Solo Leveling is highly praised for its action sequences and the dominant protagonist, Jinwoo. However, one of the biggest criticisms of the series is the treatment of side characters. Yet, among the many sidelined figures, there is a character that seems to stand above the rest: Esil Radiru.
Esil caught the fans’ attention, not only due to her beauty but also because of her cheerful, free-spirited personality. Her fate in the original series, however, was a huge letdown. She disappeared after the Return to the Demon Castle Arc, leaving fans yearning for more. In fact, Esil’s popularity was so high that she needed to be returned in Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, the sequel based on Jinwoo’s son.
Esil’s introduction in Solo Leveling: A minor character with a major impact
While Solo Leveling is infamous for ignoring its side characters, Esil’s case is the most notable. Her wit, charm, and funny banter with Jinwoo made her an immediate fan favorite, but the story didn’t do anything with her beyond one arc.
Esil R̶a̶d̶i̶s̶ Radiru ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ALRs0okGr7
— Solo Leveling (@SoloLevelAnime) February 23, 2025
Esil appears for the first time in Solo Leveling Season 2, Episode 7 when she and her subordinates encounter Jinwoo within the Demon Castle. In contrast to the majority of the monsters that blindly charge towards the main character, Esil realizes what’s going on very quickly and surrenders without hesitation.
Being a member of the now-defunct Radiru Clan, Esil was much stronger in the past, possibly on par with an S-Rank Hunter. But since her clan’s defeat, she has been downgraded to a mere C-Rank in terms of power. In spite of all these, she is very composed and practical, easily switching allegiances to join Jinwoo instead of meeting a certain death.
This is not only a demonstration of her survival skills but also of her ability to perceive the larger picture, something that most other villains in Solo Leveling lack. Esil’s role in Solo Leveling is mostly that of a guide. She guides Jinwoo on his way through the Demon Castle and gives him important information regarding the dangers that lay ahead.
Jinwoo’s quest to kill the Demon King and obtain the last ingredient to complete his mission would have been much harder without her. Her familiarity with how the Demon Castle operates made her invaluable throughout this arc.
The unfulfilled potential: Why Esil deserved more?
Esil’s appearance in the Return to the Demon Castle Arc made her one of the few side characters who actually stood out. However, even with her popularity, she is gone from the series entirely after the arc is finished.
Her limited role in the original series remains one of the biggest missed opportunities in Solo Leveling. This sudden removal frustrated fans, as she had all the qualities of a recurring character.
She’s just a very likeable character
— Solo Leveling (@SoloLevelAnime) February 23, 2025
i wish we got to see her more😭 idk why, but i like her mkre then cha hae
— deltawaifu (@delta_emin) February 25, 2025
She is one of the main characters in Ragnarok .
— djaafar500🇩🇿x🇵🇸x🇱🇧x🇾🇪 🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻 (@djaafar5001) February 24, 2025
Fans felt that her relationship with Jinwoo, her sense of humor, and her special understanding as a friendly monster could have been developed even more, particularly in subsequent arcs where the story becomes more intricate in terms of the different worlds and dimensions.
With all these demands from the fans, it is good to know that she plays a more important role in Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, the sequel story with Jinwoo’s son as the protagonist. And, her eventual return serves as proof that even a brief appearance can leave an everlasting mark.
Solo Leveling anime is available to watch on Crunchyroll and the manhwa can be read on Tapas.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
