5 ‘Solo Leveling’ Characters Who Deserved Better (#4’s Fate Is Tragic)

Jin-woo begins his journey as a weak E-Rank hunter who is stuck in an endless survival loop, but he soon emerges as an unstoppable force. This power progression is steady and thoroughly earned, as Jin-woo’s quest to better understand the source of his abilities leads him on a journey peppered with unforgettable fights.

It’s easy to understand the reasons behind the overwhelming popularity that Solo Leveling enjoys. It is an ever-escalating power fantasy that is flashy and fun enough to keep things interesting, even though it often prioritizes spectacle over depth. This doesn’t mean the story isn’t worthwhile. As long as you have a protagonist that feels relatable and worth rooting for, basic world-building and likable secondary characters become serviceable enough in an anime that grounds itself with impressive animation.

That said, sustaining an overpowered protagonist whose core purpose is to keep leveling up comes at the cost of neglected characters, or ones that are killed off way too soon. This isn’t a drawback, per se, as Solo Leveling is ostensibly about Jin-woo’s solitary growth. Even so, some characters like Christopher Reed and Liu Zhigang were sidelined in the source material despite sporting immense intrigue and potential.

Without further ado, here are five Solo Leveling characters who undoubtedly deserve better.

1

Esil Radiru

Being a demon noble and the eldest princess of the Radiru Clan makes her intriguing enough, but Esil has a lot going for her in Solo Leveling. She encounters Jin-woo after her knights attempt to eliminate him on the 80th floor of the Demon Castle, but he makes quick work of her troops. Just as he’s about to kill her, Esil begs for mercy and offers to aid Jin-woo in his ascent any way she can, eventually playing a key role in the fight against the Demon King Baran.

Esil’s introduction paints her as a promising character, one who admits to being outclassed out of self-preservation and steps up with an incredible act of bravery. Her presence also brings a lighthearted quality to the otherwise tense story. Although Esil’s arc is prematurely cut short in the source material, she has been given a meatier role in Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, the spin-off sequel that focuses on Jin-woo’s son, Sung Suho.

In Ragnarok, Esil returns as Suho’s ally, bearing the title of Monarch of Gluttony and eventually granting him the rare Demon King’s Purified Blood, which Suho needs to craft the Holy Water of Life. Although Esil’s enhanced role in the sequel somewhat redeems her thwarted characterization, she is one among many characters who could’ve been fleshed alongside Jin-woo’s journey.

2

Christopher Reed

Image: D&C Media

One of five National Level Hunters and one of the two strongest hunters in America, Christopher Reed is never allowed to reach his true potential in Solo Leveling. Reed’s arc begins with a warning about his impending death, which is why he aims to seek Jin-woo’s aid in the off-chance that this prophetic vision might come true. Reed’s incredible abilities are on display during the International Guild Conference Arc, during which he is ambushed by three Monarchs inside a dimensional gap.

Although Reed fights valiantly, he dies soon after, with his mutilated body being discovered in the ruins of his mansion. This tragic death feels somewhat egregious, as it barely scratches the surface of his fire magic or his legendary caliber as a National Level Hunter. To add insult to injury, Ragnarok brings him back in the revised timeline, but Reed is promptly targeted by the Itarim, a race of gods responsible for creating all of existence. This arc also ends with Reed’s death, barely granting him any dimensionality beyond a hunter doomed to a violent death despite possessing the credentials to persevere.

3

Lee Joohee

Image: A-1 Pictures

A B-Rank Healer who used to be close friends with Jin-woo during his E-Rank days, Lee Joohee’s fate in Solo Leveling is nothing short of heartbreaking. Joohee was immensely protective of Jin-woo during the D-Rank Dungeon Arc, proactively healing his injuries throughout the high-intensity raid. Unfortunately, the horrific events at the Cartenon Temple (Double Dungeon) leave Joohee with deep psychological scars and a paralyzing fear of dungeons, forcing her to retire early.

One might argue that Joohee’s decision to choose a relatively peaceful life over the chaos of a hunter’s existence is a suitable conclusion to her arc. This also widens the rift between Joohee and Jin-woo’s priorities, as our protagonist rapidly levels up to seek out escalating stakes, which is far removed from Joohee’s desire for a quiet life. While Joohee fulfills her role as a compassionate anchor for Jin-woo when he needed her support, this sidelining feels cruelly contrived to shift the narrative focus to bigger, better fights. Although Jin-woo and Joohee mutually drift apart due to incompatible circumstances, the possibility of what could’ve been haunts this early part of the story.

4

Sung Il-Hwan

Image: A-1 Pictures

Jin-woo’s father, Sung Il-Hwan, left his firefighting job at some point to become what would retroactively be considered one of Korea’s first S-Rank Hunters. As the ranking system wasn’t implemented back then, Il-Hwan never got the opportunity to enjoy the privileges associated with his rank. During one of his raids, Il-Hwan got trapped inside a dungeon for over a decade, leading his wife and children to believe that he was dead. After he was saved by the Rulers (an ancient race of angelic warriors), Il-Hwan had little choice but to become their vessel and accept their mission of slaying the soon-to-be-born Shadow Monarch.

This decade-long absence, while emotionally devastating, physically separates him from his family even after he returns to Earth. Tragedy strikes yet again when Il-Hwan dies as soon as he reunites with Jin-woo, forever robbed of the opportunity to live as a family man. Il-Hwan also doesn’t get the chance to provide Jin-woo with proper emotional closure, as he disintegrates into dust even before he can explain his absence or the mission he was entrusted with. Both father and son deserve better in this context, as this final encounter could’ve been more meaningful and hard-hitting than one where Il-Hwan performs a thankless sacrifice.

5

Goto Ryuji

Image: A-1 Pictures

Introduced as the strongest hunter in Japan and the Guild Master of the Draw Sword Guild, Goto Ryuji is yet another example of a powerful secondary character who got discarded as soon as he outlived his narrative utility. Goto isn’t nearly as sympathetic as most sidelined characters, as he is inclined to ruthlessness and has little regard for human life. Even so, he made for an interesting foil to Jin-woo, exuding sharp political ambition and the willingness to go to any lengths to preserve his survival-of-the-fittest worldview.

During one of the Jeju Island Raids, Goto loses contact with his guild members and stumbles across their dead bodies. He remains unmoved by their deaths, as he had covertly intended to eliminate Korean S-Rank Hunters without any intention of helping reclaim Jeju. This is when the Ant King ambushes him, swiftly beheading him and his allies. This abrupt death, although fitting in terms of his hubris, feels like a disservice to Goto’s potential as an antagonistic presence whose powers have been hyped up since his introduction. Once again, this death allows Jin-woo to assume center stage, setting him up as the true chosen one capable of challenging the formidable Ant King.