Blink and you’ll miss it—that’s the running pattern of this episode, though it does offer more detail than previous ones.
I’m not exactly sure how to feel about Solo Leveling’s latest anime episode, because it was over before I could even process what was happening. Following Season 2 Episode 18, the entire run of subsequent episodes—especially this one—has felt more like a sprint to the finish line than anything else.
Pacing has been an issue since the start of the season, and Episode 20, Looking Up Was Tiring Me Out, is no exception. The fight sequences were intense, but they flew by so fast that if you so much as took a sip of water, you’d miss an entire scene. Honestly, if you want to truly appreciate the animation, you’d have to watch everything at 0.5 speed. But doing that obviously turns the series into a choppy mess that feels like a low-battery video feed. That said, the episode's artwork was on point, highlighting the expressions and emotions of each character throughout.
And with the Jeju Island Arc approaching at breakneck speed, I’m getting a bit worried about how one of the most important battles in the series will be handled.
But let’s dig into the details of this episode: what worked, what didn’t, and what’s coming next.
Esil and the Radiru Clan
One thing I’m grateful for is that the animators didn’t cut corners when it came to portraying Jinwoo’s encounter with Esil of the Radiru Clan. Esil was a much-needed breath of fresh air in the episode, especially given how serious Jinwoo can be inside dungeons.
Despite being a warrior, Esil came off as more of a naïve child trying to play in the big leagues, completely out of her depth. Her bluff was so obvious that it was almost endearing. Her expressions, her innocence, and her trust in Jinwoo made it easy to see why he had a soft spot for her. Calling her simple-minded might have been a bit much, but let’s be honest—that’s exactly what she was.
Esil’s expressions were great, with both the animation and voice acting bringing her to life admirably. You could feel her shift from innocent and cheerful to fearful and awestruck. Her father’s reaction was just as entertaining. I’m really glad they didn’t cut too many moments or try to make Jinwoo look effortlessly cool the entire time. The way they captured the classic overprotective father misunderstanding, with Jinwoo having to explain how Esil could actually be useful, was executed well.
That brings us to one of the moments in the episode that deserved applause: the way they portrayed Esil glitching out when she tried to answer a system-restricted question was downright eerie. It sent chills down my spine, even if I already knew what was going to happen next.
Jinwoo vs Baran
Of course, we skipped past most of the floors to keep the pacing tight, and then we finally got to Jinwoo’s encounter with Baran.
Unfortunately, this fight flashed by so quickly that I could barely keep up. Unlike Episode 18, when Jinwoo fought the High Orcs and Kargalgan, there was more attention to detail this time. Jinwoo’s expressions were more dynamic, and Baran’s lightning storm was well-animated with carefully placed attack patterns. Episode 20 was bolstered by awe-inspiring frames and much more artistic interpretations of the fight, but this was too fast—blink, and you’d miss an important move.
Watching it at 0.5 speed helped me appreciate the fight better, and it was nice to see Iron, Igris, and Tusk getting overwhelmed for once. Jinwoo’s moment saving Esil was electrifying—equal parts smooth and exhilarating. On top of that, one of the standout moments in this fight was Jinwoo’s Japanese VA, Taito Ban, who seamlessly transitioned from a low, cool, and serious tone to raw adrenaline-fuelled intensity, capturing both his struggle and determination as he gave everything to defeat Baran.
But there were some glaring issues. During Jinwoo’s fight against Baran on the ground, the animation skips were more noticeable. Slowed down, it felt like watching at 4 frames per second. At normal speed, it was smoother, but the cuts were still evident. Now, I’m not saying this was terrible or that Solo Leveling is doomed. Last time, a few fans thought I was being too harsh for saying the Kargalgan fight wasn’t epic (because it wasn’t) but I stand by this—Episode 20 falls just short of the mark.
And that’s because we’ve seen anime that do this kind of fight better: Naruto & Sasuke vs Momoshiki (Boruto: Naruto Next Generations), Takamura vs Hawk (Fighting Spirit), Tanjiro vs Rui (Demon Slayer), or even most of the second half of Demon Slayer Season 2. Those fights were not only well-animated but had smoother sequences that allowed the audience to feel every hit.
Solo Leveling doesn’t have Jinwoo shouting out his attacks or hyping himself up mid-battle, so it’s even more important that the animation makes his fights visible. If fewer frames were skipped and there were a few well-timed slow-motion scenes for added emphasis, this could have been the fight that finally crossed the epic threshold.
That said, Jinwoo finishing off Baran after severing the Demon King's mount’s tail was priceless. The level of detail in those few frames was impressive, especially the stylised final hit rendered in black and white.
Jeju Island Arc Incoming
With Jinwoo finally clearing the Demon Castle, we’re now heading into one of the most anticipated arcs of all: the Jeju Island Arc. We’ve already seen how much destruction just one flying ant can cause in Episode 20. Now, the strongest hunters from Japan and South Korea are preparing for an all-out assault on the island they failed to reclaim before.
I’m excited for it—but I'm also really concerned.
The pacing in Season 2 has been all over the place, and with the season hurtling toward the finale at full speed, I’m worried that we’ll see the same rushed sequences, skipped frames, and lack of breathing room that have plagued the season so far. Given the gravity of this arc in the manhwa, it would be a huge loss if they skip important dialogue or rush key moments just to keep Jinwoo looking effortlessly cool.
Sure, we appreciate the eye candy, but we also want to see the raw emotion in his expressions when it really matters.
And it’s not just about Jinwoo. This arc is full of strong personalities: hunters with egos as massive as their power levels. We want to see that tension. The bloodlust in their eyes, the pride in their stances—not just a series of quick flashes and a tiny figure slashing at something in the distance. We want to hold our breath in suspense, feel the tension in our veins, and be completely drawn into the intensity of the moment.
Still, I’m holding onto hope. We’re giving all our energy to the team and the animators, and crossing our fingers that the Jeju Island Arc will get the hype and love that it truly deserves.
With the excitement for Solo Leveling Season 2 ramping up, catching up or reviewing hints and theories from previous episodes might be a good idea. If you'd like to do so, click here.
