Everyone praises Solo Leveling for its stunning animation and epic battles — but no one’s talking about the real issue. Sung Jinwoo isn’t a misunderstood hero or a silent badass. He’s cold, manipulative, and downright evil. And the worst part? The anime wants us to cheer for him. Stick around, because I’m about to show you exactly why Jinwoo is not the hero of this story — he’s the villain hiding in plain sight.
This Is a Popcorn Anime
Let’s be real — Solo Leveling is just a visual feast. Sure, the animation is gorgeous. The fight scenes are insanely cool. And the monsters are the definition of badass. The character designs? Everyone looks like they walked out of a high-budget fashion catalog.
But the writing? Oh boy.
It leans heavily on generic RPG tropes: dungeon raids, level-ups, boss monsters. Every conversation is an exposition dump — walls of stats, skill trees, and numbers. Emotional depth? Nowhere to be found. It’s all flash, no feeling.
Sung Jinwoo: The Most Glazed Man in Anime
Jinwoo is overpowered. Like, ridiculously overpowered. Every time he fights, the side characters stand around gasping, praising how “insanely strong” he is. And if a punch doesn’t work? Don’t worry — he’ll just punch harder. Problem solved.
He’s also painfully non-chalant. The dude barely emotes. People interpret his silence as “cool and mysterious,” but it’s really just… nothingness. He’s a blank slate with a god-tier skillset — and apparently, every woman in the show wants a piece of that.
And because he’s the guy, the story bends around him. Stakes feel low because we know he’ll win. Side characters? Disposable. If they die, it’s fine — this necromancer will revive them anyway.
This anime isn’t about storytelling. It’s about spectacle. And that’s okay — if it weren’t trying so hard to convince us Jinwoo is some kind of noble hero. Spoiler: he’s not.
Episodes 13–14: Jinwoo Lets Half His Team Die
Let’s talk about the red portal arc. Jinwoo and his team get trapped inside. Standard RPG setup: beat the boss to escape.
The team leader decides to split the group — the stronger half hunts the boss while the weaker ones hide. Desperate times, desperate measures. It’s harsh, but understandable.
Now here’s the kicker: Jinwoo, secretly the strongest guy there, lets the stronger half to die. He could’ve saved everyone. He could’ve led the charge, carried the team, protected them all. But instead, he pretends to be weak to keep his secret. He protects the weaker half, watches the stronger half walk into a death trap, and says nothing.
He even has warm clothes and food — and doesn’t share them.
Imagine being one of the stronger half. You survive a slaughter, crawl back broken and traumatized… only to see the others warm, fed, and laughing around a fire. Of course your first thought is “They betrayed us.” You lash out at Jinwoo — and Jinwoo kills you immediately without even trying to explain.
Then he resurrects you as a mindless pawn. Name you ‘Iron’ like a pet.
That’s not just cold. That’s straight-up villain behavior.
Episode 24: He Could’ve Saved Everyone — But Didn’t
By this point, Jinwoo’s main motivation — curing his mom — is resolved. His family’s safe. He owes no one secrecy.
Meanwhile, on Jeju Island, hunters from Korea and Japan are dying in a brutal battle against ant monsters. Jinwoo? He watches. He waits. And only after half of them are dead does he swoop in with his undead army to save the day.
And we’re supposed to cheer? We’re supposed to think, finally, our hero arrives!?
No. He let them die. For what? Dramatic entrance?
Conclusion: Sung Jinwoo Is Not a Hero
Look — if the writers wanted to narrate Jinwoo as a manipulative antihero or secret villain, I’d be so on board. That would actually be interesting. But instead, we’re supposed to see him as this stoic savior, this symbol of justice and strength.
Nope.
Jinwoo is selfish. He hoards power, refuses to help when it counts, and lets people die to protect a secret that doesn’t even stay secret for long. Remember Spider-Man’s iconic line? “With great power comes great responsibility.” Jinwoo behaves the exact opposite.
He’s not a hero. He’s just a really beautiful man who punches things really hard.
So here’s my final verdict: Solo Leveling is visually stunning, with slick animation, stylish character designs, and some truly epic fight scenes. But when it comes to character writing, emotional investment, and meaningful stakes, it completely falls flat. The protagonist lacks depth, the side characters are forgettable, and the story rarely gives us a reason to care beyond the next flashy battle.
Sung Jinwoo may level up endlessly — but as a character? He’s stuck at level one.
Final rating: 3/10.
Venny
Muhammad Hariz