Solo Leveling Review: A Thrilling Ride with a Less-Than-Perfect Ending
As both an anime lover and a casual manga reader, I can confidently say that Solo Leveling stands out in both its webtoon and anime forms. I usually don’t dive into webtoons unless a story is so good that I just can't wait for the next episode. That’s exactly what happened with Solo Leveling. After watching the anime, I immediately jumped into the webtoon—and I was hooked.
While I’ve only read a few series like Tower of God and Jujutsu Kaisen, Solo Leveling impressed me on every level. The webtoon beautifully complements the anime, and the adaptation captures its tone perfectly. Although I generally prefer anime, I genuinely enjoyed reading the Solo Leveling webtoon. However, I have to admit—the ending didn’t quite live up to the journey.
A Solid Story, but a Confusing Finish
Sung Jinwoo’s journey from the weakest Hunter to an all-powerful Shadow Monarch is thrilling. The progression is logical: as the only person who can keep leveling up, Jinwoo eventually reaches a godlike state. There are technically two different "endings" to the story—one in the main arc, and one in the post-series side stories.
The first ending comes when Jinwoo uses the Cup of Reincarnation to rewind time by ten years. He chooses to handle everything himself in the new timeline and even reunites with Cha Hae-In in an emotional moment. The second ending takes place after the side stories, when Sung Suho (his son) becomes the new protagonist.
While the logic is sound, something about it feels a bit… hollow. After everything Jinwoo went through, there’s very little consequence. He becomes so strong that it almost takes away from the emotional weight of the story.
Jeju Island Arc: The True Peak of Solo Leveling
For me, the Jeju Island Arc was the peak of the entire series. It gave major Hunter x Hunter vibes, especially the Chimera Ant Arc. This is the moment where Jinwoo shows the world what he’s really capable of, and the action, suspense, and emotional payoff were all spot-on.
Jinwoo’s character fits the mold of a perfect “edgy” anime protagonist: insanely powerful, emotionally distant, uninterested in fame, and willing to step in only when absolutely necessary. The Jeju Island Arc showcases all these traits at their best.
When this arc gets animated, I have no doubt it will break records and attract even more fans to the series. My only complaint? The arc happens way before the story ends, and nothing afterward quite matches its intensity.
The Final Arcs Feel Disconnected
As the story progresses into larger-scale battles with Monarchs and interdimensional beings, it starts to lose its grounded appeal. A great comparison would be Naruto’s Fourth Great Ninja War. That arc was epic—until Kaguya was introduced, which felt out of place and unnecessary.
Similarly, Solo Leveling is at its strongest when Jinwoo is still human. His battles against foes like the Ant King and Kargalgan were intense and personal. Once he becomes a godlike figure, the stakes don’t feel as real anymore. It’s hard to stay invested when your main character is basically untouchable.
A Good Ending, But Not a Great One
To be fair, ending any long-running series is incredibly difficult. The conclusion to Solo Leveling wasn’t bad—it made sense and stayed true to Jinwoo’s core theme of unlimited growth. But emotionally, it lacked impact.
Instead of showing a world recovering under Jinwoo’s new reign, we get a complete reset. Yes, it was nice to see familiar characters like Go Gunhee and Woo Jinchul again, but it felt more like fan service than true resolution.
That said, if the anime continues and fully adapts the webtoon, I’ll still be watching every episode. I’m especially excited to see the Jeju Island Arc animated. And even though I had some issues with the ending, I’ll still tune in for the Monarch War Arc with a smile—just with the hope that it lands better in animation.
