Solo Leveling Season’s 2 Mahwa Changes To Jinwoo Contradict The Series’ Main Message

DGIX

March 20, 2025

Solo Leveling season 2 has been one of the standout installments of winter 2025, delivering a high-quality action narrative centered on the ultimate growth of its main character. It’s no exaggeration to say this season surpassed the first, not only with improved animation but also by showcasing Jinwoo’s rise to S-Rank as a hunter. This development has solidified his portrayal as a “player”, continuing his steady ascent.

However, there are notable changes in this newest season that, on closer examination, contradict Jinwoo’s original characterization of the manhwa. In the source material, Jinwoo had the appeal of a morally gray figure, driven by an intense desire for self-improvement. Subtly, season 2 is shifting this portrayal, presenting Jinwoo more as a hero, an approach that undermines the core narrative of the series: his pursuit of personal growth, regardless of how it affects others.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Changes Are Forcing Jinwoo To Become Morally Straight

Season 2 Presents Jinwoo More as a Hero

Sung Jinwoo’s depiction in Solo Leveling is clear from the outset: he seeks ultimate growth, overcoming societal hurdles by becoming stronger and wealthier. Aided by the System, Jinwoo has always acted out of self-interest, with little concern for others. If achieving his goals required killing humans, he did so without hesitation, something the first season of the anime portrayed faithfully. This desire for continuous self-improvement has been consistent throughout the manhwa. However, from the beginning of Solo Leveling season 2, Jinwoo is presented as someone who considers the morality of his actions.

The first attempt to present Jinwoo more as a hero occurs during the Red Dungeon arc. In the anime, Kim Chul attacks Jinwoo out of frustration, forcing Jinwoo into a difficult situation where he also has to fight Baruka, the dungeon boss. Jinwoo kills Kim Chul out of necessity, making the battle easier and, by acquiring his shadow, ultimately overcomes Baruka. In contrast, the manhwa makes it clear that Jinwoo had always intended to kill Kim Chul because of his extraordinary defense abilities, which he saw as a valuable asset.

Jin woo standing with Igris, Iron and a few other shadow soldiers in solo leveling

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The manhwa shows Jinwoo throwing a sword at Kim Chul, challenging him to fight. An ego-driven Kim Chul accepts, acting recklessly, and Jinwoo easily gains the upper hand, killing him once his critical thinking falters. By emphasizing how efficiently Jinwoo uses Kim Chul’s shadow, Iron, it’s clear that Jinwoo saw the potential from the beginning and killed Kim Chul specifically to gain a powerful addition to his arsenal. However, this isn’t the only instance where the anime shifts Jinwoo’s portrayal. A recent episode also includes subtle changes that continue to present him more as a hero.

Jinwoo’s Latest Encounter With an S-Rank Hunter Is Altered To Present the Protagonist as a Hero

Jinwoo’s Ruthlessness Is Being Toned Down

Solo Leveling Episode #22, titled “We Need a Hero,” features the appearance of several S-Rank Hunters, including a friendly match between Jinwoo and Goto. In the anime, the fight is presented in a much more restrained manner, with Jinwoo calmly measuring Goto’s skills and making only the necessary moves. Even Goto is portrayed humbly, getting serious only after realizing Jinwoo is the real deal. He eventually lands a hit on Jinwoo’s face, acknowledging his strength. However, in the manhwa, the fight plays out very differently.

The first major change is in how Goto approaches the battle. While the anime shows Jinwoo staying close to Goto by simply evading his attacks, the manhwa makes it clear that Jinwoo far surpasses him. This provokes Goto to get serious, deciding to kill Jinwoo for insulting him. His bloodlust becomes so intense that the system warns Jinwoo of Goto’s murderous intent.

Feature heder showing off a crying Jinwoo

Anime Adaptations Must Be Faithful, But Solo Leveling’s Changes Make It So Much Better

Solo Leveling’s anime removes yet another scene from its manhwa and light novel source material, but this time it works in the series favor.

After receiving this alert, Jinwoo becomes serious as well, to the point where Goto begins to fear for his life under Jinwoo’s overwhelming bloodthirst. The anime made several changes to portray Jinwoo as only doing what’s necessary in the fight, presenting him more as a hero. These changes directly contradict his portrayal in the manhwa, where Jinwoo consistently acts in his own self-interest, even after gaining significant power. While there’s no official confirmation from the studio regarding these changes, it’s possible the decision lies in the series’ popularity.

With Solo Leveling becoming one of the most successful anime adaptations of recent years, the studio may have decided to shift Jinwoo’s characterization toward that of a traditional hero, on par with figures like Goku, Luffy, and Naruto, who are consistently depicted as morally upright, so that Jinwoo’s portrayal is appealing to a wider audience. However, in doing so, Solo Leveling is straying from its core message conveyed through its protagonist, continuous growth driven solely by self-interest, which made the manhwa appealing in the first place.