Solo Leveling’s story of an underdog turning his life around and becoming one of the most powerful beings in existence has appealed to countless fans worldwide. Its high-stakes battles, capturing the dramatic growth of its complex protagonist, have left a lasting impression on the anime industry. As dramatically as Solo Leveling rose to prominence, it has also drawn severe criticism from critics and fans alike. Even some mangaka have not hesitated in offering harsh, veiled remarks.

It's Time To Say Goodbye To Solo Leveling's Protagonist Forever

Solo Leveling Season 3 Is On The Way, And 7 Things Have Been Confirmed About It Already

Season 3 of Solo Leveling is still a mystery, but here are some things we know about it.

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By Rei Penber

As Solo Leveling fans wait for its highly anticipated season 3, the producers might not be too thrilled about making any changes, as the series has become immensely popular in spite of the criticism. However, that could turn out to be a fatal mistake as the upcoming installment might just expose that Solo Leveling’s greatest strength is also its biggest weakness.

Sung Jinwoo’s Lonely Journey to the Pinnacle of Power is Appealing

Fans Love Anime Revolving Around Underdogs Rising Against All Odds

Solo Leveling Producer Drops An Update About Jinwoo's Major Character Change In Season 3 (1) (1)

Sung Jinwoo used to be bullied and mocked as humanity’s weakest hunter. His life was filled with financial and emotional hardships that made existence feel torturous. But following the Double Dungeon tragedy, he experienced a second awakening and realized that he could evolve dramatically, provided he listened to the mysterious magical program known as the System. This was the beginning of his meteoric rise in the hunter world.

The system uses me, and I use the system. ~ Sung Jinwoo

Jinwoo’s struggles and triumphs felt personal to the fans as the story had captured his insecurities, personal setbacks, and compassionate soul, setting the foundation for his rise. His dramatic transformation demanded constant sacrifices and painful battles that kept viewers on the edge. On quite a few occasions, the heroic protagonist almost lost his life. This got fans more emotionally invested in Jinwoo’s rise to power and made his triumphs feel that much more satisfying. Stories of underdogs surpassing everyone’s expectations by embarking on a long, arduous path of self-discovery have always appealed to anime fans, and Solo Leveling has benefited greatly from this timeless formula.

The Cost of a Solo Journey

Jinwoo Remains the Only Well-Developed Character in the Series

Lack of Strong Side Characters Makes the Anime Less Memorable

Sung Jinwoo’s lonely journey to the pinnacle of power is undoubtedly appealing. But it starts to seem repetitive and boring in the later arcs. The story is one-dimensional and lacks the character development necessary to sustain the viewer’s excitement. Since the series is so hyper-focused on Jinwoo, the other characters never get the much-needed development. It is almost impossible to connect with the rest of the cast.

Sung Jinwoo in the red portal raid - Solo Leveling

This flaw also affects Jinwoo, whose relationships seem superficial. Moreover, for any protagonist to make a long-lasting impression on the fans, it is important to have strong villains. In the entire series, it is tough to name even a single villain that is memorable. Most of the villains only serve as a stepping stone in Jinwoo’s evolution.

Solo Leveling Season 3 Will Expose the Show’s One-Dimensional Storytelling

Jinwoo’s Story Might Become Predictable and Repititive For Some Fans in Upcoming Arcs

Solo Leveling Season 3 is perhaps the most highly anticipated anime of the coming years. The hype for it is quite unreal, and it can be argued that it has the potential to make the series one of the most popular shows of the last few decades. But it faces a serious challenge. The first two seasons of the anime were carried by Sung Jinwoo’s dramatic rise to power and the challenges he faced along the way. But as the series covers the next few arcs, this pattern might just become too repetitive for the fans. Some of the fights will barely be competitive, and merely hyping the protagonist will not be a sustainable enough reason to keep the series popular.

The lack of a strong supporting cast will also come back to bite the anime. Any show that has retained fans over a course of several seasons, especially a series as popular as Solo Leveling, has almost always had strong supporting characters. Unfortunately, this is not the case with this series. As the story progresses, the lack of emotional stakes will be a big hurdle in keeping the viewers hooked.

Perhaps, Solo Leveling’s biggest challenge will be its underdeveloped villains. Although the villains are set to be far stronger in the upcoming arcs, they will still struggle to connect with the viewers. Eventually, Solo Leveling’s one-dimensional storytelling could backfire and might just turn off a significant number of its fans. It remains to be seen if the producers will acknowledge and address this issue. But looking at the show’s popularity until now, it seems highly unlikely.

Solo Leveling Season 3 is expected to release sometime between 2026 and 2028.

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