How Solo Levelling's Premise Destroys Its Writing

Summary

This video critiques the popular power fantasy webtoon 'Solo Leveling,' discussing how its premise undermines character depth and narrative tension. The protagonist, Jin Wu, grows exponentially stronger, sidelining every other character and making them irrelevant. The video compares this to other series like 'One Punch Man' and 'Hunter X Hunter,' which balance strong character development with action. The main takeaway is that while power fantasies can be enjoyable, neglecting supporting characters and building a one-dimensional plot harms the story’s overall impact, leaving the audience disconnected and unsatisfied.

Takeaways

• 😀 Power fantasies can be a compelling escape from mundane daily life, but they often fall into uninteresting and shallow storytelling.
• 😀 *Solo Leveling* is a prominent example of a power fantasy, with incredible art and world-building but weak character development.
• 😀 A major flaw in *Solo Leveling* is its handling of character progression, where side characters are left behind due to the protagonist’s overwhelming power growth.
• 😀 Jin Wu, the protagonist of *Solo Leveling*, becomes too powerful too quickly, with his progression being linear, quadratic, and even cubic, making the stakes feel less impactful.
• 😀 The introduction of Jin Wu’s ability to summon and grow an army of shadows further inflates his power, making side characters even more irrelevant.
• 😀 *Solo Leveling* exemplifies a common trope in battle series: side characters get sidelined as the protagonist grows, leaving little room for meaningful character arcs.
• 😀 The critique highlights how *Solo Leveling* undermines tension and conflict, as every new antagonist must be increasingly powerful to match Jin Wu's exponential growth.
• 😀 Other stories, such as *One Punch Man*, succeed where *Solo Leveling* fails by giving side characters significant arcs and relevance beyond just supporting the main character.
• 😀 *Hunter X Hunter* also handles side characters and power progression more thoughtfully, focusing on themes of trauma, morality, and the costs of revenge.
• 😀 The speaker argues that even in a power fantasy, if the side characters are neglected, the overall story weakens, and the audience's emotional investment fades.

Q & A

What is the main premise of the script?

The script discusses the drawbacks and pitfalls of power fantasy stories, specifically focusing on the series 'Solo Leveling' and how its character development and power progression undermine the overall writing. The narrator reflects on the appeal of power fantasies but criticizes how these fantasies can lead to shallow and uninteresting stories.

What are the common issues with power fantasies, as highlighted in the video?

Power fantasies are often criticized for becoming mindless, uninteresting, and poorly written. The narrator emphasizes how they tend to feature one-dimensional characters whose growth and challenges are overshadowed by the main character's overwhelming strength, making the side characters irrelevant.

How does 'Solo Leveling' handle power progression, and why is it problematic?

'Solo Leveling' features the protagonist Jin Wu who has an unfair advantage: he can grow exponentially, outpacing everyone else. This creates a significant imbalance, where side characters are left behind, and the story’s tension is undermined by constant overpowered growth, making the plot less engaging.

What is the issue with Jin Wu's power scaling in 'Solo Leveling'?

Jin Wu's power scaling is problematic because it grows exponentially. Starting from linear growth, it escalates to quadratic, cubic, and even quartic growth due to his ability to resurrect and strengthen defeated enemies. This leaves side characters and future antagonists irrelevant, as their power cannot compare to his constant upward trajectory.

Why is character development in 'Solo Leveling' considered weak?

Character development is weak in 'Solo Leveling' because many characters are introduced with the potential for growth but quickly become irrelevant due to the protagonist's overpowering abilities. As Jin Wu grows stronger, the story fails to offer meaningful arcs for these characters, making them mere plot devices.

How does the concept of 'side characters' affect the narrative in battle manga like 'Solo Leveling'?

In battle manga, side characters are often sidelined when they cannot keep up with the main character's power. This creates a predictable cycle where side characters either stagnate or are eliminated to highlight the main character's growth, diminishing the stakes and reducing their narrative impact.

What example does the narrator give from 'Solo Leveling' to show the issue with character relevance?

The narrator cites the example of Goto, the strongest Japanese hunter, who is built up as a major threat but is killed off instantly in an arc, with no chance to showcase his abilities. This highlights the issue where any character who is not Jin Wu quickly becomes irrelevant.

What makes 'One Punch Man' a more effective example of handling characters in a power fantasy?

'One Punch Man' is cited as a better example because, unlike 'Solo Leveling,' it gives significant attention to side characters like Genos, Mumen Rider, and others, allowing them to have their own arcs and relevance. This makes the action and comedy of the series more engaging and fulfilling.

How does 'Hunter x Hunter' compare to 'Solo Leveling' in terms of character development?

'Hunter x Hunter' is used as a comparison to 'Solo Leveling' to highlight the depth of its character development. Unlike 'Solo Leveling,' which sidelines characters for the sake of the protagonist’s power progression, 'Hunter x Hunter' explores complex themes like trauma and morality, giving all characters meaningful arcs.

What is the overall criticism of power fantasies in the video, and what lesson is being conveyed to writers?

The video criticizes how power fantasies, especially those with a single overpowering protagonist, can result in shallow and unsatisfying stories. The lesson for writers is to ensure that side characters are developed meaningfully and not left behind, as this maintains engagement and prevents the story from becoming monotonous and predictable.