REVIEW: ‘Solo Leveling’ Season 2 Episode 1

Solo Leveling is back and better than ever with Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 1, “You aren’t E-rank, are You.” Sung Jin-woo (Taito Ban) is ready to put his new abilities to the test as new adventures come his way. His radical transformation from zero to hero was exhilarating to watch, but now it’s time to see how strong he can really get.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 1 starts by highlighting just how shocking Jin-woo’s changes have been. He oversleeps for a meeting with his sister Jin-ah’s teacher and rushes to her school. When he arrives, she comments that he can’t be her brother because he looks so different. It is easy to forget how much Jin-woo has changed, so it was nice to get a reminder right off the bat that even those closest to him can hardly recognize him anymore.

Jin-ah’s teacher talks about how she is on the path to success, and it is a fairly standard meeting at first. However, in the end, she asks Jin-woo if he would allow Jin-ah to become a hunter if she were to awaken. He immediately says no, knowing that she has a bright future in front of her that does not require the dangers that come with being a hunter. He doesn’t realize that the question isn’t really about his sister.

Jin-woo is asked to talk to Han Song-yi, an E-rank hunter he met in season one. She has decided to quit school and focus on being a hunter, and Jin-woo is supposed to talk her out of it. It is a nice glimpse into his mind, where he doesn’t want people to endanger themselves needlessly. This conversation leads Jin-woo to take her to join up with a training raid, with Jin-woo hoping that Song-yi will see how hard raiding is and decide it isn’t for her.

Stakes are revealed immediately in Solo Level Season 2 Episode 1

They get placed with a stronger team than he expected, though, and Jin-woo fears she won’t see how challenging things can be. That is until the gate turns red and takes them to a dungeon that is way more challenging than they anticipated. This puts Jin-woo in an awkward spot since he didn’t mean for her to get dragged into something so serious.

They are trapped without access to the outside world, and the enemies they face shortly after entering are incredibly powerful. One interesting revelation is that a side character they meet questions whether Jin-woo is really an E-rank. He has kept his secret long enough, so it is not surprising that people are starting to figure him out. The question is whether or not he will be able to keep his secret contained or if the whole world will figure it out sooner or later.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 1 also brings S-rank hunter Hwang Dong-soo back to Korea. Hunter Hwang, as his contact at the airport refers to him, is the brother of Hwang Dong-suk, the man who tried to kill Jin-woo and Jin-ho and died in the process. His reveal makes it evident that he is here to kill the two people he holds responsible for his brother’s death.

Choosing to reveal the season’s stakes immediately lays the groundwork for what is to come. There will clearly be a confrontation between Jin-woo and Dong-soo at some point. Everything that happens in the meantime will be seen as setting up that confrontation, adding tension beneath the surface that will last throughout the season.

Solo Leveling Season 2 promises more from the Hunters Association

The Hunters Association is also being set up to play a more important role in season two, especially concerning the ant issue at Jeju Island. Bits and pieces of information have slowly been shown throughout the series, but Jin-woo has largely remained unaware and uninvolved. The pieces are moving to bring him into the larger fold if he can survive the red gate dungeon.

Back in the dungeon, we finally get to see some combat. Instead of a thrilling battle against a powerful boss, Jin-woo has to summon his shadow army to take on angry bears and their leader. While this battle mainly serves as a way for Jin-woo to learn the limits of his shadow army, it does feature some really great action. Igris, specifically, gets a chance to shine against the leader of the pack in a thrilling action scene.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 1 does a great job setting the scene for the rest of the season as the stakes are raised. There is plenty of insight into how Jin-woo is continuing to grow as well as new reveals that establish the challenge he will be up against.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.