Another week, another episode of Spice and Wolf. This episode we see Lawrence hunt for answers, Holo for some quality time and Fermi for a relationship. Will any of them succeed? Lets jump in and find out!
To start off let’s talk about my only issue with the episode: Flashbacks. There were a lot of them. Credit where it’s due, these flashbacks did serve a purpose. They not only reminded us of certain events but the events they referenced prepped us emotionally for the episode. They put us in a specific frame of mind to view the episode through. From the flashbacks to the sewers arc in Season 1 to their first meeting, etc, these all prime us to see how their relationship is currently being strained. Lawrence going out alone to hunt for answers, Holo’s concerns about traveling with a mortal, it all connects. But we also already know all of this. Maybe this is only a complaint because we literally just finished watching Season 1. However I couldn’t get over how annoying the flashbacks cutting into the story sometimes was.
Luckily, that’s the only negative I got.
As for the main story what better place to start than Lawrence’s aforementioned neglect? Back when I was reviewing Season 1 of Spice and Wolf I often talked about a “separation” arc. Something like the Coin fiasco, where Holo and Lawrence spent some time apart. Allowing them both to realize what they truly like about each other and fully accept their feelings. Season 1 never went down that route. However it seems like this first arc is shaping up to be a bit like that. Ever since coming to Kumersun Lawrence and Holo haven’t actually spent that much time together, for a variety of reasons. On Holo’s end it seems to be a bit of reticence. She’s nervous to really push the issue with Lawrence after what her presence caused in the trading houses and is afraid Lawrence will leave her. As for Lawrence, it’s a bit more complicated.
Lawrence clearly doesn’t mean to be avoiding Holo. In fact everything he does, he does for her sake. Searching for information on Yoitsu, learning local legends, figuring out a route and where to go, etc. He only leaves her out of it because he doesn’t want her to be hurt before he gets the full picture. But like many couples this lack of communication is causing problems. She thinks he’s avoiding her, doesn’t like her, etc. And with Lawrence’s general romantic ineptitude he clearly hasn’t picked up on any of this. And it’s not like he could take her with him even if he wanted to. That alchemists district clearly isn’t the nicest part of town and we saw how the trade guilds reacted to her back in Season 1. It’s a sad but simple fact that as a woman, especially one posing as a nun, Holo’s options are limited.
You know who’s aren’t limited though? Fermi. And just like I guessed last episode it seems as if he is going to become our antagonist of the arc. The kid was already positioning himself to try and get with Holo. But between Marks words about how hard the kid goes for something he wants and the little lie’s Holo told, I expect this to escalate. I suspect that Holo’s fib about being in debt to Lawrence is going to be what bites them in the ass. Maybe he tries to pay it all off or he could try and buy it from Lawrence, or maybe even spread some rumors about him. Alternatively Fermi might try and get Lawrence in trouble with the church, I don’t know. But something is going to happen and Fermi is going to be responsible. I just know it.
Don’t worry though because Fermi won’t be alone in causing problems. If anything I also suspect Lawrence to, once again, get caught up in another money making scheme. This time involving fools gold! I don’t know what plot, I don’t know how this will connect back to Fermi, I don’t know if it even will. But I have my suspicions. Spice and Wolf has generally been pretty good about its plot points all connecting together and I see no reason for that to stop now. As for the plot itself, like I said, I have no idea how Lawrence plans to make money with fortune tellers and pyrite. Maybe people in this town are just idiots? Most likely it will involve his new alchemist friends and Batos, a merchant specializing in metals. Hopefully this one doesn’t almost bankrupt our poor Lawrence.
Speaking of Batos and the alchemists, let’s take one last moment to talk about them! World building of their district, sorcery, books and legends aside, and it was all good, I enjoyed these scenes. It was fun hearing another legend about Holo without them knowing they were actually speaking about Holo. Giving us tidbits of her history coached as myth, explaining why she came south and also giving Lawrence a location. Kind of like how many myths and legends in real life can be connected back to the same events or characters simply given different names in different cultures. It also furthers the mystery of her homeland while introducing a new one: Who is the Moon-Eating Bear? Normally giving us more questions would be bad. But Spice and Wolf has been pretty good about giving us answers to the local plot while expanding on the overarching meta plot.
All in all I would say this was a pretty good episode of Spice and Wolf. I’m just as, if not more engaged than was in the First Season. I’m invested in these characters, the narrative feels tighter and I feel like we are actually going somewhere. I didn’t mind Season 1 roaming around the countryside but this certainly feels a lot nicer. All the while the overall production has improved dramatically. I cannot understate how much better this season of Spice and Wolf looks compared to the last. I don’t know why Imagin stopped making anime but maybe it was for the best. So yeah, you could say I’m enjoying this season. I already had to stop myself a few times from starting episode 3 until I finish this post. So knowing that, guess what I’m about to go do? See you next week!
Oh and before you go make sure to let me know how this season is treating you! Are you also enjoying the more focused narrative and cleaner presentation? Or is it missing some magic from the first season? Let me know below!
