Solo Leveling: The S-Rank Hunter Who Failed to Impress

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Summary

  • Choi Jong-In’s character in Solo Leveling lacked the impact and development promised, falling short of expectations.
  • Despite being hyped as the ultimate hunter, Choi Jong-In’s combat abilities were underwhelming and underutilized.
  • The series failed to highlight Choi Jong-In’s mage class effectively, leading to a disappointing portrayal of a potentially powerful character.

In the initial stages of “Solo Leveling”, the initial vow of the S-rank hunters sparked immense excitement. These characters were hinted at possessing formidable abilities, shrouded in mystery, which we fans eagerly pondered and hypothesized about as Jinwoo Sung embarked on his personal quest for immense power.

After wrapping up Season 2 of Solo Leveling, it appears that several highly anticipated characters have taken a backseat in the narrative. Consequently, it has become an intriguing challenge to determine which top-tier hunter fails to live up to the hype the most. Upon closer examination of all the S-rank hunters, Choi Jong-In seems to be the one with the greatest unfulfilled potential and a somewhat underwhelming performance compared to expectations.

Choi Jong-In’s Flawed Execution

Why The Strongest Hunter Didn’t Live Up To His Name

Solo Leveling” commences by introducing us to Sung Jinwoo, often referred to as the weakest hunter. As Jinwoo’s strength increases, we encounter Choi Jong-In, who contrastingly is known as “the peak hunter.” Initially, they reside at opposite ends of the spectrum. The series positions Choi Jong-In as a formidable challenge that Jinwoo aims to surpass in his relentless pursuit of growth and outshining everyone else.

“He who stands at the pinnacle of fire magic.” -Jinwoo describing Choi Jong-In.

Frankly speaking, I’m quite captivated by Choi Jong-In’s character in this show, yet I can’t help but feel there’s a missing spark. He’s often portrayed deep in thought, plotting and strategizing, which is intriguing, but it seems he lacks opportunities to truly shine. With his mastery over fire magic that could level mountains, one would expect grand displays of power. Yet, so far, he’s only shown using it against minor enemies, battles any average warrior could conquer. I yearn to witness him unleash the full might of his abilities and solidify his title’s worthiness.

In contrast to the initial anticipation surrounding Sung Jinwoo’s character before the Jeju Island raid arc, as the Head of the Hunters Guild, his role was highly anticipated but his performance during the confrontation with the Ant King fell short. While he played a significant part in managing hordes of ants, he was surprisingly defeated effortlessly and swiftly without resorting to any of his skills or putting up a fight. Regrettably, despite the initial emphasis on Choi Jong-In’s character, his contributions to the plot and battles thus far have been relatively insignificant.

Why Choi Jong-In Could Be Better

The Pieces Are There For His Character

It’s disappointing how the mage characters, particularly Choi Jong-In, haven’t been given their due significance in the series thus far. The plot even hints at ways they could be crucial against adversaries. For instance, Jinwoo discovers an artifact called the Orb of Greed, which amplifies magical attacks. If Choi Jong-In had acquired such an item or something to compensate for his shortcomings in hand-to-hand combat, he could have earned a high S-rank, living up to his title as the ultimate hunter.

It’s disappointing that Choi’s mage class doesn’t seem to shine in battles against powerful foes. He’s great at burning through weaker enemies with his flames, but it’s rare to see him show off his fire magic creatively or use his strategic intellect to turn the tide in close fights. Despite Choi Jong-In being portrayed as a cunning and intelligent character, he rarely gets a chance to live up to the story’s potential of making him a formidable force.

Although several top-tier hunters share a common issue, it’s Choi Jong-In’s underdeveloped character that seems to leave the deepest impression of disappointment, considering the promising potential showcased at the start. It’s hoped that as the story unfolds, characters like Choi will be granted opportunities to stand out. However, based on the current narrative trajectory, it appears that only Sung Jinwoo is set for exciting exploits. This frustration towards the overlooked development of side characters is perhaps best encapsulated by the letdown felt when observing Choi Jong-In’s performance in the series.

Solo Leveling can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Amazon.

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2025-05-01 15:26