Summary

Choi Jong-In's epic entrance scene is omitted in Solo Leveling season 2.
The absence of his entrance affects his character's impact and development.
Anime budget and runtime constraints may be a reason for cutting non-essential scenes.

The anime community is yet to move on from Solo Leveling season 2, not just because of the events of the Jeju Island arc, but also because they’re robbed of the infamous entrance scene of a beloved character before the ant raid. While the second season makes several major changes, many don’t expect the anime to remove one of the most badass scenes from the webtoon.

The Jeju Island arc propels the popularity of Solo Leveling to new heights. It was an intense arc packed with thrilling fights, from Jin-Woo's epic showdown with the Ant King to the sparring session between Japan and Korea’s S-rank hunters. While fans eagerly await news of a third season adaptation, many look back at the sequel, realizing that the anime failed to adapt one of the most anticipated character entrances ever.

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By Cathlyn Melo

Solo Leveling Season 2’s Missing Character Entrance

A Crack in the Anime Adaptation

Perhaps one of the most noticeable omissions in the second season of Solo Leveling is the entrance of none other than Korea’s Ultimate Weapon, Choi Jong-In, on Jeju Island. The character's entrance takes place in chapter 95 of the webtoon, but it doesn't make the cut in Solo Leveling season 2, episode 10. This isn't just any missing entrance scene, for it is supposed to be Choi Jong-In's defining moment as the nation’s ultimate soldier, a hunter and guild master wielding unrivaled fire magic.

"Allow me to take care of them."—Choi Jong-In to the mutated ants

Glossing over Choi Jong-In's entrance during the most crucial fight of the nation is a missed opportunity. His entrance isn’t just about flexing his fire magic that’s second to none but a chance to cement him as the ultimate soldier, a solid comrade to his fellow guild masters, and a top-notch hunter worthy of respect. After all, Choi Jong-In rarely reveals the full extent of his abilities, which occasionally leads fans to question whether he truly lives up to his iconic title.

Why Choi Jong-In's Entrance Matters

solo leveling choi jong-in villain — solo leveling choi jong-in

The lack of a proper entrance for Choi Jong-In somehow dulls the impact of his character on viewers. Without his entrance scene, Choi Jong-In misses the chance to truly shine, to show off his commanding presence, composure, and calmness under pressure. Sure, he gets a few solo scenes before and during the actual raid, but sidelining his badass entrance still deals a heavy blow to his aura points.

"The helicopter may shake quite a bit, so make sure to hold on tight."—Choi Jong-In to his comrades

If only his entrance had been adapted, it could’ve provided the perfect setup for the S-rank hunters to show off their abilities and highlight why they are there on Jeju Island as the country’s first line of defense and offense. It would’ve also been a great opportunity to build tension and anticipation for Choi Jong-In’s upcoming fight scenes. Sadly, without that moment, he never quite recovers. Once Jin-Woo arrives, Choi Jong-In quickly fades into the background, his potential impact lost in the shadow.

What Solo Leveling Season 2 Did Instead

The Anime Has A Different Approach

Solo Leveling season 2 episode 10, “We Need a Hero,” omitted Choi Jong-In's epic entrance to the cave and changed it significantly. Instead of showing Jong-In diving to the island ahead of his comrades to scope out how strong the mutated ants are, the anime showed Korea’s S-rank hunters arriving and descending on the island together. In other words, the viewers did not see Jong-In's dramatic helicopter drop, using his fire magic to land and incinerate some of the ants near him.

"I'm sure he'll be fine. After all, his magic thrives the most when he has to face more than one enemy."—Cha Hae-In to Choi Jong-In

Fortunately, the episode chose to keep some of Choi Jong-In's moments. He had a few solo scenes before the helicopter drop, attacking with his flames to obliterate the flying ants heading their way. The anime also added an original scene of Jong-In monologuing about his return to the island and his chance at redemption. Naturally, Byung-Gu and the others were impressed by Jong-In's explosive abilities, saying he was a reliable comrade worthy of his title as the ultimate soldier.

Why Choi Jong-In's Entrance Scene Is Omitted

solo leveling how to become a guild master choi jong in — solo leveling choi jong in guild master

There’s no exact or clear reason why Choi Jong-In's entrance was omitted in the second season. It’s not uncommon for anime, especially of the shounen genre, to cut off some scenes, after all. But one of the most possible explanations behind these changes is run-time constraints, as there often isn’t enough time to adapt everything, particularly scenes that aren’t deemed essential to the main plot.

Additionally, Solo Leveling season 2 is full of epic fight scenes that possibly consumed a significant portion of the production’s budget. Still, many fans are grateful that Choi Jong-In had some key moments considering the anime centers on Sung Jin-Woo and his rise to power. In an anime like Solo Leveling, where the focus is on the protagonist and his struggle to ascend to the top, it’s inevitable that side characters often get pushed to the sidelines, unable to receive character development and opportunities to shine.

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