REVIEW: ‘Solo Leveling’ Episode 12 – “Arise”

Things aren’t looking good for Sung Jinwoo (Taito Ban) as he works to complete the job change quest. Solo Leveling (Ore dake Level Up na Ken) Episode 12, “Arise,” brings the first season of Solo Leveling to a close. Can Jinwoo overcome the odds, or will this battle be too tough for him?

Jinwoo’s quest had been easygoing until now. Levelling up did not take much effort and he has changed dramatically in a short period of time. The battle with Igris the Bloodred left Jinwoo on death’s door before an onslaught of knights appeared. Solo Leveling Episode 12 picks up with Jinwoo struggling in his fight for survival.

The opening scene of Solo Leveling Episode 12 has Jinwoo using the voices of those he has met along the way as encouragement. It is an interesting scene because Jinwoo has tried to be by himself as often as he can. Part of his arc this season has been him learning to rely on others. But he has been somewhat reluctant to do so. It shows a lot of growth, then, that when he is at his most vulnerable, he uses what others have told him as encouragement.

Not every voice is encouraging, though. He still has his own demons to overcome, and it won’t be easy. Jinwoo has been radically transformed this season but the voice of his past self reopens some serious mental wounds. He was always known as the weakest hunter, something he still carries with him. His inner voice tells him that he might look strong on the outside, but he is still weak on the inside.

This scene is great because it shows that strength isn’t just physical. Jinwoo can’t just rely on new abilities or bigger muscles to get through his problems. A scene interspersed with this even mentions that hunters carry scars that they will need to be able to get over. Solo Leveling Episode 12 choosing to focus on mental struggles helps flesh out Jinwoo’s characters and hunters in general. They can’t just be strong physically. The best of them have to have strong mental fortitude as well.

Solo Leveling Episode 12 also gives some semblance of sentience to the system he is using. Just as he is about to die, the system sends him to the penalty zone for not completing his daily quest. This gives him a chance to fight weaker enemies again and heal up. These weak enemies are ones he has faced before, back when they were too challenging. It is a full circle moment that is almost the system encouraging him to keep going. It will be interesting to see if the system’s approach is random or if it really is actively helping.

This does feel a bit too convenient, though. He gets saved right as he is about to lose and even earns a “knight killer” weapon. It’s an on-the-nose way of saying Jinwoo never really had a chance of losing. This is a bummer because it makes it harder for high stakes to be as believable in the future. It would have been nice if Jinwoo’s struggle lasted for more than an episode and a half.

Replenished and retooled, Jinwoo heads back into the fray against the horde of knights. The action here is as breathtaking as ever. Jinwoo moves so quickly and powerfully that it is downright scary how strong he is. The knights that once had him on the brink of death stand no chance now. Jinwoo continues to become more powerful in the face of the greatest dangers.

An even grander musical score backs the epic fight sequences in Solo Leveling Episode 12. The music climaxes right as the battle does. The powerful combination of strings and brass makes Jinwoo’s victory feel more visceral. Good music works wonders to help enhance powerful moments, which is certainly the case here.

Completing the job change quest unlocks a new class for Jinwoo. This grants him an absurdly powerful new ability that completely changes the game. His new ability will allow him to rely on new allies on the battlefield. This, combined with the future help of his friends, is what will truly make Jinwoo the strongest hunter around.

Solo Leveling Episode 12 mostly fixes the pacing issues of previous episodes, too. The stories progressing in the background are still there, but they aren’t inserted as awkwardly. It was really jarring to have important moments broken up to move to one of four different stories. Thankfully, those stories fit in more naturally and have a moment to breathe. Jinwoo’s story still takes the main stage, but the events progressing in the background still have their moments to shine.

Solo Leveling Episode 12 is another excellent episode that is a great launching point for the next stage of Jinwoo’s adventure. There is so much happening in the background that needs to be resolved in future seasons, but it looks like Jinwoo finally has the tools he needs to complete the task.

Solo Leveling Season 1 is streaming on Crunchyroll, and new episodes of Season 2 air every Friday.