REVIEW: ‘Solo Leveling’ Season 2 Episode 6 — “Don’t Look Down On My Guys”

Now that Sung Jin-woo (Taito Ban) and the Hunters Guild squad have been taken to the throne room, a confrontation with Kargalan awaits. Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 6, “Don’t Look Down on My Guys,” has Jin-woo coming face-to-face with the High Orc leader and forces him to once again shed the disguise of just being a simple E-rank Hunter.

The Hunters Guild strike team is supposed to be an elite force, but they are anything but in this dungeon. Their fight against the High Orcs in Episode 5 showed they were way over their heads. Now that they are in the throne room, that feeling of worthlessness amplifies when they feel the power of Kargalan. Captain Son Ki-hoon asks if they are “nothing more than toys for them to break and then discard?” which drives home just how dire the situation is.

Ki-hoon rushes in headfirst, determined to lead the battle even though it seems hopeless. He is unsurprisingly tossed around like a rag doll, forcing Jin-woo to make a choice. Kargalan has already recognized him as different from the rest, but now he has to act; otherwise, the group will all die. This isn’t the first time Jin-woo has revealed his abilities to save others, but this does make it even more difficult for him to keep his secret since this is a Hunters Guild team.

It is fitting that the surveillance team appears at the dungeon gate just as he reveals his shadow army to Kargalan. Various members of the mining team voiced that they knew something was up with Jin-woo and that he seemed scary to them. It has always been a bit comical that everyone around him is oblivious to his powers, but this is a turning point where others realize he isn’t a simple E-rank Hunter.

Jin-woo must make a major decision in the fight against Kargalan. 

Back in the dungeon, Kargalan mocks Jin-woo’s shadow army. He underestimates Jin-woo, something Jin-woo is used to. This is where we get the badass “don’t look down on my guys” line that gives the episode its title. Jin-woo unveils a new skill that strengthens his soldiers, and the battle takes off from there.

Solo Leveling has consistently delivered excellent action sequences, and Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 6 is no different. The clash between Jin-woo’s shadow army and Kargalan’s high orcs is incredible. The animation is so fluid and brings the action to life. It is easy to believe Jin-woo is so powerful when watching him carve through the enemy ranks as he does here.

But the real battle is between Jin-woo and Kargalan, and boy, does it deliver. Kargalan is a smart fighter and gives Jin-woo a real challenge. His ability to keep Jin-woo at bay is an attempt to drain his strength before taking him on. Even though he acts bored, this tactic is an admission that Kargalan is a little afraid of Jin-woo. That subtext sets the stage for a more significant confrontation when Jin-woo finally turns the tables by bringing Kargalan’s dead soldiers back to life on his side.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 6 leaves a significant impact on the overall story. 

There is a brief mention of Kargalan being ordered to hunt the humans, which has happened with other enemies of Jin-woo before. That sub-story slowly unfolds, adding more depth to what is happening on the ground. Still, it is frustrating to only get minor mentions of a deeper plot without further exploration. These casual information drops are merely drips from a faucet, making the story take longer to unfold. It is not to the point that it detracts from the show yet, but it will if it keeps going at this pace.

Hunter Cha and the surveillance team arrive just in time to watch Jin-woo go all-out on Kargalan. This fight showcases how strong and intelligent Jin-woo is, with flashy moves and brilliant strategy allowing him to defeat his foe easily. However, it also makes it impossible for him to hide his true strength anymore. What was mainly a rumor before has now been shown to some of the most elite in the world of Hunters, making it so Jin-woo won’t be able to remain incognito anymore.

The business in this dungeon will forever change the trajectory of Jin-woo’s life. Now that he can’t remain in the shadows, he will be subject to the life of an S-rank hunter. This dramatically changes his social standing, and watching him deal with it going forward will be interesting, to say the least. All Jin-woo wants is to help his family. But now, he will be dragged into the larger conflict brewing beneath the surface.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 6 is full of breathtaking action as Jin-woo finds himself thrust into the spotlight as a mighty hunter. He chooses to shed his anonymity to save the lives of others, forever changing his life in the process.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 6 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

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