REVIEW: ‘Solo Leveling’ Episode 6 — “The Real Hunt Begins”

Left alone against a giant spider, Sung Jinwoo (Taito Ban) and Yoo Jinho (Genta Nakamura) must find a way to survive in Solo Leveling (Ore dake Level Up na Ken) Episode 6, “The Real Hunt Begins.” Jinwoo has grown stronger, but is he strong enough to take down a C-Rank boss by himself?

It always seemed too good to be true that Jinwoo and Jinho could receive good pay just for standing around and doing nothing. Still, being left to die just so Dongsuk and his party could reap the benefits is much darker than anticipated. Solo Leveling Episode 6 highlights the fact that not everyone is honest, and these party members are definitely not.

Jinwoo would have fled at even the thought of a C-Rank boss before, but not now. His newfound strength gives him the confidence that he can hold his own. He understands his powers a lot better now, which allows him to have a better grasp on his limitations. Still, the monstrous spider is not going to be easy even for him.

Solo Leveling Episode 6 doesn’t just tell viewers all of this, it shows it through excellent animation. Sure, A-1 Pictures and Production I.G. are heavy hitters when it comes to action, but they can shine in the quieter moments too. The glint in Jinwoo’s eyes before taking on the spider is a great example. His confidence is visible, making his victory seem inevitable instead of a long shot.

Jinwoo’s strength and confidence are so strong that they bring Jinho to his knees in both awe and fear. False rankers have a reputation for being merciless killers, and Jinho suspects that’s what Jinwoo is. It shows how obvious Jinwoo’s new strength is and how hard it is for others to grasp. We saw this from the nurses in the previous episode too, but everyone’s reaction to Jinwoo’s new power is different.

The battle between Jinwoo and the giant spider boss is the main focal point of Solo Leveling Episode 6. Jinwoo spends his time figuring out how to break the spider’s defense, while the spider is focused on annihilating him. Jinwoo’s abilities have their limits, but his ability to adapt is what helps him in the end. A combination of smart thinking, quick reflexes, and a bit of luck keep Jinwoo alive. This will also serve him well in the future as his journey gets more difficult.

Jinho is not the only one in Solo Leveling Episode 6 struggling to grasp Jinwoo’s abilities. The party that abandoned them returns after a while and is floored to see they are still alive. While Jinho is in awe of Jinwoo, the party gives credit to Jinho and his expensive armor. Rankings are so important in the world of Solo Leveling that no one could believe such a weak hunter like Jinwoo could defeat any boss, let alone a C-Rank.

The relationship between Jinho and Jinwoo hits a crossroads midway through Solo Leveling Episode 6. The party asks Jinho to kill Jinwoo, but he has seen something special in Jinwoo. Jinwoo did save his life, after all. It is great character development for Jinho too. He gets the chance to show he can be as courageous as Jinwoo was. Even with the odds stacked against him, if his new friend won’t back down then neither will he.

Jinwoo and Jinho were dealt a poor hand, but it allowed their relationship to grow. Jinho owes his life to Jinwoo, but it is more than just that. Jinwoo is going to need someone to rely on if he wants to navigate the politics of the Hunter world. His power is going to become known, so he needs someone to have his back. Who better than the person he saved from certain death?

Solo Leveling Episode 6 also takes a detour into the larger world. There is still so much mystery surrounding the various guilds. Brief moments in between fights help give more information, but there is still plenty left to uncover. Go Gunhee (Banjô Ginga), the Chairman of the Korean Hunters Association, reappears. So too do Jinchul Woo (Makoto Furukawa) and Cha Hae-in (Reina Ueda). These cuts are a little jarring, but the context they give is important for understanding the rest of the world. Still, some better timing would have been nice.

The weakest people in Solo Leveling get taken from. That’s what Jinwoo realizes. He has been a victim of that his whole career. But now that he has strength of his own he gets to decide who is deemed weak or not. He gets to push back against those who take advantage of weaker people. He has a moral compass that demands he stand up against people like the party who betrayed him. It works out excellently in Solo Leveling Episode 6, but his determination to do what’s right may put him in danger in the future.

Solo Leveling Episode 6 is full of top-notch action and great character development that drives the series forward. The brutality of Jinwoo’s situation makes up for some slight pacing issues as the drama continues to ramp up a notch.

Solo Leveling Season 1 is streaming on Crunchyroll.