Review of Solo Leveling Season 2: Arise from the Shadow

Often times i wonder what makes a "good" show. Does it have to be a hype machine?, thematically rich?, heart warming,? unique in its representation?. Then you realize its all about connection and perception, i will never find a right answer that applies to all in general but what i can say anything can be enjoyable when watched in a favourable mental set. Saying all that nonsense was important for me to lay down the dilemma that "solo leveling" faces. It has the mainstream appeal but got no meaning above it. Solo leveling passes the exam of mainstream appeal with flying colours. A overpowered mc who seeminglywas breast fed by Charles Darwin, over emphasis on the importance of muscle power, and flashy animation, moments filled with hype that makes you filled with adrenaline as well. But does it go above that? NO. Simply because its a show made just for the masses. It acts both as a flaw and a benefit as well.
Lets talk about the flaws, when you watch the show you only watch one character that is sung jin woo because the rest are cardboard cutouts with muscles and big boobs and pretty faces. There is nothing else other then to them, they are said to be strong the moment later they get clapped just for their messiah SUNG JIN WOO to save them and then the dialogues to make the mc seem more over powered, strong, and heroic while they are just pathetically watching. I dont mind weak characters what i mind is cardboards like at the very least some development, something that didnt make them totally forgetful but no. It pisses me especially of when you see that the characters dont get the bare minimum writing its almost like writer did not care which he probably didnt. I didnt expect like phenomenal character development but this show doesnt even try to do the bare minimum. When it comes to the main character the only one it seemed the writer paid attention to some degree also doesnyt feel like a character you can root for or connect to. DEMON SLAYER a show which probably seems like the show which is really valid to compare SOLO LEVELING to also understands the necessity of trying to make a mc with whom you can form a connection with, so when the characters journey comes to an end or he achieves what he was seeking gives the audience catharsis and makes them feel good about the watch and also makes it was more memorable. SUNG JIN WOO is not a card board but sure is a lizard that somehow understood Darwins theory of evolution.
Story is really standard which i really dont have a issue with. My disappointment lies in it not trying anything. It does not try to do even the things that are really minimum but can effect for the betterment of the experience.
Another negative has to be the standardised story its really fascinating to see a good percentage of people talk about how animes arent as bold and unique yet even after a good percentage sharing that sentiment shows like solo leveling continue to outperform more new, bold, unique shows. Like the audience hypocrisy is truthfully mind bending when you see so many people criticise "generic" shows yet solo leveling is probably there best show of the season. For me personally story being generic or really standard isnt a big issue because quite frankly solo leveling does well in creating hype, in creating a atmosphere which gets amplified thanks to the music which is spot on.

Now there is always two spectrum of the argument what i shared is a mix of things i found to be lacking and the general sentiment but is a show bad? or unenjoyable considering how well received it is?. The is that solo leveling is a show that is does a few things and gets them right in a rather supreme manner, i mean that honestly without a ounce of sarcasm. The way somehow this show is able to hype up things is something that deserves praise, it employed the correct music, correct voice actor, and created the correct atmosphere to elevate the action sequence in such a manner that something that would have otherwise seemed stale seems fulfilled. Above that i feel that this show it does not promise anything that i stated as flaws, all it promises is a experience for people who are ready put the flaws in a side table and just watch ad enjoy. I also thing it was pretty fucking clear of what type of direction solo leveling was taking from season one and even though i knew most of the drill i still stuck around as i wasnt watching action shows as regularly as before, and even with all my hopes that this show should have done this , done that i found myself to be satisfied with what i saw.
It has great animation of course, music is spot on which you expect considering the cast, then comes world building which is probably its biggest asset which i hope it adds layers to, the world of hunters how they impact politics, and more layers to its dungeon system more nuances can probably propel the show as a whole even more.

The best way to describe solo leveling is that its a smart but lazy guy, it does the most normal things but does it better then most others but still you cant take laziness away and remains just good never beyond it never below it.