Last updated: September 27, 2026 · Verified against official and primary sources
Yes — episode 7.5 is a recap. Titled “How to Get Stronger,” it aired on February 24, 2024, and retells episodes 1 to 7 through Jinwoo’s narration with no new story.
You can skip it if you have watched the first seven episodes. It became one of Crunchyroll’s most disliked episodes, largely because of its mid-season timing.
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Title | How to Get Stronger |
| Aired | February 24, 2024 |
| Content | Recap of episodes 1–7 |
| Skip it? | Yes, if you watched 1–7 |
| Counts toward Season 1? | No |
Table of Contents
What Is Episode 7.5?
Episode 7.5 of Solo Leveling Season 1 is titled “How to Get Stronger”. It aired on February 24, 2024, in the slot where episode 8 was expected, and recaps the story so far through Jinwoo’s narration — from the weakest hunter alive to his new power and purpose.
It contains no new story. The anime’s official account announced it in advance as a recap, and episode 8 followed the next week on March 2, 2024.
Should You Skip It?
Yes, if you watched episodes 1 to 7. You will miss nothing that affects the plot.
It is useful in one situation: if you stopped partway through Season 1 and want a refresher before continuing. Otherwise, go straight from episode 7 to episode 8.
Why It Became Crunchyroll’s Most Disliked Episode
The reaction was immediate. Within days, the episode had roughly 65,000 to 70,000 dislikes against around 31,000 likes, making it one of the most disliked episodes in Crunchyroll’s history.
The timing drove most of the frustration. Viewers had waited a week after a cliffhanger, the season had only reached its midpoint, and the series had built unusually high expectations.
Why Recap Episodes Happen
Recaps exist to protect a production schedule without dropping a week from the broadcast. Solo Leveling’s action animation is labour-intensive — producers have cited around 220,000 frames across the first two seasons — and a recap buys time without cutting quality.
Some outlets also suggested concern for the health of Taito Ban, Jinwoo’s Japanese voice actor, as a factor. That was never officially confirmed, so we treat it as speculation.
Our read
The backlash was aimed at the wrong thing. A recap in week eight is annoying. A visibly rushed episode eight would have been worse, and would have stayed in the series permanently. The recap is the reason the second half of Season 1 looks the way it does.
Is It Counted in the Episode Total?
No. Season 1 is 12 episodes; 7.5 is a special that sits outside the numbering. Our full episode count lays out everything that has aired, and our streaming guide covers where to watch it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solo Leveling episode 7.5 filler?
Yes. “How to Get Stronger” is a recap of episodes 1 to 7 narrated by Jinwoo. It contains no new story.
Can I skip Solo Leveling episode 7.5?
Yes, if you have watched episodes 1 to 7. Go straight from episode 7 to episode 8.
When did episode 7.5 air?
February 24, 2024, in the slot where episode 8 was expected. Episode 8 aired the following week on March 2, 2024.
Why was episode 7.5 so disliked?
It was a recap at the season’s midpoint, after a week-long wait following a cliffhanger. It collected roughly 65,000 to 70,000 dislikes on Crunchyroll.
Does episode 7.5 count as part of Season 1?
No. Season 1 has 12 numbered episodes. Episode 7.5 is a recap special outside the numbering.
Sources
- Official Solo Leveling anime announcements
- Crunchyroll episode listing
- Contemporary coverage of the episode’s reception, February–March 2024
