Solo Leveling’s Most Emotional Scene Is More Important Than Ever

Solo Leveling is a singularly focused show angled primarily at Jinwoo’s growth as a Hunter. The story of an underdog rising through the ranks is often loved by fans, and this time is no different. The series begins with Jinwoo being the weakest Hunter in humanity. Although he used to be an E-Rank Hunter, his magical powers were so low that he wasn’t much different from an ordinary human. Hunters are the only humans allowed inside the gate since they have the power to defeat the monsters living inside them. The gates are full of treasures, and the more powerful you are, the richer you can get. Unfortunately, Jinwoo was so weak that he could barely defeat the monsters on his own.

However, his life takes a major turn when he gains a System that helps him level up. Now that the second season is more than halfway over, we have followed Jinwoo’s journey from being the weakest hunter to an S-Rank. He is currently the tenth S-Rank Hunter in Korea and is now being sought after by the country’s best guilds and even the Hunters Association. This is a huge contrast to the past when he was barely making ends meet. In the latest emotional installment, Solo Leveling Season 2, Episode 9, Jinwoo accomplishes his biggest goal, which has always been saving his mother. The moment is heart-wrenching, but it’s more important than you probably realize.

[RELATED: Solo Leveling Season 2 Adds Anime-Only Scenes (But Cuts a Memorable Character)]

Jinwoo Crying in the Latest Episode Is a Mix of Relief and Sadness

Ever since the beginning, Jinwoo has been persevering for the sake of his family. His father, who was a hunter, went missing ten years ago, and he had to carry the responsibility of caring for his mother and sister. Things got worse when his mother fell into eternal slumber, drowning him with hospital bills and almost losing another family member. His sister, who is currently in high school, also needed to go to college. Hence, despite barely surviving even the easiest raids, Jinwoo kept fighting for their sake in Solo Leveling.

His experience in the Double Dungeon was traumatizing but it also gave him a second chance in life. He became stronger and started to slay monsters like he had never done before. However, power comes at a price. Jinwoo could feel his emotions fading away as he kept leveling up. At some point, even killing humans doesn’t seem that big of a deal to him.

Even so, deep down, he was bottling up his emotions throughout all those years. Those feelings of sadness came pouring down as he felt relieved to see his mother sitting in front of him like nothing had ever happened. Jinwoo broke down for the first time in a big way in Solo Leveling Season 2, and it was in front of the person he loved the most. The manhwa didn’t portray his emotions that vividly, so it was a beautiful added detail by the animators, and a surprising return of Jinwoo’s vulnerable side. Also, in the manhwa, his mother wasn’t shown crying either, so the anime’s change adds to the realism and catharsis of their reunion. It truly sells to the viewer even better than the manhwa just how important this goal was to Jinwoo, and allows the next steps of the story to take center stage.

What’s Next for Jinwoo in Solo Leveling?

Although Jinwoo’s main goal so far is to save his mother and create a stable life for her and Jinah, the story is far from over. His mother waking up from Eternal Slumber is a huge burden off his chest, especially when you consider it’s impossible for someone in that condition to be saved. This miracle was only possible thanks to the System. However, the anime has yet to reveal the secret behind the System’s origins. Jinwoo knows from the very beginning that the System isn’t granting him this much for no reason and that it wants something in return.

But even he doesn’t know what price he has to pay. Furthermore, Jinwoo being called the Shadow Monarch and the mysterious voice playing in the monsters’ heads are somehow related. The anime has yet to delve deeper into the mysteries of the Gate and the past. No doubt, Jinwoo will be at the center of it all. Solo Leveling Season 2, Episode 9 has just commenced the highly anticipated Jeju Island Arc, which will include some of the most exciting moments in the series so far.

Jeju Island is the biggest raid in Korean history, and they are even getting help from Japanese Hunters. Hence, although Jinwoo has accomplished his main goal despite the story not even being halfway over, there are a lot of exciting arcs in the future that will keep fans intrigued.