Based on the South Korean web novel written by Chugong

Review

The first episode of Solo Leveling is not the greatest but a good start. I haven’t read the source material or the premise, someone recommended the show and I’m giving it a shot.

From what I gathered, the pilot introduces us to a world where hunters – human warriors with supernatural abilities – face off against monsters who threaten mankind with certain annihilation. These monsters appeared a decade ago when portals linking our world to alternate dimensions started appearing everywhere. Conventional weapons didn’t make a dent in them but around that same time, some humans awakened the means to fight them with the aforementioned abilities. These hunters are classified by permanent rank that reflects the strength of abilities they supposedly cannot grow or refine.

Sung, the protagonist, is your typical underdog, weakling, who I guess has a bigger potential than anyone realizes. He might not be the strongest now, but his potential as a strategic thinker is evident by the end of the episode. It came out of nowhere because there was no hint of a strategist before that moment, yet this still adds an intriguing dimension to his character, hinting at a unique journey of growth and development. That journey seems long, but the glimpse we had of what it is to be a skilled and powerful hunter in that opening scene sets the right tone for the series.

The show is distinctly Korean in some ways and Japanese in others, it’s initially a bit weird, but the blend of cultural elements gives its own flavor to the series. The animation style is also crisp, it captures the intensity of the battles well and nicely showcases the skills of the hunters. It successfully piqued my interest as I suspect it will have a captivating blend of action and strategy.

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