REVIEW: ‘Solo Leveling’ Season 2 Episode 7 — “The 10th S-Rank Hunter”

Now that Sung Jin-woo (Taito Ban) can’t hide his strength anymore, it’s time for his S-rank to become official. Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 7, “The 10th S-rank Hunter,” takes Jin-woo’s status public, opening a whole new world for him. How he navigates that will affect not just his life but also his friends and family.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 7 starts with a large group of media waiting outside the Hunters Association headquarters. The assumption is that they are somehow there for Jin-woo, but in reality, they are there to see famous actor Lee Min-sung, who is set to make an announcement. The revelation that he is an A-rank hunter is massive news for the rest of Korea, or at least it is supposed to be.

Jin-woo’s arrival throws off Min-sung’s big announcement when the Association steps in to bring Jin-woo inside for his reassessment. This setup works great because when the leader of the Association comes out to greet Jin-woo, it sets the stage for a whole new frenzy. The gathered media can tell something is up when the Association favors Jin-woo over such a famous actor.

The reassessment itself is relatively simple. Jin-woo shows his ability to summon his shadow army, and his power blows away the Hunters watching him. Two of the top guilds try to recruit him, but in typical Jin-woo fashion, he is only concerned with getting out of there and getting back to the Demon’s Castle. It is nice to see him staying true to himself so far, but that is all about to change.

Jin-woo finally confirms S-Rank status in Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 7.

Jin-woo walks straight into a horde of cameras, and his new status as an S-rank is broadcast nationwide. There is a neat little sequence where it flashes between people who have watched him work, as well as his sister, who all react in their own way to the big reveal. Jin-woo has obviously had a major impact on a lot of people, so it’s nice when Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 7 takes a moment to recognize that before heading back into the maelstrom that awaits him.

One of the characters that makes an appearance during this is Yoo Jin-ho. Jin-ho has been trying to recruit Jin-woo to join his guild but is rebuffed when Jin-woo tells him he has his own mission to accomplish first. Jin-ho is a loyal friend to Jin-woo, so he tells his father he won’t be following his dream of running his own guild just yet. He is so determined to help his friend that he has no qualms about disappointing his father, something that makes him one of the best side characters in the series.

Solo Leveling often takes time away from the primary story to flash into these smaller moments, and this is one of the better ones in the series. It isn’t long, but it does an excellent job of highlighting how Jin-ho is growing into his own person. He isn’t just there to tag along. He has his own reasons for doing things and is starting to stand up for himself. These moments help add to the emotional impact of Jin-woo’s story, seeing how he motivates others without even trying.

Jin-woo has no trouble getting away from the rabid media, heading to purchase some better equipment thanks to his new rank. This RPG element to the story has always been interesting, watching him upgrade his gear for tougher challenges. Since he is a “player” in the system, it is cool to see this part of the story expounded on. There is even a bit of humor added here, something the series does not often do. Having some lighthearted moments in the middle of a serious story always helps balance out the tone, and Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 7 does a great job of that.

Story and relationship get some much-needed focus, setting up future stakes.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 7 spends most of the time fleshing out how Jin-woo’s new status affects him and those close to him. His sister and Jin-ho get some more extended screen time, building on their relationships with Jin-woo. All of this helps his quest in the Demon’s Castle matter more since we get to see exactly who he is fighting for.

Once he heads back into the Demon’s Castle, it’s time for Jin-woo to showcase his new strength. He summons Tusk, who obliterates the first giant enemy with ease. This clearly establishes just how strong Jin-woo and his army really are. He is able to send them out to find the next entry permit to advance through the castle. It is here he notices that something is not right, setting up for an epic showdown in the next episode.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 7  is light on the action but does a ton to push the story forward after Jin-woo’s revelation as an S-rank Hunter. He will have to navigate his newfound fame all while pushing ahead with his goal of saving his mother, and it will be interesting to see how well he can balance everything that is about to come his way.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 7 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

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