Warning: SPOILERS for Solo Leveling ahead
It’s never easy to make a successful sequel to a series aspopular and critically acclaimed asSolo Leveling,butSolo Leveling: Ragnarökhas so far not only shown itself to be a worthy successor to the original hit series but also good enough to establish itself as a series able to stand on its own. Its growing popularity is a tribute to its creative choices to avoid the early mistakes of other sequels of popular series.
Dule’sSolo Leveling: Ragnarök(Ragnarök) followsthe story of Sung Jinwoo’s and Cha Hae In’s son Sung Su Ho, who for much of his young life has no idea that his father is the most powerful person on Earth, tasked with the responsibility of keeping humanity safe from threats by aliens, demons, and monsters. Su Ho is able to enjoy his early years free from the burdens that his father faced, even though, thanks to his father, he has powers and abilities that may rival even those ofthe Monarch of Shadows.
Su Ho’s cluelessness is due to his father locking away his son’s abilities for fear that an early actualization of them would put him in unreasonable danger. However, during college, when his father is away fighting villains, the barriers Jinwoo used to seal Su Ho’s powers begin to break down. Soon, Su Ho is forced to come to grips with his abilities, his father’s true identity, and his duty to protect humanity.
RagnarökContinues TheSolo LevelingTradition While Expanding Its Universe
There Is Room For Both Sung Su Ho and Sung Jinwoo To Be All They Can Be InRagnarök
Ragnaröksuccessfully avoids the “sequel curse” byprioritizing Su Ho’s storywhile keeping Jinwoo’s presence in the background. This approach draws fans into Su Ho’s character development while providing just enough appearances and subplots involving Jinwoo to maintain engagement during slower moments. The story begins by firmly establishing Su Ho as the central focus. Although readers are aware that Su Ho comes from a powerful bloodline, he lacks a full understanding of it. This allows him to grow independently, free from the expectations or fears that might arise if everyone knew he was Jinwoo’s son.
This sharply contrasts with another well-known father-son sequel,Boruto.Borutowas introduced fully within the established Narutoverse. Indeed, as Hokage, Naruto was a central element in both Konoha and Boruto’s lives. As such,Boruto was never able to break free of his father’s shadowbecause there was nothing he could not do without his father’s eventual involvement in some way. Therefore, fans were always comparing the young and older Uzumaki – and in such comparisons, Boruto must always be considered inferior.
Second, inRagnarök, Su Ho’s story begins when he is already a young adult. This allows for greater creative flexibility in the types of situations he can face and offers more opportunities for him to respond in ways that engage fans. While fans might question a pre-teen’s ability to navigate the complexities of saving the world from an existential threat, they feel more comfortable when that character is a young adult.
RagnarökAllows Su Ho To Carve Out His Own Space In TheSolo LevelingUniverse
Again, usingBorutoas a comparison, fans have been warming up toBoruto inTwo Blue Vortexlargely becausehe is more mature and experienced. His actions, as well as his mistakes, feel more plausible now than when he was a pre-teen. A similar vibe is present inRagnarök. Su Ho’s approach to challenges is more believable, making the narrative more engaging. While the series is still unfolding, it’s important to note thatRagnarökis primarily Su Ho’s story.
This focus allowsSolo Leveling: Ragnarökto fully develop Su Ho’s character while carefully integrating his journey into the larger, well-establishedSolo Levelinguniverse. By doing so, the series strengthens its ability to stand on its own while also expanding and deepening the entire saga. Moreover,Ragnarökhas been able to humanize Su Ho more than his father, making it one of the most beloved series in recent times.
Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling follows Sung Jin-woo, the world’s weakest hunter, who gains extraordinary powers through a mysterious program after surviving a brutal monster attack. As he navigates his newfound abilities, Jinwoo embarks on a quest to uncover the secrets of his powers and the dungeon that altered his fate.
