Demon Slayer's Lack of Romance Is Worse Than Solo Leveling's

Few modern anime have captured mainstream attention like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Solo Leveling. Both series have been hailed for their stunning visuals, fast-paced action, and crowd-pleasing characters. Yet, despite their overwhelming popularity, each title suffers from the same glaring narrative flaw of a romance subplot that feels unearned, shallow, and nearly forgotten until the story’s conclusion.

The difference, however, lies in audience expectation. Solo Leveling has long been criticized for surface-level character work and action-first storytelling, so fans almost expected its romantic subplot to falter. Demon Slayer, on the other hand, is praised for its emotional depth and heartfelt character arcs. That’s why Tanjiro and Kanao’s rushed romance feels not just disappointing, but ten times worse than anything Solo Leveling ever attempted.

Solo Leveling’s Romance Was Always Doomed to Be an Afterthought

From the beginning, Solo Leveling was never marketed as a romance-driven story. Sung Jinwoo’s rise from weakest hunter to near-godlike hero was the clear focus, with relationships and side characters often orbiting around his growth. By the time Cha Hae-in appeared in the narrative, dozens of chapters had already passed, leaving her little room to evolve into a main figure.

Fans noticed immediately. Some argued that romance was unnecessary in a series about dungeons and leveling systems, while others felt cheated that Jinwoo’s supposed partner lacked meaningful development. The late introduction of Hae-in made it nearly impossible for readers to fully invest in her bond with Jinwoo, no matter how many small moments the author sprinkled in later.

Still, it’s worth noting that Solo Leveling didn’t completely ignore its romantic thread. By the story’s conclusion, Hae-in and Jinwoo share tender interactions and are a confirmed couple with a child. These moments don’t fully make up for the lack of foundation, but they stop the romance from feeling like pure window dressing. For a series built around spectacle rather than character nuance, that’s almost enough.

Demon Slayer’s Romance Feels Like a Betrayal of Its Own Strengths

If Solo Leveling’s romance was doomed from the start, Demon Slayer’s treatment of Tanjiro and Kanao feels far worse precisely because the series proved it could do better. From Zenitsu’s loud devotion to Nezuko to the detailed backstories of countless demon adversaries, Demon Slayer consistently showed its ability to flesh out relationships. That’s why Kanao’s lack of presence feels like such a missed opportunity.

Introduced early in both manga and anime, Kanao had all the makings of a major character. Her quiet strength, stoic demeanor, and tragic upbringing positioned her as someone who could stand beside Tanjiro as a true partner. Yet across arcs, she rarely appears, speaks, or develops in meaningful ways. For someone destined to become Tanjiro’s love interest, her absence is baffling.

By the time the Infinity Castle arc arrives, audiences are suddenly expected to accept Tanjiro and Kanao’s closeness without any prior investment. Unlike Jinwoo and Hae-in, who at least share multiple small but memorable interactions, Tanjiro and Kanao’s bond feels practically invisible until the last moment. For a series adored for its heartfelt connections, this rushed romance feels jarringly out of place.

Why the Mistake Hurts Demon Slayer More Than Solo Leveling

What makes Demon Slayer’s romance failure so glaring is the contrast with its other character arcs. Even Demon Slayer’s minor demons and characters receive lengthy flashbacks that humanize them and highlight their emotional stakes. Nezuko’s transformation and Inosuke’s backstory both receive far more attention than Kanao, a supposed pillar in Tanjiro’s personal journey.

Fans might excuse the lack of romance by pointing to Tanjiro’s age or the series’ focus on sibling love over romantic love. However, the narrative still chooses to end with Tanjiro and Kanao as a couple, implying that their bond was meant to matter all along. If that’s the case, Koyoharu Gotouge owed the audience more than a handful of brief, almost forgettable scenes.

Even worse, the anime adaptation has done little to repair this shortcoming. While Solo Leveling’s anime has added subtle expansions to Hae-in’s character, Demon Slayer’s adaptation has remained faithful to the manga’s limited depiction of romance. Rather than using animation as an opportunity to deepen Kanao’s presence, Ufotable has largely left her on the sidelines. The result is a romance that feels forced, underdeveloped, and inconsistent with the rest of the story’s emotional depth.

What Solo Leveling Did Right That Demon Slayer Ignored

Ironically, the series often derided as shallow actually handled its love interest more thoughtfully than Demon Slayer. By the later arcs, Jinwoo and Hae-in at least share moments of vulnerability and mutual respect in an established relationship. The anime has even taken steps to give Hae-in earlier introductions and more personality, patching over some of the manhwa’s weaknesses.

This proactive effort shows that Solo Leveling’s creators recognize the criticisms and are willing to adjust. They understand that, even if romance isn’t central to the story, it still matters to audiences when it’s presented as a defining bond for the protagonist. Hae-in may never rival the most iconic anime love interests, but she’s given enough dimension to avoid complete irrelevance.

By contrast, Demon Slayer appears to double down on sidelining Kanao. Fans who hoped the anime might explore her more deeply have been left waiting. Considering how much emotional payoff the series delivers elsewhere, the neglect of Tanjiro and Kanao feels less like an oversight and more like a contradiction. In short, Demon Slayer fell into the same trap as Solo Leveling, but without the excuse of being a story unconcerned with character growth.

Why This Matters for the Future of Shōnen Storytelling

Romance doesn’t have to be the centerpiece of every shōnen series, but when writers commit to pairing their heroes with someone, the relationship needs to feel earned. Otherwise, it risks undermining the emotional integrity of the story. That’s where Demon Slayer falters most, as it established itself as a series about empathy, bonds, and heartfelt connections, then failed to deliver one of its most important ones.

For future titles, both Solo Leveling and Demon Slayer provide cautionary tales. Romantic subplots can enhance even action-heavy stories, but only if given time, care, and development. Otherwise, they feel like afterthoughts, frustrating fans who expect more from beloved characters. If anything, the disappointment surrounding Tanjiro and Kanao’s romance should serve as a reminder that even the most visually spectacular anime cannot gloss over weak storytelling.

In the end, both Solo Leveling and Demon Slayer stumbled with their romantic subplots. Yet while Solo Leveling’s shallow handling of Sung Jinwoo and Cha Hae-in fits the series’ broader storytelling flaws, Demon Slayer’s neglect of Tanjiro and Kanao stands out as a deeper betrayal. For a series celebrated for its emotional storytelling, ignoring its central romance makes its mistake not just similar, but exponentially worse.

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  Created by

  Koyoharu Gotouge

  First Film

  Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train

  Latest Film

  Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training

  First TV Show

  Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

  Latest TV Show

  Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

  First Episode Air Date

  
  April 6, 2019
  

  Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a wildly popular anime and manga franchise created by Koyoharu Gotouge. Set in Taishō-era Japan, it follows Tanjiro Kamado as he battles demons and seeks a cure for his sister, Nezuko, who was turned into one. The franchise includes a manga, anime TV series, films, video games, and spin-offs. Known for its stunning animation and gripping storyline, Demon Slayer is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

  
  

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  Solo Leveling
  

  Release Date

  2024 – 2025-00-00

  Network

  Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, BS11, Tochigi TV

  Directors

  Tatsuya Sasaki, Toru Hamasaki

  Writers

  Shigeru Murakoshi, Shingo Irie, Fuka Ishii

  
  

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    Genta Nakamura

    Yoo Jin-ho