Review of Solo Leveling Season 2: Arise from the Shadow

Weird, isn't it? To achieve an adaptation of this caliber could still receive backlash despite being able to break the internet and servers for having episodes that continue to get better with every release. Do you want to know how I see it? People hate Solo Leveling for the same reason they hate Demon Slayer. Both are carried by the animation and soundtrack when that's the entire point of the ADAPTATION anyway. Why else would people hype up these anime anyway? They will certainly gawk at it because an adaptation like this is not easy to get when you have multiple known blunders that havebeen memed till it's dry like the Seven Deadly Frames and PowerPoint Lock. Solo Leveling is certainly a standard for a good adaptation since it respects the core elements of the manhwa and keeps it as it is for fans alike. So it's bad for an adaptation to be handled in the worst way possible, but it's also bad for an adaptation to be this good? But of course, since this is a review, I should address the anime's worst flaws just so newcomers know what they're getting into.

Much of Solo Leveling's writing can be easily comprised of two things: Exposition dumps and fast-paced action sequences. The difference is as clear as black and white. Like its manhwa's counterpart, the anime reenacts that perfectly from head to toe. It's not going to be the best for newcomers or anyone who's expecting a well-written action anime. It lacks intensity since the opposition is made to be a stepping stone (like the name suggests SOLO L-E-V-E-L-I-N-G) or have its human characters act as exposition dumps since they have no other way of interacting in the world other than setting up for the next big event, which allows Sung Jin-Woo, A.K.A the biggest self-insert character for power fantasy fans to shine in and have all the smoke. However, since the name is truly Solo Leveling, it's an incredible experience for fans of the manhwa, such as me, and people who just love these kinds of fan service. It's very quick and straight to the point, which leads us right into both of the series' strongest attributes, the soundtrack, done by Hiroyuki Sawano, and the intense, slick, and beautiful resemblance of the manhwa's renowned artwork coming to life. The story and characters are decent enough so you don't cringe at them unless you're feeling a bit too critical and expecting masterclass writing. It is a wonderland for fans waiting for an adaptation like this. Despite what people might say, it is such a pleasure to find Solo Leveling basking in all its glory with the great animation and soundtrack.

If there is one strength that makes Solo Leveling so addicting and satisfying to watch, it is the feeling of growth the anime consistently keeps up from start to finish. There's a gravitating and euphoric feeling watching that LVL 1 character you watch struggle from the beginning to have him stomp these monstrous forces of nature whilst constantly gaining new strength and powers. It understands how to make power fantasies work, despite being treated as a pejorative term. Solo Leveling took that term and embodied it till the end. This is why anime like this is bound to face backlash. It's not a universally loved subject for everyone, but hey, it definitely works for people out there, especially me.

As I said earlier, obviously there's not going to be a lot of people liking Solo Leveling since so many flaws can be found in the anime, even content creators know it, like the MC is constantly aura farming and waiting until the last second just so he can have all the clout. Solo Leveling is an anime that sacrifices many integral parts of what makes a great anime for only a couple of redeeming attributes; art and animation. And it really paid off, because the source material isn't really known for having the best writing or characters. What fans really wanted to see was the artwork the manhwa is purely known for, and I can say without a doubt that they definitely cooked in this one. I'm not going to try to tell you that Solo Leveling is a great anime or you're wrong for not liking Solo Leveling since I lack the prowess to do that. But let's just say that Solo Leveling is like a dream come true for power fantasy fans. Am I biased for this? Yes. It is purely that in its rawest form, and I'm grateful for what the staff have managed to polish and create with the time they have. Season 2 is an upgrade from its already good prequel and managed to elevate it to the grounds of pure entertainment.

Thank you for reading.