Solo Leveling Arise from the Shadows

All Hail Sung Jin-woo, our Glorious King

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows S2 Ep 13 Review

It pains me to say this, but the second season of Solo Leveling has come to a close. But after everything that has happened this season, there’s likely not an anime fan out there who hasn’t heard about it. After seeing what he managed to do in the last episode, there won’t be a person in Korea who doesn’t know about Sung Jin-woo, the hero of Jeju Island. Since Solo Leveling is such a good story, though, the falling action is as good as the climax. However, the anime did manage to miss a few details that feel like a mistake to leave out. And for good reason.

Why did the anime skips this?

Looking back on last week’s episode, one problem with its ending (besides being horribly timed) was it left out a key part of Jin-woo’s thoughts. He later acknowledges this to Chairman Go, but in the manwha, Jin-woo spends the time after his failed attempts to save Cha Hae berating himself. He acknowledges that Hunters like Byung-Gu wouldn’t have died if he had chosen to go on the Raid from the start. It’s an important self-criticism that serves as a reminder that, despite now being the strongest in Korea, Sung Jin-woo is still human. It feels like a mistake not to include that in the anime, and that’s only the first one the episode makes.

The second has to do with how it portrays the way Jin-woo saves Cha Hae. I can’t remember if the anime brings it up, but Jin-woo actually has a moral code regarding his necromancy. Having learned he can revive dead humans, Jin-woo vowed to never use that power on another human unless they were evil or deserved it. Kim Chul proved to be a horrible man, so he got that treatment. In contrast, Byung-Gu was an incredibly kind person who hated violence. The fact that Jin-woo was willing to break his own rule is meant to highlight how serious and desperate he was about saving Cha Hae. In addition, whereas he revived him on the first try in the anime, he almost fails to do so in the manwha. Jin-woo has to actually convince Byung-Gu to come back to save someone one last time before it works.

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Beyond that, though, the outcome remains the same. Cha Hae’s life is saved, and Jin-woo agrees to let Byung-Gu rest in peace. It’s a very emotional moment that earns him a great deal of respect from Byung-Gu’s comrades.

Besides, Byung-Gu is nothing in comparison to the real reward: the Ant King himself. Or should we say, Beru?

Welcome to the force, Beru

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The anime does a really good job of capturing the importance of Jin-woo reviving the Ant King. The fact that he can already talk, something no other Shadow can do, emphasizes how special this Shadow is. Also, Beru is a combination of two names: Bernard Weber, a French author who wrote a fiction series about ants; and Meruem, AKA the OG Ant King. Beru more than proves worthy of being Jin-woo’s first shadow general, helping to wipe out most of the remaining ants. Thanks to Jin-woo and the Hunters of Korea, most of the leaderless ants are easy pickings. What could’ve spelt the end of Korea becomes a huge victory for the country.

As for Japan…well, the man in charge brought what happened upon himself. Now he has to live with the fact that 70% of his country’s S-Ranks are dead. And will likely lose his job in the near future.

By the way, Jin-woo does try to revive the Ant Queen in the manwha, but he abandons that when he realizes that the Queen’s useless as an undead Shadow. That, and it divides the loyalty of the Shadow Ants.

Commence the Praise!

With Jeju Island no longer a threat, Korea is free to mourn those lost. While people give him valid criticism (which he acknowledges), everyone says that Sung Jin-woo is the hero of Jeju Island. While he could’ve helped from the start, joining at such a critical moment saved Korea from destruction. Thus, most people are giving him all the glaze (like I have been.) He’s now the apex predator of the country; the strongest.

So, what now?

Thanks to the experience from the Raid on Jeju Island, Jin-woo has hit an important milestone: Level 100. He’s stronger than he’s ever been. And while some might sit on their throne and reap the rewards, Jin-woo isn’t like that. He’s already making plans to form his own guild with Jinho. And at that this point, he doesn’t need to hide the fact that he can solo an entire dungeon. Yet, not everything is well.

During the cleanup on Jeju Island, one of the teams of Hunters were attacked by two unknown beings. I can’t say who they are without spoiling things, but let me make this clear: Jin-woo will need to fight them in the near future. And right now, not even he may be enough to win. Which is why he needs to keep getting stronger. Not to protect his title, but to protect the people he cares about.

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Now we Wait

Sadly, this is where the season of Solo Leveling comes to an end. At this time, there is no news that can confirm nor deny whether there will be a third season. However, given its meteoric rise to prominence in the anime world in just over a year, people are going to want to see the rest of the story animated. Its not a question of if it will happen, but when. And with the fights only going to get crazier (trust me), Solo Leveling could wind up being one of the biggest anime of the decade.

Until that day comes, though, feel free to go and read the manwha for yourself. Or stick around for a review of the game Solo Leveling Arise. Or go watch YouTubers like AniNews or Anime Balls Deep as they break down the series.

Edit: Third Season drops next year.

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I Give “Onto the Next Target” a 4/5

The Wrath of the Ant King!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows S2 Ep 11 Review

Menaces: a person, people, or entities whose very existence can be considered a threat to one’s health, well-being, and life in general. They are the ones who will end your existence solely for the heck of it. There have been plenty of menaces throughout anime, from Kid Buu to Sukuna to Yujiro Hanma. And now, Solo Leveling has its own menace ready to inflict nightmare fuel upon the whole of Korea. The Ant King has risen, and he is ready to make mincemeat out of everyone in a moment I’ve been waiting to see for a year!

Everything Was Going Fine…

At first glance, the Jeju Island Raid seems to be going well. Throughout the first half, the Korean Hunters manage to make it to the final boss room of the Dungeon, and they’re feeling good about themselves. They think this is going to be their moment to end this threat forever. From an outsider’s perspective, they have everything they need, too! Thanks to their teamwork and, more importantly, the skill of their S-Rank Healer, Byung-Gu, they can handle even the S-Ranked Ants of the royal guard. It’s like watching that one elite team of MMO gamers getting ready to beat the big Dungeon the developer just added!

The fight between the Hunters and the Ant Queen’s guard is fairly entertaining to watch. It’s nothing compared to the fights we’ve seen Jin-woo take part in, but it gives us a good look at why these are the strongest Hunters in Korea. They may not be able to solo the Dungeon like Jin-woo, but they fight like a well-oiled machine. We see Cha Hae-in get the honor of dealing the final blow, providing more evidence for why she’s the best girl in the series. Afterward, everyone starts to celebrate, thinking this 4-year-long nightmare is ending. Little do they know that the Ant Queen wasn’t even the final boss. The real final boss is about to make their debut.

The Ant King Solos Everyone

Despite the anime ruining the suspense in the last episode by showing us what the Queen’s greatest child looks like, it made up for it near the end. The fact that we never see it as it starts killing the Japanese Hunters helps rebuild the tension, which continues at the start of this episode. Without breaking a sweat, the Ant King manages to slaughter that entire team, and then does the same to the ones who came to investigate. However, this moment isn’t what makes this beast a true menace. It’s what he does next.

The Ant King calls all the remaining ants back to the nest, because it knows their mom is dead, and they have to avenge her. So while the other ants start to make their way back, the Ant King walks right in and, through his aura farming alone, manages to make Cha Hae-in drop to her knees in horror.

Then, we hear the same music that played when Jin-woo killed those Hunters in the Dungeon. Even though I read the manwha in advance, my jaw still dropped when I saw what happened next. It was even worse than I remembered!

The Ant King is a Menace!

Byung-Gu’s death was like something out of a horror movie. However, what made it worse was that he had already retired as a Hunter. He quit after the last Jeju raid because he knew if he kept being a Hunter, he’d die gruesome. He was all set to get his certification to be a teacher, but chose to come back because he cared too much about his comrades!

This Ant King is the second coming of Meruem. If he is not stopped, he will lead his army to conquer all of Asia. He’s so strong that he even disrespects the Hunters by telling them they’re not even worth the effort for him to kill. He lets the rest of the Ants finish them while he leaves to find their King and kill them.

So, what are the Japanese Hunters doing during this time? They’re getting ready to leave.

Japan’s Scheming Backfired

Japan never intended to work with Korea to clear out the Ants. Their plan was to use Korea’s S-Ranks as cannon fodder to soften the ants up so they could clear it themselves. Once Goto Ryuji did this, he would meet the requirements to ascend to the one rank beyond S-Rank: the National Rank. They’re Hunters that are so strong they rival an entire country’s military, and they all cleared S-Rank Dungeons. Ryuji had the chance to help clear one in America years ago, but he turned it down to stay in Japan, something that he’s always regretted.

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In other words, this entire plan was a scheme to gain control over Korea and satisfy a single man’s ego. But not even Japan’s strongest Hunter is enough to handle the Ant King. We don’t even see him die; just his blade breaking.

Jin-woo like “Fine, I’ll do it myself.”

The episode looks like it’s about to end on a very bleak note, with all the Hunters about to be devoured by the horde. However, that is Jin-woo decides to make his move.

Planting his Shadows on most of the Korean Hunters was a smart move. It allows him to instantaneously teleport to Jeju Island in time to save everyone. However, it does beg the question why he didn’t do this as soon as the Ant King appeared. Better yet, why didn’t he let them know that he could have his Shadows provide backup earlier? He could have planted them on every Hunter taking part and have them provide support! It feels like a bit of an oversight by the story.

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What’s done is done, though. Now that Jin-woo is about to appear, we are going to get the fight that I’ve been waiting an entire year to see in animated form. Hopefully, this fight will be as good as it is in the gacha game Solo Leveling: Arise. Which, by the way, is in the middle of its spring event.

I Give “It’s Going to Get Even More Intense” a 4.5/5

A Miracle Has Occurred! Jin-woo Got his Mom Back!!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Blogging, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows S2 Ep 9 Review

From the day he became a Hunter, Sung Jin-woo had only one goal: to look after his family. Thanks to becoming a Player, the idea of curing his comatose mother no longer felt like an impossible dream. He’s fought, struggled, and risked his life time and again to gain the materials needed to create a cure capable of saving his Mom. Now, at long last, he’s done it. He’s managed to bring his Mom back. And it makes the absolute hell that he’s been through over his time being a Hunter worth it.

Miracle Cure, Acquired!

With the battle against Baran won, Jin-woo has the ingredients to make the medicine that could save his mom. And despite how much he’s managed to accomplish, the viewers can tell that he’s still nervous as he’s crafting it. He knows that if it were to go wrong, he’d lose his only chance to do so. The relief on his face is palpable as he sees it succeeds. And so, he returns to his world, his quest at an end! And he manages to revive Baran’s dragon as part of his army!

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As for Esil, she has to walk herself back home. Unfortunately, she doesn’t appear again after this. Anyone who was a fan of hers that wishes she got more screen time can go play Solo Leveling: Arise, where she’s one of the recruitable Hunters.

A Heartfelt Reunion With Mom

At last, we arrive at the moment of truth. This was one of the most important moments in the manwha, and one that the anime couldn’t afford to mess up. Thankfully, not only did the anime rise to meet the emotional impact of Jin-woo’s mother waking up after four long years, it went above and beyond. Jin-woo, who we’ve gotten so used to seeing as a stoic man by this point, starts crying his eyes out in joy as he gets to talk to his mom again. And you can’t blame him! If you went through everything he has all so he could have a chance of saving one of your parents, you’d end up crying tears of joy and relief, too!

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The next few days of Jin-woo’s life are joyous ones. For the first time in years, he has his family back together (except for his missing Dad.) However, now that his Mom is back, doubts begin to set in about his future. He doesn’t say it out loud, but he even questions the need to continue getting stronger as a Hunter.

The timing could not be worse.

The Jeju Island Raid is Coming

Since the first season, Solo Leveling has been steadily building up to the Jeju Island Raid Arc. There’s an army of giant, man-eating ants that’s made the island its home that’s getting ready to invade the mainland. If that happens, everyone in Korea will die. And since all previous attempts to retake the island have failed, Korea and Japan are teaming up to ensure this fourth attempt succeeds. To do that, they’re calling for all hands on deck. Most of Korea and Japan’s S-Rank Hunters will be taking part in this raid, and Chairman Go is hoping that Jin-woo will join in.

To be fair, having Jin-woo there would turn this dangerous mission into an absolute curb-stomp. However, before he can even decide, they get interrupted by the sheer aura of the S-Ranks training together!

A few months ago, the idea of Jin-woo stepping into a world like this would feel crazy. Yet here he now stands, with the strongest Hunters in Korea as they spar together. And then the Japanese Hunters show up, led by Goto Ryuji, the strongest Hunter in Japan.

Can Korea and Japan Work Together?

Japan and Korea have had a complicated history over the years, so the two countries aren’t exactly on the best terms. That enmity seems to bleed over into the Hunters as the two start wanting to scrap with each other. So, to ease the tensions, most of the S-Ranks decide to have some sparring sessions together! Which means that the next episode is going to see what the Hunting Elite are capable of doing!

While it is sad to see that the anime brought an end to the Demon Castle Arc so quickly (the manwha had it last longer), hopefully the season can stick the landing with the Jeju Island Raid Arc. And, despite some people complaining about Jin-woo crying (which will be addressed), the reunion of mother and son was genuinely heartfelt. Congrats, Jin-woo. You’ve earned this!

I Give “It Was All Worth It” a 4/5

Jin-woo Slays the Demon Monarch

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows S2 Ep 8 Review

Week after week, Solo Leveling continues to shatter streaming records on Crunchyroll. It is currently the most-watched anime on the platform, and a big part of that is due to its constant escalation of conflict. For example, two episodes ago, the Internet lost it over Jin-woo’s fight with the High Orcs. But that fight manages to get topped by this episode’s climactic battle and introduce the second-best girl in the series. Not only that, but it continues to build up another battle that’s been coming since the start of the series.

A New Waifu Approaches

When Jin-woo came looking for the group that was beating his Shadows, he fully expected a fight. He got one at first, but as soon as his opponents were down to one left…she surrendered. Then she tried to pull of a sneak attack, got intimidated, and surrendered for real.

This cowardly woman is Esil Radiru, the daughter of the distinguished Radiru family of Demons. As she explains to Jin-woo, she and all the other Demons were summoned to this Dungeon from the Demon Realm and ordered to defend it from intruders. I.E. from Jin-woo. Any further attempts to learn more, though, are hampered by the System.

Esil is into Sung Jin-woo

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Between this and his failed attempt to learn from Beruka, it’s clear to Jin-woo that there are things the System does not want him to know. However, since he’s gotten stronger thanks to it, he gives it a pass for the time being. In addition, he also chooses to spare Esil and her house in exchange for two things:

1.) He wants their permit to head to the next level.

2.) He wants Esil to come with him as a guide/porter.

The Best Fight Yet

If it’s not obvious by the end of the episode, Esil’s fallen for Jin-woo for both his strength and his kindness to those weaker than him. This latter part proves important, as it shows that, despite his colder outlook on life, Jin-woo remains a kind and caring person to people like Esil and Jinho. As long as you don’t pick a fight with him, he’s a chill person. As a result of this kindness, Esil chooses to repay him by distracting the final boss during a critical moment that would have otherwise killed him.

As for the final boss of the Dungeon, Baram the Demon Monarch, it is as epic and as high stakes as you’d expect. Jin-woo pushes himself to his absolute limits to fight the anime equivalent of a Dark Souls boss. Even with all his power and army at his disposal, though, he only comes out by the skin of his teeth. Which is further proof that he needs to keep getting stronger if he wants to survive.

Especially since a threat that’s been looming in the background is about to rear its exoskeleton-covered head.

Wrath of the Mutant Ants

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Over the course of the two seasons, the anime has given viewers glimpses at a powerful threat brewing in the background. We prepared an entirely separate post better explaining it, but here are the basics.

  1. There’s an entire island overrun by giant Ant Monsters
  2. Even the common Ant Monsters are as strong as an A-Ranked Hunter.
  3. They’ve developed the ability to fly and reach other lands.

As shown in this episode, one of them reached part of the Japanese Islands, tore the place to shreds, and killed several Hunters before they could kill it. And there’s an island with thousands of them ready to leave to find more food.

In other words, if they get off Jeju Island, every country in the region will die. And the rest of Asia will be next.

Thus, the governments of Japan and Korea decide to do something about this and have agreed to form an alliance. The top Hunters from both countries will invade Jeju Island and wipe out the Ants before they can invade the mainland.

The Ant War is Coming

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You can already tell where this is going. As the main protagonist, Jin-woo is going to be the lynchpin to making sure this operation succeeds. But now that he has the ingredients for the medicine for his mother, will he be willing to risk his life like this? He might want to take it easy for a while.

Who are we kidding? The plot will demand that he has to help fight the mutant ants. The sight of his Shadow Army fighting an army of killer ants is too good to pass up.

Now, who is the best girl?

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I Give “”Looking Up Was Tiring Me Out” a 5/5

Sung Jin-woo, Our Glorious King, Awakens!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows S2 Ep 7 Review

Anyone who’s read this blog’s reviews of Solo Leveling should know its stance on Sung Jin-woo by now: he is HIM! Some might say that’s glazing him and his series too much, but the Internet would argue it’s not enough. The last episode alone managed to not only crash legit streaming platforms but even piracy sites! The hype surrounding this show is the real deal. Therefore, it seems only fitting from a meta-standpoint that the majority of this next episode centers around people fawning over Jin-woo in his own story.

And he deserves every second of it.

Sung Jin-woo, our Glorious King

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At the end of the last episode, Jin-woo’s 3-day waiting period for his new S-Rank status ended. All he had to do was pick up his new license and then get on with his day like it’s no big deal. What he didn’t count on was the fact that him becoming Korea’s 10th S-Rank Hunter would make national news.

Nor did he count on being bombarded by an army of reporters trying to talk to him.

Like in the manwha, this episode (at least the first part of it) is meant to be seen as funny, mostly due to Jin-woo. He’s gotten to the point where he sees being recognized as an S-Rank Hunter is purely pragmatic. It’s a means for him to get the gear he needs to conquer the Demon Castle Dungeon. He’s already been at S-Rank for sometime, so he didn’t consider it a big deal. For everyone else, though, it’s the exact opposite. And the anime does a good job of showing how everyone who knows him personally reacts to the news.

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I Laughed So Hard Seeing this

The funniest part, though? It’s not the fact that Baek Yoonho and Choi Jong-In, both try and recruit him to their guilds like he’s the new all-star football player joining the NFL. It’s the fact that the press wasn’t even there for Jin-woo. This pretentious actor who awakened as an A-Rank called them there to make a big deal about him becoming a Hunter. Seeing Jin-woo ruin this man’s plans without even trying is hilarious! And he deserves it!

It’s unfortuntate that the series doesn’t spare some extra time on Jin-woo dealing with his newfound fame, but since it doesn’t matter to him, it doesn’t matter to the show. To his credit, though, Jin-woo uses his summons to protect his sister and neighborhood covertly.

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Also, despite it happening right away in the manwha, Baek Yoonho being the first person to realize Jin-woo can level up is accurate.

Jinho Leaves Home

As for Jin-woo’s brother, Jinhoo, there’s good news, bad news, and worse news. The good news is that, despite failing to get Jin-woo to join the guild his dad wants to form, his dad still offers him the job of guild-master. But he turns it down out of loyalty to Jin-woo. The bad news is that this means he has to move out of his home and stay with Jin-woo and his sister. To be fair, though, he leaves voluntarily rather than get kicked out like in the manwha.

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Now, for the worse news: his Dad has Eternal Slumber Disease. It’s what happens when a person who’s body isn’t compatible for mana suffers from repeated exposure. The end result is a permanent coma that, without life support, will be fatal.

The worst part? It’s the same thing that Jin-woo’s mother suffers from.

Good thing that Jin-woo is already planning on getting that medicine!

Jin-woo Gonna Conquer that Dungeon

The final part of the episode revolves around Jin-woo returning to the Demon Castle to finish what he started. And thanks to his growing army, he’s now able to delegate farming for enemies to his subordinates. Until he realizes that someone’s picking off his Shadows one by one. And since they’re only going after the weaker ones first, he knows that this isn’t a normal Monster. They’re intelligent and capable of planning out a strategy.

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The episode ultimately ends with Jin-woo confronting the ones picking off his soldiers and killing all but one of them. Don’t be fooled, though. This is only the start of an arc that (hopefully) will last a few episodes. Given what’s coming in the future, this might be one instance where the anime would do well not to rush things.

I Give “The 10th S-Rank Hunter” a 4/5