Solo Leveling Season 2 has been an absolute banger so far—epic battles, jaw-dropping visuals, and Sung Jinwoo flexing his god-tier powers. But then Episode 9 dropped, and suddenly, a chunk of the fandom wasn’t happy. Why? Because instead of an all-out fight-fest, we got something different—an emotional, gut-wrenching moment of Jinwoo finally reuniting with his mother. And apparently, that was enough for some fans to hit the dislike button. But here’s the thing: did they completely miss the point of Solo Leveling?
Where’s the Action?! Fans Wanted Fights, Not Feels
Let’s be real—Solo Leveling made its name by delivering insane action sequences. Fans have come to expect intense fight sequences and rapid progression with each episode. So, when Episode 9 slowed things down to focus on something personal—Jinwoo finally curing his mother and breaking down in tears—some fans felt robbed of their usual adrenaline fix.
Instead of celebrating this moment, a wave of viewers took to social media, calling the episode “boring” and “filler.” The issue? They expected more monster slaying, more shadow army upgrades, and, well, more Jinwoo being unstoppable. But Solo Leveling was never just about mindless battles. It was about survival, sacrifice, and doing everything for the people you love.
Some fans started to complain about the episode’s “pacing”. With expectations set on seeing Jinwoo’s army of shadows grow and his dominance in the world of hunters increase, many felt let down by what they perceived as a “break” in the action. This highlights a recurring issue in the anime community: the unwillingness to embrace character-driven storytelling over spectacle.
Calling This Episode “Filler” Is Missing the Entire Point
Alright, let’s get one thing straight: this was not a filler episode. If you’ve been paying attention since Episode 1, you’d know that curing his mother was one of Jinwoo’s biggest motivations. This wasn’t some random side story—it was the why behind all his grinding, all his fights, and all his sacrifices.
In anime terms, “filler” refers to content that does not contribute to the main storyline—typically used to pad episodes when an adaptation catches up to its source material. But this? This was the moment Jinwoo had been fighting for since the beginning. Brushing it off as unnecessary completely ignores the emotional weight of his journey. If he doesn’t get this moment, then what was all the blood, sweat, and tears for? What’s the point of becoming the strongest if you don’t save the people who matter most?
Can Solo Leveling Balance Action and Storytelling?
The backlash against Episode 9 raises a bigger question: should anime stick to fan expectations, or should they take time to develop their characters? Solo Leveling has never just been about Jinwoo flexing his power. His struggles, his pain, and his personal sacrifices make his journey feel real. Without moments like these, Solo Leveling risks becoming just another mindless power fantasy, devoid of real substance.
A-1 Pictures absolutely nailed this episode. The animation, the music, the raw emotion—it all hit hard. It reminded us that Jinwoo isn’t just a monster-slaying machine; he’s still human. And honestly? If you’re skipping episodes like this just because they don’t have non-stop action, you’re missing out on what makes Solo Leveling actually good.
So, Did Fans Completely Miss the Point?
The hate on Episode 9 proves that some fans just want Jinwoo to be a one-dimensional powerhouse. But if Solo Leveling was just non-stop fights with zero emotional stakes, would it really be that memorable?
Jinwoo’s journey isn’t just about getting stronger—it’s about fighting for something (or in this case, someone). If we don’t get moments like this, then all the epic battles and power-ups lose their meaning.
So maybe, instead of calling this episode “boring,” take a step back and appreciate the depth it adds to the story. Because let’s be honest—when the next big fight drops, it’s going to hit so much harder knowing what’s truly at stake.
About Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling is a Korean Webtoon written by Chu Gong and illustrated by Jang Sung Rak. It is adapted from the web novel; I Alone Level Up. Kakaopage publishes it in South Korea and Piccoma in Japan. The series ended in December 2021 and has been collected into 14 volumes.
Portals connecting the Earth to realms of monsters have opened up, and hunters defeat those monsters. Sung Jin Woo belongs to the lowest level of hunters, but after getting involved in a Dungeon quest, he alone can see quests like that of a game.
His journey to become the most powerful hunter and bring peace back to Earth begins.
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