Summary
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Solo Levelinghas displayed itself to be full of characters with a lot of potential in several aspects, including strength and character development. However, with the spotlight focused on some characters, others tend to be neglected and allegedly underdeveloped.
Fans believe Cha Hae-In, S-Rank hunterand Vice master of the Hunters Guild, to be a victim of such a case.
Although theSolo Levelingseries has definitely portrayed her as a character of massive potential, with immense strength and skill, fans wonder if the story did her character justice. Was she destined to be a background character, or did the plot miss the opportunity to display her full power?
Guild
Being an S-Rank hunter is no small feat, and Cha Hae-In is nowhere near the bottom in her rank. Her strength speaks for itself. Not only did she leave the S-Rank hunters in the raid team in awe of her swordsmanship, but she also posed a significant threat to the Ant King, which caused it to take her out first. Speaking of swordsmanship, Cha Hae-In’s proficiency and style with the sword are unlike any other in the series. She engages her prey in the most unorthodox manner, using efficient yet creative methods to overpower her enemy,earning her the nickname The Dancer.
Despite attaining S-Rank with her skills, she did not stop her sword training, an action that highlights her diligence.
Her resilience is also admirable, as she is able to withstand the putrid smell of mana, a scent that only two characters so far have been able to perceive, oozing from her comrades and monsters to aid them in battle. Asthe strongest female hunter so farinSolo Leveling, she stands as a symbol, a breath of fresh female energy in a male-dominated narrative. For a character with so much potential, her supposed lack of proper development does not resonate well with fans.
A Victim Of Jin-Woo’s Shadow
A Fellow Hunter Turned Love Interest
Unfortunately for Cha Hae-In, Sung Jinwoo steals the spotlight as he rises from the weakest hunter to the Shadow Monarch. Because the plot is heavily focused on him, other characters are often sidelined, and Cha Hae-In is no different. Her presence as a hunter was severely overshadowed by Jinwoo’s strength, reducing her significance as an S-Rank hunter. Although possessing strength and skill unlike most, she is often portrayed as a bystander, one of the many waiting for Sung Jinwoo to save the day.
The narrative also changes her role from the feared Dancer of the Hunters Guild to Jinwoo’s romantic interest. The anime began to focusmore on her feelings for Sung Jinwoo, from him being the only hunter with a nice mana scent to her battling the likes of Igris and Beru to join his guild to be close to him. While this gives it a healthy dose of the emotional theme, her warrior personality heavily pays the price. She barely gets any major action after Jeju Island, appearing more in cute romantic scenes with Jinwoo.Solo Levelingstayed true to its name and protagonist, leaving Cha Hae-In, one of the most interesting and capable hunters, in the background of a story with untapped dynamic potential.
Moments That Hinted At Her True Power
Flashes Of Cha Hae-In’s Potential
While the series may appear to not have given her enough time to bloom in the action aspect, they did give the fans a glimpse of what she is capable of. Her most notable one was her defeatof the Ant Queen on Jeju Island. While her teammates held down their target, she completely immobilized it, masterfully weaving past each of its limbs and finally decapitating it in one clean strike. She also kept her calm when facing the Queen’s Royal Guard, each of her movements calculated and precise as she worked her way through them.
Not mentioningher sparring match with Igris and Beruwould be criminal. While it is worthy of note that these two shadows were not allowed to go all out in their spar, Cha Hae-in solidly held her ground against them. She was even the one who requested Beru, willing to face her trauma from Jeju Island and test her strength against it. It is a shame that these glimpses of her abilities were short-lived. It was clear she had the power, but the story had no room for her to fully unleash it.
What Could Have Been
Missed Opportunities For Development
Cha Hae-In’s character brimmed with potential that was never really tapped into. From her background, her diligence and resilience in training, and insights into the depth of her skills and abilities, it is safe to say she hadall the makings of an epic character, even forSolo Leveling. She could have been at the forefront of the battles that ensued, leading the charge against the threat to humanity alongside characters like Jinwoo.
Although her current state is not a bad one to be in, her character feels like a shadow of what it could have been. Her relationship with Sung Jinwoo appears to be more of a consolation prize from the narrative than her actual fate, and the lack of solo missions and significant dialogues outside of Sung Jinwoo also contributes to it. She could have been at his side, battling any foe that came their way, rather than just a supporting character who can only take care of foot soldiers and hold concern for Sung Jinwoo’s well-being.
Solo Leveling
A-1 Pictures' Solo Leveling is an anime based on Chugong’s popular web novel. Set in an unforgiving fantasy world where hunters explore dungeons filled with monsters, the vulnerable Sung Jinwoo gains a significant power boost after he is picked to be a solo player by the System.
