Solo Leveling has achieved a lofty status and a massive following within anime and isekai fandoms. The anime has undoubtedly played a vital role in increasing the popularity of the Webtoon series, captivating several new readers to the lesser-known world of Korean Webtoons.
Not to mention, it ranks among the biggest hits of the Winter 2024 anime season, with fans applauding its stunning art, sharp execution, and strong direction. Amid the excitement for its first season debut, the anime quickly gained high status and a massive following among anime and isekai fans. While Song Jinwoo dominates the Solo Leveling landscape, the Shadow Monarch is far from the only top Hunter or interesting character in the series.
While Cha Hae-In undeniably stole the spotlight as the best female character, another female companion received poor treatment and lacked proper development, missing the opportunity to be a standout addition to the story.
Solo Leveling Dropped the Ball by Ruining a Great Female Character
Solo Leveling‘s success in the anime world shows that manhwa, like manga, boasts compelling storylines and characters that, when adapted into anime, captivate fans and drive popularity. Based on Chugong’s highly popular webnovel, it follows the story of Sung Jinwoo, who is introduced as the weakest hunter because of his low-rank status as an E-rank hunter.
Even for those unfamiliar with the nuances of the Korean webtoon industry, Solo Leveling is well-known for its immense popularity in the manhwa scene. Indeed, Solo Leveling‘s expanding fanbase ultimately led to its transition into an anime adaptation.
Though most of the story focuses on the protagonist, there are a plethora of side characters in Solo Leveling, and some pretty fun female cast members are scattered throughout the series.
While Cha Hae-In quickly became a fan favorite, many fans and manhwa readers feel the series squandered a great female character who had the potential to significantly enhance the story.
Lee Joohee used to be a B-rank hunter and healer who helped the main character explore the lowest level gates, back when everyone underestimated and overlooked Sung Jinwoo for being the weakest hunter.
She always displayed a kind and caring nature, especially towards our protagonist, who constantly worried about his well-being and got upset by his frequent injuries. Since Lee Joohee’s introduction in the early chapters, many fans saw her as a perfect match for Sung Jinwoo.
Her relationship with Jinwoo was cute, even though it never came to anything. However, the author of Solo Leveling had already planned for Cha Hae-In and Sung Jinwoo’s relationship, which led to Lee Joohee being sidelined and her potential wasted.
Despite her skills, she retired from hunting after the traumatic Double Dungeon incident, opting for a safer path due to her fear of high-risk portals. Solo Leveling has been widely criticized for its declining engagement as the story unfolds, and many manhwa fans still believe that exploring Lee Joohee’s character would have been a meaningful addition.
Solo Leveling Season 2 Trailer Sets New Records, Fueling Excitement for 2025
With Season 1 garnering a huge fanbase, several fans have been curious about what to expect from the second season. Interestingly, Solo Leveling fans have just received an exciting glimpse of the second season, showcasing thrilling new scenes and intense action in the latest trailer.
Though it has only been out for a few days, the Season 2 trailer has already outperformed the Season 1 trailer, showcasing the series’ significant impact and popularity. While anime fans are celebrating with enthusiasm, the same can’t be said for the manhwa readers.
The manhwa has garnered an immense reputation over the years; thus, the anime not living up to manhwa’s legacy did upset a lot of readers. Additionally, the recent trailer surpassing its predecessor confirms that fans have lost faith in anime adaptations and no longer expect the production studio to match the manhwa’s legacy.
Solo Leveling manhwa can be read on Webtoons, while the anime is available to watch on Crunchyroll
