Solo Leveling Episode 18 Review – The Perfect Way to Balance the End of a Journey and the Start of Another

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I have been waiting forSolo Leveling’s18th episode for so long that my excitement wouldn’t be able to express itself in words, but I will try. I am more than grateful that A-1 Pictures did not disappoint. In fact, they went above and beyond to make sure this was by far the best episode of the series to date. I am aware that things are only going to get better and what this episode did was make sure I do not doubt the anime for a single second.

Solo Leveling

It is obvious that just as Sung Jinwoo levels up in his journey, so does the animation. It is going in sync and won’t disappoint the character who is clearly working so hard to achieve the one goal that would eventually look small in the grand scheme of things.

What we see currently is a Sung Jinwoo who wants to wake his mother up from her Eternal Sleep. His entire power is the ability to awaken those who lie in eternal slumber yet the one person he cannot do the same on is the one who raised him. The bitter irony motivates him until he gets roped into something much more dangerous.

Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling has arisen from the shadows

Sung Jinwoo’s fight against Tusk and his army is the final battle before he is publically known as the 10th Korean S-Rank Hunter. This is his first time showing the potential of his strength to the general public without cutting any corners. This fight and this moment is a big step for him and A-1 Pictures did not disappoint. In fact, both manhwa fans and anime onlies can agree that Sung Jinwoo might just be one of the coolest characters out there. His personality and strength are the primary reasons why despite being a generic story,Solo Levelingis so famous and loved.

I am one of those people who would keep reading the manhwa again and again and call out its flaws but then go back to reading it again. I have no shame in admitting that. Sometimes all you want is a good action story that has a character who can make you scream with excitement. Sung Jinwoo is that character andSolo Levelingis that story.

‘Solo Leveling’ Is Now Facing the Unusual Challenge of Having No Competition by Becoming the Monarch of Anime

I had been waiting for the purple soldiers for so long, it makes me happy to finally see them. With the way he fights, I wouldn’t be calling Cha Hae-In the dancer, don’t think I missed those turns and twirls. From the moment Jinwoo takes charge of the situation, there is no stopping him. The entire fight scene felt so immersive and it was truly a great decision to have to stretch it out for the entire episode.

Sung Jinwoo is not one to hide behind his shadow soldiers

A common point of mockery for the other monarchs has been that Sung Jinwoo is someone who hides behind his shadows and lets them do all the dirty work. To an extent, this is also a common misconception amongst many of us. However, what the anime has actively been proving is the exact opposite. He is often taking the lead in his fights, noticeably so because his soldiers aren’t even that strong yet.

The attention Igris got in this episode was something I will bow down to because what in the world was that animation thank you so much for it. The entire episode was smooth with its fights, the moments with Cha Hae-In, and those that show what is to come. Sung Jinwoo’s fight with Tusk and his army is a turning point for the story, directing now to an even bigger battle that is already being hinted at, Jeju Island.

Solo Leveling

‘Solo Leveling’s’ Anime Saved Jeju Island from Being a Disaster Adaptation with an Unexpected Double-Episode Finale

The episode was perfect to show that not only is our protagonist ready to face whatever challenge falls before him, but he is also coming to accept that the power he has is now something he must live with. Necromancy may look cool but the psychology behind it doesn’t come easy, especially for someone whose mother is lying in a comatose state indefinitely. The Weakest Hunter of Mankind suddenly has the power to command those essentially weaker than him. Moreover, it is to deal with the dead and decaying, keeping many of them in a constant state of unrest.

Sung Jinwoo is taking that burden upon himself and living with it. He will be the Monarch of Shadows in his truest form and this isn’t a title that comes easy. The terrain will only get more and more difficult for him but he has one motivation to keep him going, curing his mother’s Eternal Sleep. The next episode officially marks him as an S-Rank Hunter and I can only say one thing – so it begins.

‘Solo Leveling’s’ Anime Saved Jeju Island from Being a Disaster Adaptation with an Unexpected Double-Episode Finale

Rating: 10/10

Solo Levelingis available to watch on Crunchyroll.