Since its debut in 2024, Solo Leveling has dominated anime discussions, earning accolades for its high-octane action and stunning animation. Yet, beneath the surface, the series exemplifies a glaring contradiction in anime fandom: the double standard toward overpowered protagonists.
While fans often criticize isekai series for their Mary Sue protagonists, Solo Leveling a story centered on an exponentially overpowered “Overpowered Mc With Dungeon” has somehow escaped similar scrutiny. This hypocrisy reveals why the anime may be the most overpraised of the past decade.
The Overpowered Protagonist: A Hypocrisy Unmasked
For years, anime communities have lambasted isekai series like Sword Art Online or Reincarnated as a slime for their protagonists who effortlessly dominate weaker worlds. Critics argue that such characters lack relatability and stifle narrative tension. Yet, when Sung Jinwoo, the E-Rank Hunter turned “Shadow Monarch,” levels up in a dungeon and annihilates entire armies of monsters, the same critics cheer.
Jinwoo’s power progression is justified by the series’ “System,” a game-like mechanic that rewards him for surviving deadly dungeons. But this narrative crutch is functionally no different from the arbitrary power boosts in countless isekai.
The difference? Solo Leveling cloaks its formula in slick animation and relentless action. Studio A-1 Pictures vibrant visuals and dynamic fight choreography undoubtedly elevate the experience, but they can’t mask the story’s reliance on the same tired trope.
Jinwoo’s near-invincibility reduces stakes, turning climactic battles into one-sided massacres. While fans praised his emotional reunion with his mother in Season 2 as a “heartwarming joy”, this momentary character depth can’t salvage a plot that prioritizes spectacle over substance.
The “Dungeon” Excuse: A Flimsy Band-Aid
The series’ defenders argue that Jinwoo’s power is “earned” through perilous dungeon raids, contrasting with the lazy wish-fulfillment of isekai. But this distinction is superficial. Jinwoo’s survival in dungeons is predicated on the System’s arbitrary rules, not strategic growth or moral choices.
His progression feels no more organic than a video game grind, where each level-up trivializes prior challenges. Even the introduction of antagonists like the Monarchs fails to raise tension, as Jinwoo’s inevitable victory is telegraphed from the start.
Compare this to Demon Slayer, where Tanjiro’s victories stem from grit, innovation, and emotional resilience. The stakes in Demon Slayer feel earned because Tanjiro’s power grows alongside his understanding of loss and sacrifice. In Solo Leveling, Jinwoo’s trauma, such as his mother’s illness is weaponized to justify his power spikes, not to deepen his humanity. The series trades narrative depth for pyrotechnics, a trade fans have oddly embraced.
The Cult of Personality: Why Fans Are Turning a Blind Eye
So why the pass? Part of the answer lies in timing. Solo Leveling arrived in an era where anime audiences crave escapism, and its blend of dark fantasy and game-like progression taps into that desire perfectly. But more insidiously, the anime benefits from a cult of personality.
Jinwoo’s underdog origin a weak hunter who becomes a godlike figure resonates with viewers seeking empowerment. Yet, this fantasy is hollow. Jinwoo’s journey lacks the emotional complexity of Re:Zero’s Subaru or the moral ambiguity of Jujutsu Kaisen’s Yuji. His transformation into a “savior” feels transactional, not transformative (but still let’s not forget that Gege Akutami just tossed the manga in the ending).
Critics who dismiss Solo Leveling as “generic” are not wrong. Its narrative structure—weak protagonist → discovers power system → becomes overpowered—is a blueprint for countless series.
Yet, its production quality and marketing have convinced fans that it’s revolutionary. Crunchyroll’s record-breaking ratings and IMDb’s 9.5 score for Season 2’s second episode reflect not the story’s merit, but the audience’s willingness to overlook flaws for polished action.
A Hollow Victory
Solo Leveling is not without merit. Its animation is a marvel, and its action sequences are undeniably thrilling. However, these strengths cannot obscure its narrative shortcomings.
By celebrating Jinwoo’s overpowered journey, fans are perpetuating the same tropes they once criticized in isekai. If the past decade has taught us anything, it’s that hype and production value alone cannot salvage a story rooted in formulaic power fantasies.
Perhaps Solo Leveling’s true legacy will be as a cautionary tale: a series so visually captivating that it blinded audiences to its lack of depth. In a medium that thrives on innovation, it’s a reminder that even the most dazzling surface can hide a hollow core.
To stream the latest episodes of Solo Leveling as soon as they are released, you can go to Crunchyroll and Prime Video in global markets.
