Solo Leveling throws yet another complicated father-son relationship at shonen anime fans

Solo Leveling is a popular series in the shonen genre. Although it has a unique premise, it still has one similar family trope that is commonly seen in this genre: the father-son duo. From Goku and Gohan in Dragon Ball Z to Naruto not having his father, Minato, the genre consistently returns to explore the emotional rift between fathers who leave and sons who grow in their absence.

Even this series did not shy away from embracing this dynamic in its own way through the relationship between its protagonist, Sung Jinwoo, and his long-lost father, Sung Il-Hwan. But, Solo Leveling has not chalked up their relationship with lazy writing; they have redefined it within the context of global threat, personal sacrifice, and evolving power dynamics.

To understand their relationship, we need to first explore Sung Il-Hwan’s past. His story starts before Dungeons and Hunters had become important and a global necessity. He was an ordinary man who lived a normal life with his wife and his children. Moreover, Sung Il-Hwan was a good father. He made sure to take care of his family and showed them love and care.

However, everything changed the day he awakened his Hunter powers. It was during the days when Dungeons were a new concept and only a handful of people had acquired new powers. So with these new abilities, he took it on himself to enter a high-level dungeon that promised a great deal of risk. It was supposed to be a normal mission, but he never made it out.

After his father disappeared from the face of the earth without any trace, Jinwoo in Solo Leveling took the responsibility to take care of his family. Their mother fell ill with a mysterious eternal slumber disease, and Jinwoo became the breadwinner, taking low-ranking Hunter jobs despite his near-powerless E-rank status.

When everyone had settled down with their new roles, and Sung Jinwoo had leveled up to become the strongest man, it seemed like everyone had accepted that Sung Il-Hwan was no more. But Il-Hwan's reappearance in the late game of Solo Leveling blows the narrative wide open.

The story revealed that he had not died but had been trapped in the dungeon. Il-Hwan was chosen by the Rulers, godlike entities fighting an eternal war against the Monarchs. What seemed like abandonment was actually a form of sacrifice, though this justification does little to soothe the pain his family endured.

What makes Solo Leveling’s father-son relationship so impactful is its moral ambiguity. Il-Hwan’s absence is both unforgivable and noble. Interestingly, when they finally meet again, it’s not a tearful reunion. It’s tense, emotionally fraught, and overshadowed by impending doom.

Jinwoo doesn’t forgive his father easily, and Il-Hwan doesn’t beg for forgiveness. Even if there was an undeniable tension in their relationship, they still had one shared goal: to save humanity.

The final battle: A father’s redemption in Solo Leveling

Sung Il-Hwan’s last stand occurs during the fight against the Monarchs, particularly the Frost Monarch and Beast Monarch. In a critical moment, Il-Hwan sacrifices himself to buy his son Sung Jinwoo enough time to gather his strength and finish the battle.

Unfortunately, he dies, but it is a meaningful death. Il-Hwan doesn’t go out in a blaze of glory or with a heroic monologue. Instead, his death is quietly dignified, an act of redemption that speaks volumes. It’s also the first and last time he truly stands by Jinwoo’s side as his father, just like he was before getting mixed up in this war.

This moment finally brings closure to Jinwoo. Though he may never fully resolve his feelings, he understands the weight of his father’s decisions and honors them by surviving, protecting, and moving forward.

In conclusion, Solo Leveling has made this father-son bond impactful because of its moral ambiguity. Il-Hwan’s absence is both unforgivable and noble. Jinwoo’s anger is both justified and tragic. This series has taken the common trope and added its essence to it, which is why the relationship between Sung Jinwoo and Sung Il-Hwan isn’t merely another complicated father-son relationship.

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