In one of the more wrenching scenes of Solo Leveling, a quaking Jinwoo is being crumpled by sentient statues. Having volunteered to sacrifice his life to protect those of his comrades, at this crucial and climactic moment, Jinwoo slips into despair when a brutal question pimples his heroism — was he exercising independent agency in order to feel the glory of being a saviour, or did he see himself as nothing more than collateral damage because he’s internalised the rebukes of his comrades?
At the nick of time, Jinwoo is saved by a screen, which recruits him to a game reality where he constantly has to level up by forging strength, perception and ability, and carrying out solo missions against monsters of different ranks. As Jinwoo’s self-esteem (and abs) seem to experience a twinning growth, the tasks assigned to him transform the docile boy into a broody man who finds himself being flirted with because of the muscles, inviting an admiring nod or two, and inspiring fear in other hunters who are bewildered at how an E-rank hunter is exhibiting this extraordinary vigour.
Second Awakening
In the world of Solo Leveling, there is the concept of “‘second awakening”, a phenomenon that sees hunters experience a rare and sudden influx of power, which catapults them high into the rarified A or S rank. This is the explanation that high-ranking hunters cling to when attempting to make sense of Jinwoo’s miraculous escape from the Cartenon temple because otherwise, his rise throws into question the basic foundation of this predatory world. However, a test reveals the holes in the second awakening theory — a diagnostic device is unable to detect any surge of power in Jinwoo. He hasn’t instantly become a vessel for superhuman strength or any other flashy magical ability. Instead, something more complicated is unfolding between Jinwoo and the screen that doles out quests and instructions to him on a day-to-day basis, each one adding a facet to his profile as a hunter. His levelling up and ability to take upon monsters that are D-grade and higher — above his perceived ability — effectively (and perhaps inadvertently) disrupts the very foundation of the ranking system.
Six episodes in, the discrepancy between Jinwoo’s rank and his actual powers are being noticed by all those around him. It’s too soon to tell what the ramifications will be of this discrepancy, but the questions raised strike at the system that governs the world of Solo Leveling. What does it mean to accrue strength in a way that pushes Jinwoo outside of the established hierarchy? Can Jinwoo still be subsumed within the system or is the screen setting Jinwoo up to become the target of the elite hunters and their guilds?