, had been nicknamed “The Weakest Hunter of All Mankind.” Having the lowest level of “E”. He’s use to being mocked and always ending up hurt. At first it seems ridiculous for him to even try. However, hunters are able to sell the resources they earn from dungeons. The government also wants the crystal’s as a power source, that’s “safer than nuclear, more efficient than water, wind, or geothermal.”
After defeating the dungeon boss, the group Sung joined find a cave to another dungeon. Desperate for more loot they decided to risk it after Sung is the tiebreaking vote. It’s revealed that he’s trying to earn money to pay for his mothers health care and his sisters college after his fathers death. We get a glimpse of the culture surrounding guilds, which are run like corporations. Hunters sign contracts with these corporate guilds. Then they’re sent out to defeat the bosses and collect the loot.
We’re all going to die
Inside the dungeon, Sung notices how creepy the chamber is, especially the large statues. Suddenly, he door behind them slam shut and when a hunter tries to leave he’s decapitated by one of the statues. Another one of the statues shoot a fire beam, incinerating one of the hunters. Causing fear among the other hunters, especially his friend Lee Joohee. The weakest of the hunters, Sung panics as he’s certain he’s going to die soon.
Based on the first episode alone, Solo Leveling is basic. The concept isn’t new, hunters, beasts, guilds, just to list a few common elements. That said I know that there’s more to the series than a rehash of predictable anime tropes. Solo Leveling hasn’t had too much action yet but from what I’ve seen the animation is pretty good. MAPPA has spoiled me and skew my perception of animation. I need to remind myself that they’re the exception not the rule. Solo Leveling hasn’t shown me anything to make it standout. However, I holding out hope that there’s more to this series. I think I’ll be proven correct.
So what did you think of the first episode of Solo Leveling? Is it too basic so far?
Basic, and it flubbed up a bit on its hook. The intro took too long and is apparently irrelevant – not to mention, I laugh at the idea that the men in battleships with cannons can do less against monsters than random sword dudes – and that failure of proper pacing leaked throughout the entire episode. As the weakest character, the protagonist needed some sort of redeeming moment, but they haven’t gotten to that yet. Even his warning was too late to help anyone. The troop of hunters made stupid mistakes, mistakes which the newbies are specifically warned against in orientation, and even those that voted better were dumb enough to follow along with the others. Worse than any competent enemy is the incompetent ally. So, all in all, I’ve heard a bit of hype about it, but it has thus far failed to really impress me. I may watch the second episode just to see if the protagonist actually comes through in the clutch moment, but if it doesn’t improve the hook, I’ll probably set this down on my massive list of “Maybe I’ll Watch it Eventually.”
Waiting for the series to progress probably makes more sense. It does appear that all the characters that aren’t S Ranked are incompetent. I think that could become a problem or maybe this specific group is just incompetent and will get slaughtered because of it.