Solo Leveling has many episodes in the Anime, which are very popular due to the action-packed fights. However, there is also a moment that divides the audience.
Warning, Spoiler: The article discusses an event from episode 21 of the anime. If you haven’t watched it yet, you should return at a later time.
What scene is it about? An episode that received a lot of dislikes on Crunchyroll is episode 21 “It was all worth it” from season 2. In this episode, protagonist Jin-woo finally has all the ingredients to create the Elixir of Life. The potion is supposed to free his mother from the Eternal Sleep Syndrome and thus wake her up.
In fact, the Elixir works and Jin-woo’s mother awakens. The hero of the series is so relieved that he bursts into tears. Prior to this, the protagonist rarely showed emotions, which is why the scene came as a surprise to many viewers.
Jin-woo’s emotional outburst reminds the author of his past
How was it received? The emotional outburst divides the community and leads to many dislikes. Although the episode is not as unpopular as the notorious recap episode, it is heading in a similar direction. Many fans see Jin-woo at that point as the invincible hero who does not allow feelings (as seen on TikTok).
For others, however, this display of emotions is the reason why they love the episode so much. On Reddit, many write that they cannot understand the hate around the scene. It is not a sign of weakness to cry, but a form of liberation.
Until that point, Jin-woo had been working toward the Elixir of Life. All the near-death experiences and all the fights were worth it.
What does the author say about it? In an interview (via X), the creator of the web novel, Chugong, was asked about his favorite scene. He initially responded with the Red-Gate-Arc. But when it comes to a specific moment, Jin-woo’s crying is his favorite part:
But if you were to ask me which scene I like best, it would be the moment when Jin-woo cries. The moment when he responds to his mother, who has just awakened from her long sleep, and tells her how hard it has been for him. To be honest, this scene reminded me of my own difficult past, and in the end, I cried along with him.
So far, Chugong has never publicly spoken about his past. Therefore, it is unknown what difficulties he faced in his life. However, it is all the more understandable why the author loves that part so much.
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