#Unraveling the Shadow Monarch’s Path

After a year-long wait, Solo Leveling Season 2 –Arise from the Shadow- delivers what fans have been waiting for: Jinwoo’s rise as a necromancer Hunter. Episodes 1 and 2 pick up from where season 1 left off, and Jinwoo finds himself stuck in another dungeon with enemies that are stronger than him. Similar to his previous encounters, he has to try to keep his power a secret while still finding a way to defeat the enemies.

It’s almost absurd that only two months have passed since Jinwoo’s development from a measly E-ranker barely able to defeat one goblin, highlighting the System’s overpowered nature. Realistically speaking, even with 60 days of intense training, I doubt anyone could achieve what Jinwoo did in that timeframe, especially physically. This rapid advancement is one of the things I find slightly off with the series’ pacing — Jinwoo is seemingly extremely lucky every single time, and there currently is no indication of other characters having the same opportunities. Granted, there are others who are stronger than him and plenty of undefeated dungeons, but the lack of explanation beyond it not being a reawakening leaves many of my questions unanswered.

Despite Jinwoo’s constant level ups and dungeon crawling, I do appreciate the moments between him and his family. These scenes ground us in his reality, emphasizing how hunting is an extremely risky career. Some of these Hunters have families to support, and monsters aren’t the only threats — bloodthirsty humans are as well. All in all, it goes to show that not all Hunters can be trusted. 

It is also refreshing to see how he treats Song-yi, his sister’s Hunter classmate. Jinwoo takes full responsibility for her safety in letting her observe a normal C-class dungeon with the White Tiger Guild. Although Jinwoo seems to be getting farther and farther away from his old self and his ideals, he still understands both the wishes and struggles of an E-ranker, and tries to share these experiences with Song-yi.

However, what was supposed to be a relatively standard C-ranked dungeon turns into a dangerous red gate dungeon. Jinwoo and Song-yi’s strike team is trapped inside, and although Jinwoo had never fought inside a red gate dungeon before, it is the perfect opportunity for him to test his strength again. We get to see the fruits of his previous job-change quest and his new title as the Shadow Monarch. I never expected him to fully embrace his class change as a necromancer, but his shadow army seems to be quite formidable in battle. For now, I am satisfied with Jinwoo’s exploration and command over the shadows, but I am anxious that his battles may soon become demonstrations of his strategic maneuvers instead of his personal and physical struggles against stronger opponents.

While the animation quality from season 1 to season 2 remains consistent, the thrilling fight scenes are what carry Solo Leveling. Season 2 kicks off with exciting battles between Jinwoo and the ferocious ice bears as well as the cunning ice elves. Jinwoo’s glowing eyes and the intricate design of his blades also always capture my attention. The curved blades stand out in particular not only for their aesthetic but for how cleverly Jinwoo wields them in battle, especially against stronger opponents. Each blade has its own special perks, and how Jinwoo utilizes them on top of his other skills adds to how his fights remain captivating.

LiSA’s “ReawakeR” featuring Felix of Stray Kids is an upbeat, engaging opening theme that sets up the tone for the episode to come. In contrast, the ending theme, “UN-APEX” by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure delivers an eerie conclusion. The opening sequence for season 2 offers a flashy display of both Jinwoo in battle and other S-class Hunters, with glimpses of Jinwoo’s former self in a bed of white flowers. This melancholic motif of Jinwoo also carries into the ending sequence, where TK’s haunting vocals help highlight how Jinwoo may just be a shell of his former self with his newfound powers.

Although we have yet to see any of the other S-class Hunters in action, I’m hoping that Jinwoo will join the ranks soon. Many people are starting to notice him while he continues to occupy himself in completing his quests as a “Player.” I’m certain there will be more dungeons for Jinwoo to beat, but it will be fascinating to see how the other hunters and their interest in him might influence his journey in the Hunter ecosystem. With what we have so far, I’m hopeful that season 2 will surpass season 1 and live up to the hype surrounding this series.

Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- is streaming on Crunchyroll.

Series Staff:

Director: Shunsuke Nakashige
Series composer: Noboru Kimura
Character designer: Tomoko Sudo
Sub-character designer: Chiaki Kozumi
Action director: Hirokatsu Maruyama (Season 1 co-main animator et al.)
Action director: Yoshihiro Kanno
Monster designer: Hirotaka Tokuda
Music composer: Hiroyuki Sawano
Animation production: A-1 Pictures