Ore dake Level Up na Ken: How to Get Stronger

I keep reading conflicting information as to why there's a recap episode halfway through this series, from production delays, to Voice Actor Taito Ban testing positive to Corona Virus, to the World Table Tennis Championships taking it's time slot. It could be one of these, it could multiple reasons, whatever it is, recap episodes on currently airing anime are almost always garbage and unnecessary to watch. This time is no different either. It's not quite Promised Neverland S2 levels of pathetic (after only 5 episodes), but it's close.

The episode skims over seven episodes worth of content that's already fresh in the memory of everyone ... watching and adds nothing of relevance or interest to the viewer. No fancy or intelligent way to retell the story to make it somewhat enjoyable (Gintama were the Kings at this), just a rehash of scenes with the MC narrating once in a while.

If you're not a completionist, I would otherwise skip. It's not bad or good, it just kind of exists.

This is a non-necessary review episode. If you have a memory like a sieve and can't remember what's happened previously you MIGHT require it. I have an actual Acquired Brain Injury that means I DO have a memory like a sieve, and I STILL didn't need it.
There's ZERO new content here, which is why it's listed as a separate show, not an included episode.

I can speculate as to the reason for this, but that's all it is, others have speculated elsewhere as to illness of an actor, competing TV time slot special etc. It doesn't matter in the long run, it FEELS ... like it's there to buy time, something they could throw together in a few hours to buy time for an extra week of production somewhere. If you're watching this after the season is complete and you're binge watching the show, skip this.

If you have taken a break after watching the first 1/2 of the season, and need a quick refresher, it might be worth skimming this, or having it on while you do something else to refresh your mind. That's really the only purpose it serves. It sure as heck isn't entertainment value, or any furtherance of the plot/story. It's a pure "previously on" episode.

Recap episodes are a dime a dozen and there's not too much to say about them as a whole. That being said, it's not like these cannot be done well. There are shows that use their recaps to provide unique insights from the perspectives of different characters, some of which can benefit the show as a whole or at least make the experience of watching through those scenes again take on a slightly different meaning. Some recaps just insert small skits in between the scenes, and that is at least one way for the team to have a little fun and for audiences to enjoy ... a bit of slapstick humor.

This recap was none of that. It's just a lazy retread of events in the series to date. That's not bad or good, it's just meh, and it provides little reason for its own existence.

As controversial as recap episodes tend to be, especially in the context of currently airing seasonal shows, this one in particular does not escape the former allegations. Yes, it’s a time stall for the production of future episode, but for the consumers, it is hell on earth.

I originally read the Manhwa a long time ago and I’ve been keeping up with the Anime version ever since its debut, it has surely been an interesting outlook on the series especially for how different both versions are but I gotta say, this recap slid in right into place, being a run down through the first seven episodes, ... it really fits in well in the chronological placement as many would argue, this is when the true story begins, all of the past episodes were simple set up of what eventually becomes a more complex and intertwined plot.

Not worth watching if you've been watching the anime so far.

The story did not need a recap after 7 episodes, and does not add anything new to the story at all, not even a slight teaser at the end of what is coming up. It does not add anything new to the characters either as it is purely a recap. All the clips used in this episode are purely from the previous episodes and have been stitched together to condense what has happened in the previous 7 episodes into 24 minutes.

I do not believe anyone who is watching the anime that is currently ongoing will ... bother with this as the amount that has happened in 7 episodes is not worthy of a recap. The anime story is progressing slowly enough that you wouldn't be confused or not remember what has happened thus far.

I am giving it a five as it is still Solo Leveling which has been great so far, but this recap was completely unecessary and a waste of a weekly episode slot.

Score: 4 (Bad)

Nothing is precisely wrong with the episode, but it earns its score of 4 by being unnecessary. No one needs a recap of 6 20 minute episodes. This usually happens when there are problems behind the scenes meeting deadlines, and due to Japan's odd insistence that an episode must go on, the dreaded recap happens. Recap episodes can also be a warning of a quality drop in animation in some of the following episodes. Unfortunately that proved to be the case by an obvious production value decline in some of the fight scenes post recap.

The one spot a recap episode might actually serve ... a purpose would be following the final episode. At least then it could be used as a refresher before following seasons, but it will never happen considering recap episodes are the anime equivalent of getting an extension for a project at work or school. Shame.

This is what it purports itself to be, a recap episode.

Storywise, I think the series is at a good point for a break. If it allows the production team to prepare properly for the next episode, so be it. The animation quality has been top notch, there has to be a human cost behind it in order to achieve that level of quality. I hope A-1 is treating its animators right.

As for the episode, it is a good way to watch the first seven episodes again. If that is not for you, feel free to skip it and catch up with the season's other shows ... instead. This season is stacked with shows that a few gems might end up overlooked.

Regarding the recap episode of Solo Leveling,

I have to say that the review seems to underestimate its importance. Yes, I understand that for some viewers it may seem unnecessary or even annoying to watch an episode that reiterates already known events, but we must acknowledge that there are also advantages. For some of us, this episode provided the opportunity to revisit some key details of the story and to make deeper connections between events. Furthermore, for those who joined the series later or haven't followed every episode closely, this was a perfect opportunity to catch up with everything that has happened so far.

So, even ... though it's not to everyone's liking, I believe the recap episode had its merit and made a positive contribution to the deeper understanding and appreciation of the Solo Leveling universe.