The Solo Leveling anime has adjusted certain elements of the storyline, leading to a much faster pace. To manage this rapid progression, the series has incorporated frequent cliffhangers.
However, instead of enhancing the experience, these cliffhangers are proving to be a drawback, impacting the total impact of the anime.
A detour from Jinwoo’s journey leaves viewers wanting more (Phoyo: Solo/Lucasfilm Ltd)Why Cliffhangers Were Introduced in Solo Leveling Season 2
Some viewers may not be aware that Solo Leveling: Arise From The Shadow has noticeable differences from both the original manhwa and light novel.
Chugong and A-1 Pictures made these changes to address certain issues identified in the source material. While these adjustments have benefited the adaptation in some ways, they have also accelerated the pacing.
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With the second season moving much faster than the original manhwa, many scenes have been altered or trimmed to accommodate the anime’s storytelling style.
This increase in pace has affected the progression of events, prompting the studio to implement cliffhangers to regulate the flow and structure the story more effectively.
A larger issue with the series is highlighted through the abrupt transition and inconsistent portrayal of Sung Jinwoo’s character development, and Solo Leveling’s fifth episode serves as a clear example.
The general pacing of the show moves too quickly, rarely allowing time for reflection. Ironically, Episode 5 presents the opposite problem—slowing things down with filler content.
Compared to previous episodes, this installment takes a much slower approach, almost to an excessive degree. Introducing world-building elements this late into the season creates an uneven storytelling experience that feels disjointed.
This becomes even more apparent when looking at Sung Jinwoo’s reduced involvement in the episode. More attention is given to the other members of the Guild party, which helps establish the immediate situation but fails to expand on the major changes that have already taken place in the protagonist.
After witnessing such drastic developments in Jinwoo, viewers are suddenly redirected to an entirely different plotline, making the move feel abrupt.
This approach is frustrating for both long-time fans and newcomers, though those familiar with the manhwa likely also noticed the absence of yet another key detail from the source material