Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Marvel's Spider-Man Secret Lair promotional image

    Get a Look At the Secret Lair x Marvel’s Spider-Man Superdrop

    09/08/2025
    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions gameplay still

    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions Is All About Adventure (with Friends)

    09/08/2025
    Chord in Persona 5 The Phantom X

    Now Is The Perfect Time To Jump Back In ‘Persona 5: The Phantom X’

    09/05/2025
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Anime » REVIEW: ‘Solo Leveling’ Episode 9 – “You’ve Been Hiding Your Skills”

REVIEW: ‘Solo Leveling’ Episode 9 – “You’ve Been Hiding Your Skills”

Kyle FoleyBy Kyle Foley03/09/20244 Mins ReadUpdated:01/06/2025
Solo Leveling Episode 9
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Reunited with old friends, Sung Jinwoo (Taito Ban) is ready to help Yoo Jinho (Genta Nakamura) clear enough raids to start his own guild. Solo Leveling (Ore dake Level Up na Ken) Episode 9, “You’ve Been Hiding Your Skills,” presents new challenges for our powerful hero.

Jinwoo has grown exponentially powerful throughout the season. He is no longer the weakest hunter in the world. Despite that, he has kept his new power hidden. If the world knew how powerful he really was, it would bring unwanted attention.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

The problem is that Jinwoo can not keep his power hidden for long. As he sets off with his new crew to clear the new gates, he cannot check himself in combat. He easily clears away goblins, something that surprised the hunters. The downside of working with people he knows is that they know what he used to be like after all.

It is fun to watch Jinwoo try to balance his desire to hide his strength with his need to kill more enemies to level up. He is visibly restraining himself as best he can in Solo Leveling Episode 9. A-1 Pictures and Production I.G. have already shown their ability to animate great action, but here they really flex their creative muscles. Still, it becomes impossible for Jinwoo to hide anymore at a certain point.

Solo Leveling Episode 9

Enter Kang Taeshik. The Hunters Association’s Surveillance Team sent Taeshik to uncover Jinwoo’s secret. What Jinwoo quickly discovers, however, is that Taeshik is an assassin. Fighting monsters has been tough enough for Jinwoo, but fighting a human who excels at killing other humans is a different beast. This is by far Jinwoo’s toughest test.

It is fitting that we get some of the best fighting animation the series offers. The battle between Jinwoo and Taeshik is truly epic. Taeshik is noticeably stronger than Jinwoo and quickly has him on the back foot. This is partially because Jinwoo still needs to hold back since Mr. Song and Lee Joohee (Rina Honizumi) are still there.

Ultimately, he is forced to use the character screen to heal up. Taeshik is just too powerful, and the only way to beat him is by using his new abilities. It works, but it also reveals to Mr. Song and Joohee how powerful he is. It adds two new people to his small circle of trust. Thankfully, he can trust them. But now he has to navigate even more people knowing his secret.

Solo Leveling Episode 9 also points to something most people, Jinwoo included, probably have not considered. Jinwoo’s power is likely to corrupt him, something both Taeshik and Mr. Song warn him about. We have also seen this hinted at over the course of the season. Jinwoo has watched countless others abuse their power for personal and evil gain. Now, he is starting to see how he is already going down that road.

Solo Leveling Episode 9

There is plenty of time for Jinwoo to stop himself from turning evil. An important part of that, as seen in Solo Leveling Episode 9, is allowing others into his life to help keep him in check. Mr. Song will play an important role here, as he has experience training top-tier hunters. He has been there, done that. Mr. Song knows what it is like to be around truly powerful people. He already has a noticeable soft spot for Jinwoo, now Jinwoo needs to trust him.

Solo Leveling Episode 9 also hints at more of a relationship between Jinwoo and Joohee. They had an interesting rapport in the first episode, but their relationship was different. Jinwoo was just someone Joohee took pity on. Now that the roles are reversed, it seems like they can be complementary pieces to each other. It will be interesting to see how their relationship develops if and when Jinwoo opens up more to Joohee.

Solo Leveling Episode 9 is full of heart-racing action and opens up new avenues for exploring the story. Jinwoo is being forced to open himself up to others. It will be interesting to see how that unravels over the rest of the season.

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

Solo Leveling Episode 9 — "You've Been Hiding Your Skills"
  • 9/10
    Rating - 9/10
9/10

TL;DR

Solo Leveling Episode 9 is full of heart-racing action and opens up new avenues for exploring the story. Jinwoo is being forced to open himself up to others. It will be interesting to see how that unravels over the rest of the season.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘A Sign Of Affection’ Episode 10 — “Oushi’s World”
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Mashle: Magic and Muscles’ Episode 21 — “Wahlberg Baigan and the Magic of Darkness”
Kyle Foley

Kyle is an editor, writer, and musician from Orlando, FL who primarily covers soccer as well as video games and anime. He also believes mayonnaise is the best condiment for hot dogs, which are sandwiches.

Related Posts

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11
8.5

REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 2 Episode 11 – “Hey, It’s a Kaiju”

09/11/2025
Sakamoto Days Episode 20
6.5

REVIEW: ‘Sakamoto Days’ Episode 20 — “Mutual Fans”

09/08/2025
Tougen Anki Episode 9 still from Netflix
4.0

REVIEW: ‘Tougen Anki’ Episode 9 — “Momotaro Spirit”

09/06/2025
My Dress-Up Darling Season 2 Episode 10 promotional image from Crunchyroll
10.0

REVIEW: ‘My Dress-Up Darling’ Season 2 Episode 10 — “So We’re Gonna Do It All Right Now?”

09/06/2025
Arknights Rise From Ember Rosmontis

REVIEW: ‘Arknights: Rise From Ember’ Is Phenomenal But Drags On Too Long

09/06/2025
The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity Episode 1
7.5

REVIEW: ‘The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity’ Episode 1 – “Rintaro and Kaoruko”

09/05/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
The Long Walk (2025) film review promotional image
9.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘The Long Walk’ Is The Most Heartfelt And Heartbreaking Stephen King Adaptation

By Kate Sánchez09/11/2025Updated:09/11/2025

The Long Walk is a brutal watch. Equally heartfelt and heartbreaking, it’s one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

EA Sports FC Icons Match promotional image from Nexon News

2025 Icons Match Returns With Football Legends Bridging The Pitch And Video Games

By Kate Sánchez09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

NEXON has announced the return of the ‘2025 Icons Match,’ a live event that brings a full roster of legendary players to the pitch.

Gojo Jujutsu Kaisen - But Why Tho (2) Features

Everything To Know About Satoru Gojo

By Kate Sánchez09/07/2023Updated:02/16/2025

Satoru Gojo is the heart of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 — now, heading into Cour 2, here is everything you need to know about the character.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here