Traveling merchant Kraft Lawrence continues his northward journey with wolf goddess Holo, in search of her lost home of Yoitsu. Lawrence and his sharp-witted partner continue to make some small profits along the way, while slowly uncovering more information about Holo's hometown. However, the road to Yoitsu is a bumpy one filled with many troubles—Lawrence runs into a charming young fellow merchant who has his eyes set on the female wolf companion, and he begins to doubt if Holo will remain by his side; he and the goddess will also have to consider precarious and risky business deals as Lawrence strives to achieve his dream of becoming a shopowner. All the while, with his determination tested at every turn during his journey, Lawrence must question his relationship with Holo, take on business ventures, and ask himself whether it is time for him and Holo to go their separate ways.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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KaminaKai
*A surprisingly successful sequel with emphasis on the romance between a man and a (cute) wolf.* As foreshadowed by the prequel OVA, Spice and Wolf II focus heavily on the romance aspect between our protagonists. By and large, this second adaptation has been regarded as equally successful as its predecessor (if not more successful). In terms of the light novels adaptation, it has been widely accepted for its accurate following of the “actual” story, unlike most anime adaptation. While previous knowledge of the series is not absolutely required to enjoy the show, it is highly recommended for viewers to watch the first season as well asthe OVA, which act as the prelude, before watching Spice and Wolf II. For those who wish to try this series with no previous background, here is a little summary of what to expect. Wordy. To be precise, the show is filled with dialogues from start to end, from episode one to episode twelve.
One common question people tend to have for this series often relates to the balance between romance and (merchant) trading. While there are still a decent dose of merchant-like business talks that may confuse viewers from time to time, the spotlight for this sequel seems to land on the character developments over anything else. Hence Horo and Lawrence fans will most likely enjoy the show much more than those who seek for nothing but story content (ie. business trades in medieval times).
The world of Spice and Wolf can often serve as a history textbook (that focuses on the medieval era in Europe). This is once again proven in the second season as viewers are exposed to the corrupted nature of the slave markets and the power of churches at the time. Although the inspiration of merchant trade has been greatly diminished, the believable surroundings of the medieval setting make this anime still interesting to watch even for those who are not too into the romance aspect of the show.
The character department, without doubt, is the selling point this season. Lawrence, for once, no longer seems like an undefeatable merchant. While viewers may remember him as a successful businessman, particularly when it comes to negotiation during trade, in season one. Many of us will be surprised to see that Lawrence, ultimately, is still a human being and thus he must also have his illogical and “stupid” moments especially when it comes to something he has no experience with. Something called love.
The animation this season is by Brains Base (as oppose to IMAGIN which was responsible for the previous season). There are some very minor changes in the character facial expressions and sometimes their looks at various angles, but overall the quality is similar to the first season and there is no reason for one to be disappointed with it. Re-using a quote from my review on the OVA, “For the most part, one can safely say Brains Base did a great job in taking over the series”.
Seiyu are the same as before with Jun Fukuyama being Kraft Lawrence and the lovely Ami Koshimizu acting as the equally lovable Horo (can’t get enough of that thick “Horo-only” accent). Other notable great seiyu that took part in this season include Romi Paku, and Saeko Chiba. In terms of music, the OP and ED are quite enjoyable and the BGM generally suit the particular scene in the question reasonably well. On the whole, this anime is still unique just like its predecessor. However, the big twist this season is the more intense character relationship developments rather than the merchant trading. In hindsight, there seems to be a certain lack of cleverness in plot development. But then again, the various Horo x Lawrence moments are enough to make up for that.
Ranivus
For those reading this review w/o finishing the first season will be spoiled so be forewarned This anime continues where the last one left off, Horo and Lawrence slowly make their way to Horo's hometown. Along the way they happen upon various opportunities for profit and gain useful knowledge. All that while trying to keep a strong relationship between a human and a goddess. Some also might wonder if this can stand up against the hype from the fame of the last series. I can easily tell you it does, but with one Achilles heel.... Its definitely not story or the cast that brings this show downfrom a perfect 10, its the bad decision to use a completely different production companies to fill in place of the original greats Imagin (animation) and Studio Bihou (Background art). But at the very least keep Studio Bihou as this is what made Spicy Wolf 1 extra special. The animation in S&W2 would appear perfectly the same as before except you will notice many mistakes upon viewing, such as awkward angles, skinny limbs turn to fat limbs, back ground characters, and other minor/major details. Albeit not as exact as the original, it still provides that spice and wolf feel.
If the story of Horo and Lawerence are the heart of the show, the background art would have to be the soul of the show. Amazing amounts of detail were made in S&W1. If you rewatch it, you WILL see things that you haven't seen before. Sadly, the 'soul' of the show appears to be bland, lifeless, and uninhabited. So many angry feelings bubble up when i saw how many simple angles and lines are in one show. Towns don't look like towns. They more resemble a horrible copy paste job that does not fit any point of view angle at all. Small intricate details like wheat in wheat fields or cobblestones appear to be nonexistent. It indeed does hinder the experience considerably. But I am confident you will oversee all the faults once you realize that this story is after all, Spice and Wolf 2.
Lawrence is still very 'crafty' (heh) and Horo is still foxy as ever. Now that their feelings are more established, we will see more character progression this time around and this alone trumps anything a bad artist can draw up. Most of their emotions are still worn on their sleeves, but now they start to rely on each other implicitly. It's just a wonderful thing to see Lawrence and Horo interact with each other. Like a young boyfriend and girlfriend scheming to do things their way no matter how crazy it may seem. You will also notice how much these two characters have grown from before. For better or worse it does make the chemistry between them much more intense. The acting between the two is something of pure win as you will laugh, cry, and everything in between. Such a play on emotions is also a clever way of dissuading the viewer of thinking one way or another when a choice or problem arises for the fearless duo.
This will definitely lead the viewer to varying degrees of thinking about the outcome. Its a formula that definitely works great with a mercantile anime. These situations that they face definitely appear to be more difficult than before and it is apparent through the first story arc. It might be because the stronger relationship between the two or just the trading is more intense. Either way, it will leave you wanting for more. Not in a shounen anime sort of way but more like a good book you just can't put down.
Everything pertaining to the light novel appears as anime gold and everything pertaining to animation production (sans the seiyuu cast) seems to have slipped considerably. Do not let the downgrade fool you though, this is till a very solid iteration to Spice and Wolf.
As a side note: you will love Training With Horo (S&W2 special #2)
GonzyChan
Continuing a beloved series and making it better can be a challenging task to take. This is not much of a problem for anime that are step-by-step adaptations of any source medium. Spice and Wolf, if you don’t know, is one series that won me over from the previous season. Likewise, I was hoping that this 2nd season would have the same positive impact that the 1st season did on me. While it is not better than the first season in many aspects, it possesses the same fascinating qualities that the 1st season had, with a few improvements to the original. It is impossible to reviewa sequel to a show you’ve already reviewed before without writing similar thoughts on certain aspects. It is important to note these aspects from the previous title and determine whether they improved overtime or not. These include how the character progression has matured and whether the plot arcs are just as entertaining or thought-provoking.
To start, our lovable duo, Kraft Lawrence and Holo, continue their journey to besting the world of mercantile and business ventures to survive the political landscape. In the beginning, we see these two start their relationship as people who don’t immediately have one that is romantic. It was one that still had a sense of distrust, but they still wanted to have a friendship to work out each other’s problems they are having. With the 2nd season and the amount of development both Kraft and Holo had together, they flourished into blossoming partners that have a great connection to one another. It all works because the pacing of their growth is logically slow and based on realistic expectations.
That connection seems inseparable in hindsight, due partly to the brilliant dialogue both Holo and Kraft share. Then that connection soon fades when, in one plot arc, they go there their separate ways because of a fierce argument with each other. What makes this significant is that the relationship is powerfully written that when you see these two characters break off from that connection, you can feel nothing but despair watching it fold through. Emotional investment from observing feelings in a show growing into fleshed-out characters is vital to achieving when you want the audience to care for them in the first place. Spice and Wolf did it brilliantly in the first season, and yet they managed to mold it into something riveting that pulls our emotions without the need to manipulate them.
As far as the plot is concerned, there is no sense of improvement or decline in quality in terms of writing. In season 2, there are higher stakes in the amount of depth they put into the troubles of mercantile that Kraft has to face head-on. Kraft uses language that people, who are not necessarily experts in economic jargon, might have difficulty wrapping their heads around. Here, we finally see some critical progress towards a romance in Holo and Kraft’s relationship. The only negative that came of this is how they executed it in a somewhat out-of-character moment that didn’t feel in line with the show's tone as a whole.
Yes, I know this review ends on a relatively short note, but that is because I reviewed the first season in great detail. So it would be pointless to rehash similar arguments I have on the art and music because they have no change in quality whatsoever. In other words, they are all magnificent to experience whether you started on the 1st season or not. However, you have to start with the 1st season to gain preconceived notions about what is going on. That is unless you want to watch it for the glorious Holo cuteness, which I can’t blame anyone who has that reason.
Grade: A
Truearagon
First of all, I must say this is my 1 review, so I lack of experience, and my English is not the best, but here are my appointments. I don't find words to describe how good was this anime, was a totally new experience, never tought this anime will be like that, so emotional and funny in the same time, so deep when we talk about simple things, that happens in my life everyday, for example, the story of the wagon when is lock on a rock in a road, when we have to thing all the bad things andgood things, to make a worth decision, leave the wagon behind or take the risks and push the wagon fast as possible to don't be assault.
The other thing I must say about this anime, is the relationship between this two, The greatest thing about this anime, is the main characters for sure, They are so well done, the are not boring, they don't are like the typical characters in a novel romance you see everyday, they seem real! All the small
things, the jokes, the spontaneous hugs, all that stuff make me angry deep inside, cause i feel so jealous about them. For me the best relationship of love have not be perfect, to be true with myself, it cant be, cause what make you love someone? Is not the imperfect things of a person that make you love her?
All that make me rate this Anime with a 9. Not masterpiece, because the final make upset to be honest, just a little, I was curious about Horo past, and the anime finish off without answering me all the questions about her past, I cant forget the origin of the journey of them, was all because of her home, I know her city was destroyed, but I know too that she wanted to go anyway to her place.
Finally I think everyone should see this 2 seasons of Ookami to Koushinryou, is just too good, too memorable, too different to just avoid.
Hotak
Compared to the first season i was very disappointed. I was hoping for a second season that flowed the same as the first season and it simply did not. I wont go into too much detail but literally half of the season they are in one town, just one town! And just trying to make one deal! I was hoping for alot more on the road travel and scenery. Not a lot of romance, dragged out scenarios, over drama in my opinion. If a season 3 comes out maybe i will feel better but at the moment i am sorely disappointed.
Thisvthattv
*This is a non-spoiler review of both seasons of Spice and Wolf When I first found out about Spice and Wolf I was skeptical. I had heard that the series revolved around monetary and economic principles, and wondered how entertaining a like that could be. I’d also heard that there was a lot of dialog in this this series. I feared that I would be bored by discussions about economics that I’m not particularly interested in. I’m very glad to say that I was dead wrong about this series. Spice and Wolf managed to take topics I cared nothing about, and make them very entertaining andinteresting.
Story:
The story stars two main characters, a traveling merchant named Kraft Lawrence, and a wolf goddess named Holo. The story is about their journey to find Holo’s homeland, while trying to make some money along the way. As stated earlier, the story has a lot to do with economic and monetary principles, but the best part of the story is the interaction between Lawrence and Holo. The dialog between the two is funny and witty. Through their experiences and verbal exchanges you get to see the steady progression of their relationship. My main issue with the story is the ending, because there really isn’t one. The last season concludes before they reach the end of their journey, and in order to learn the rest of the story you’ll have to read the light novels. Which is disappointing considering how much I enjoyed the story, and since there most likely will never be a third season.
Animation:
The animation in the series is good. The backgrounds are really well done and, at times, it felt like I was looking at watercolor paintings. The scenes look fantastic, and really fit the atmosphere the show is trying to portray. The characters are also animated well. Spice and Wolf’s animation feels like it has its own style. The way the backgrounds and characters come together fit really well.
Sound:
The sound in Spice and Wolf is fantastic. The sound track is varied and sets the mood for the scenes very well. The music can be bright and cheerful, but also can be really somber and melancholy. It also helps to immerse you in to the middle ages setting of the show. The music sounds like something that something that you might hear at a renaissance fair, which is a good thing. The openings and endings in this show are really well done, and fit the show both lyrically and sonically. The first ending was so catchy it was stuck in my head for days.
Characters:
The characters in Spice and Wolf are what make the story, and the series, work so well. The interactions between the characters take up a majority of the show, and this is fine because that is the most interesting part. The dialog between the characters not only advances the plot, but it also serves as the story’s source of humor. While Lawrence doesn’t have the most interesting motivations or backstory, he is very likeable character. This is partly because he is good at what he does, which is being a merchant, and also partly because he is a very smart character. Holo, who is one of, if not, my favorite female anime characters compliments him really well. This is not only because she is a smart character, but also because she doesn’t really fit any female anime stereotypes. While there maybe times where she falls into those stereotypes in the series, those are temporary and don’t change how she acts as a character. Both of the main characters are well rounded and interesting to watch. The side and supporting characters in this series are also good. They are given a good amount of screen time, and their motivations and backgrounds are explained pretty well.
Enjoyment:
I really enjoyed watching Spice and Wolf. Even though the show has a lot of dialogue, I didn’t get bored while I was watching this series. I found conversations between the characters, even the ones about economics, to be very interesting.
Verdict & Breakdown:
Story: 4.2/5
Animation: 3.8/5
Sound: 4/5
Characters: 4.4/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Verdict: 4.1/5
Spice and Wolf isn’t a typical anime. With its unique premise and characters Spice and Wolf is enjoyable from start to finish.
Lady_Day
I just need to preface this review with the fact that I have an intense love in my heart for analytical, deep thinking and outside of the box "anything". I had such, such high hopes for this show. I mean, I poured through the reviews, and I was so freaking PUMPED. I was that kid who was obsessed with games on building, trading...empires...history... By the end of the 2nd season I was just F***** PISSED. The first season was sheer dent of will...this was a crucibal. I really had to sit back an question the tastes of people and their anime, and really could notwrap my head around all these stellar 9/10 reviews. There were so many glaring problems with this show, I just... can't. I do not mind slow. I can even suffer through boring. Monologues, sure why not? But this show really made me want to "reclaim my time". I cannot stand wishy-washy bi-polar a** characters and the femme fatale here just makes you want to punch a baby in the face. Yeah... I freaking said it. This show had so much hope and promise, but these sadistic a**hats (writers) have created something that was "breathtaking" and not in a good way...
Even if this was written with the "times" in mind in regards to humor and how things were laid out, I found myself wanting to rip my hair out from the lack of effing cohesion! You picked up some neat trading tidbits, but even half of that ish wasn't believable... furs become exponentially more expensive because they smell like f****** apples, and it could be used as a "tactic"... give me a f****** break...She is supposed to be the wise wolf yet she acts like a petulant child 90% of the time with 0 emotional control... he has fallen in love with a maniacal and abusive tyrant with a jacked up sense of justice ... *mega eye roll*... I was not going to leave a review because I was so disgusted, but after a few weeks, I just could not let this crap stand without throwing some spaghetti at the wall and hoping it sticks....
The only reason this show is not rated a 1 is that I totally respect the effort it took to tie this many threads of history together for educational purposes.
lawlmartz
Vulnerability is the essence of romance. It's the art of being uncalculated, the willingness to look foolish, the courage to say, 'This is me, and I'm interested in you enough to show you my flaws with the hope that you may embrace me for all that I am but, more important, all that I am not.' Nope, not a Tennyson quote. This one by Ashton Kutcher, of all people. I never would have guessed, myself. What do we think of when we hear the word romance? A vision of a couple sitting in the sunset, fingers intertwined, lips together? A complex, irrevocable, inimitable bond formed betweentwo people over time? Perhaps something as goofy as even Mr. Krabs and his money (you can't tell me that's not true love). No matter your idea of the term- there are basic tenets of romance that everyone can agree upon- the building of a relationship between two people out of mutual respect and love for each other.
As my muse Mr Plinkett once said, "I'm no expert on relationships, as most of mine have ended in several large trash bags" but I'm going to do my best to analyze what it is about Spice and Wolf that makes it an exemplary romance anime, and what sets it apart from others in the genre. First, I must pose a question, though. Like the concept of romance as a nebulous term, everyone who's seen any romance based anime has expectations of them.
I would pose this question: is the bar set so low in romance anime that even a modicum of realism in terms of how the relationship is formed and nurtured is perceived as a romantic masterpiece? Is our idea of what a romance in anime should be like so skewed that when something comes along with even a small amount of something believable that's not "5 girls fall in love with a guy and he chooses none of them after solving their problems", that we think it's the most romantic thing since pick-a-Jane Austen?
I'm seeing Spice and Wolf through this lens. It stands with authority among the best romance anime I've seen, but I've seen heralded romance anime that are supposedly notable examples- but it's a shallow, childlike romance- like your first middle school relationship with that girl who makes you sign a contract of things you can and can't do, which may or may not include talking to, or even looking at other girls, and you have to text her after EVERY class and sit with her at lunch, and walk her to the breezeway to get picked up.
Wait, is real life getting in the way again? Whoops.
But, like my silly example of a middle school romance- romance anime seemingly follow a checklist like my 7th grade girlfriend's contract - a list of things they need to contain to be a "successful romance" anime. Or, as most people know it- the formula for "AUGH, MY FEELS".
Spice and Wolf, fortunately, takes a turn away from the formulaic, and trailblazes down a largely uncharted path of showing how a slowly nurtured relationship develops and evolves over time- no one is thrown into action immediately. (Fans of the falling on boobs, prepare to be disappointed. Lawrence doesn't have a seizure when he sees his lady friend naked (multiple times) nor does he act like he's being electrocuted when she touches him). They even remark about that in episode 11 of the 2nd half, where Holo says that "you don't even tremble slightly when I lay against you anymore".
No, it starts off small, like real life. An awkward introduction turns into a friendship. A partnership emerges, and trust is built. A budding romance is born, but it's not without its tenuous and fragile moments. Real insecurities such as defining the relationship, jealousy, learning how to give your partner space, and knowing when and how to talk with them when they're pissed off, sad, drunk, or acting crazy, plus a myriad things that happen to real couples appear in the series- and aren't dismissed with laughing it off. No, the show treats its audience with some respect and maturity, trusting that they're able to watch people act like real people- not a cookie cutter feel good romance. There are moments where Holo and Lawrence are legitimately angry or put out with each other, and it very well could be the last time they see each other- and how they deal with that- forgiveness, rage, acceptance, rejection, all of these make an appearance- as it would with a real couple.
No one is smitten at first sight- no love is declared within the first half hour of our characters having met. No, their circumstance of being together develops entirely of their own volition, not out of any convenience by the writers as an excuse to shove in romance. It's a fact, that audiences love the tease, the threat, the promise, the unspoken between two romantic partners- and that when the moment finally happens- whether it's the achievement of couple status, the first kiss, marriage, or whatever the goal may be- there's a relief in the audience that their wishes (or perhaps to the contrary) have been fulfilled in the characters. The buildup of tension (sexual or otherwise), emotion, and sometimes frustration is all paid off at some point in romances.
Take Star Wars Episode V for example. The budding romance of Han and Leia from A New Hope reaches a height of nearly tangible tension when Han is taken prisoner by the Empire and they finally confess their love for each other- despite having shared a first kiss and plenty of sexual tension in the preceding 3 hours of film between the two movies. It's a very real and raw moment, with Leia never knowing if she'll ever see the man that she's grown to love again, and there's not much she can do about it. Find me a moment like that in an anime not named Spice and Wolf, and we'll talk.
To its credit, the romance is largely between the lines. Outward displays of affection are great as visual aids- but in this case, show, not tell. It's in how Lawrence and Holo edge closer together through their experiences throughout the show, in their growth as partners, their verbal sparring and teasing, their mutual respect and trust, and in the contrast between how traumatic and peaceful/happy events shape their relationship.
So is the bar for romance just set really low, and that puts Spice and Wolf high up the list, or is it that it's just a really good romance? I'd say that because of the care and maturity with which the story is handled, that this goes above and beyond any other anime by showing a true love story between adults, and not a childish, shallow tale of middle school romance with a checklist, physical attraction, or convenience. Any one episode of Spice and Wolf has more actual romantic content in it than almost any other show I've ever seen.
Enough about that sap, though. Excuse me, I just need to close off the spigot and dump the bucket of sap i just drained out, and get to the real pulp of the show now.
In terms of how the story is presented and the artwork- the art is serviceable- but far from being Akira or anything. Having undergone a studio change between seasons and more than a year between the airdates is certainly not the best for a show, but the quality improves somewhat between where Imagin left off and Brain's Base picks up, without being jarring. What is jarring, however, is the pacing, particularly in the first season. It has a lot of weird jump cuts that will throw you off at least twice every other episode. They try to do the "rosebud' thing couple times, and it just doesn't work for the story they're trying to tell. There are also breaks where you can tell there was a commercial edited out (and this wasn't some bootleg, either) and the return shot is completely different, like you missed half a scene.
The music however, is excellent. The little madrigal insert tune works perfectly with the atmosphere, and there's a lot of Baroque and Renaissance style music- with heavy solo/quartet vocalists and frequent use of violin.
Spice and Wolf is set in the 1450s, a time that was honestly pretty crappy to live in. Life expectancy in the Renaissance era was approximately 35-40, and despite the advances to come in medicine (ayo Leonardo Da Vinci with the autopsy) life was short, brutal, and hard. Lawrence enjoys relative wealth as a merchant, but the show doesn't shy away from showing that life isn't always peachy with the threats of death and the consequences of being in debt or broke- but all that glitters is gold, and for a merchant of the times- that was your (short) life's work. With the church and the inquisition out to get you if they discover you sheltering a witch (read: Holo the Wise Wolf girl), vicious, greedy trading companies and guilds trying to rip you off, dangerous bands of thieves and wild animals threatening on the country roads between towns, and the chance of just going broke serve to provide a compelling period drama that's surprisingly accurate and representative. The treatment of women as near-property, slavery being a shockingly normal thing in addition to self imposed indentured servitude, the consequences of being broke, or worse, in debt, and the church being the ruling governmental body are also certainly signs of the times- and provide a realistic backdrop onto which the story is set.
The show is also known for its presentation of economics... and as far as I know, is probably the only anime that's tackled economics as a main theme for the plot. The story's drama revolves largely around tension and dramatic moments from Lawrence taking risks for huge payoffs involving contractual obligations, market manipulations, credit, money exchanging, and some other Renaissance era innovations in trade and finance come into play, making Spice and Wolf, at times somewhat of an info-tainment show. As an economics major myself, I can verify that the premises in the show are generally valid, if fairly basic. Someone did their homework, anyway.
All told, Spice and Wolf is a unique show, blending a mature romance with an economics based theme to tell a period drama with convincing results. They sold me on it, anyway.
BanjoTheBear
(This has been adapted from my reddit thread) Thinking back to the different relationships that I've formed over the years, it's pretty easy to tell when I'm truly close to someone. Whether this be my younger brother, my best friend, or my greatest lover, there is a distinct connection that I share with them that is incredibly hard to emulate and even describe. Instead, people have to experience this feeling for himself or herself. It's not something that is gained by resting on one's laurels; like everything else, developing this relationship takes considerable time, effort, and a smidgen of luck. In Spice and Wolf 2, weget to see this special connection blossom, making it one of the best anime-viewing experiences in my short career.
STORY
Spice and Wolf 2 more or less begins where Spice and Wolf 1 left off. Lawrence and Holo, continuing their journey, arrive at the next city in hopes of discovering information pertaining to Holo's origins.
The first season did two things quite well: depict the economic side to trading and establish the relationship between Lawrence and Holo. Here again, these ideas are well under way. In terms of economy, we get to see aspects of supply and demand and the troubles brought about by taxes and tariffs. On the lover side of things, our couple's relationship continues to move forward through their everyday interactions. But this time, the second season does something even more significant. And that is using both money and love to drive each side forward. As an analogy, think of it as a see-saw; when one side sees movement, so does the other. In other words, the economy isn't just there as a vessel for plot-points. Instead, its actually used to drive Lawrence's and Holo's relationship to even greater heights. This is also true for the opposite end; Lawrence and Holo use their care and love for one another to bring about success in the business deals they get into.
One of the better components of the series is the explanations behind all of the business transactions. This time, the same occurs, but there is even more attention to detail when it comes to the explanations behind everything. The show often used "mini-flashbacks" in conjunction with the relevant dialogue to better let the audience understand where these ideas were coming from. These flashbacks are also used outside of the deals; when Lawrence or Holo allude to previous conversations or dealings, it was nice to have those "Oh, yea!" moments so that I could more readily follow everyone's trains of thought. Overall, using this technique and even just better writing, the show did an even greater job of explaining everything that the anime had to offer.
Something that the show does quite masterfully is also quite difficult to do. This is in making the audience feel the emotions that the characters are experiencing. At certain moments during this second season, the characters go through varied states: panic, despair, happiness, sorrow. While it's arguably easy to just showcase these separate emotions, it's another beast entirely to be able to make someone feel the same way when he or she has no relation to that character's current predicament. As an example, when Lawrence is in the market attempting to sell his fool's gold, the story sets up the situation in such a fantastic way, that you begin to honestly feel how he does at every turn; panic when waiting for a certain someone, confusion at the continually rising prices, content when he realizes that what he's needed has been nearby all along. It's beautifully done throughout the season, and should be looked at as an example for such well-done execution.
Spice and Wolf 1 was, analytically, a presentation of trust and everything that it entails. Trust plays a role in this season as well, but season two focuses on something else; hope. Going analytical once more, one of the show's purposes this time around is to demonstrate the idea that hope, while existential, is something that's not only wanted but something that's desperately needed. The season is split primarily into two arcs: the fool's gold arc and the fur arc. Both feature characters, Amarty and Eve respectively, who's ultimate saving grace is that hope will allow them to see their plans come to fruition. Even more important is in how hope ties to Lawrence and Holo. For Mr. Spice, it's the hope of opening that shop, the hope of striking it big wherever he goes. For Mrs. Wolf, it's the hope of finding her home, the hope that she will never be lonely again. Hope is interesting because it is there at almost all times but is one of the easiest things to be snatched away. And in this second season, they capture the essence of what hope is wonderfully.
ANIMATION
The art and animation for Spice and Wolf Season Two is a considerable improvement from season one for three distinct reasons: crisper design, better environments, and "camera" direction.
During the show, and comparing it to its counterpart, it becomes somewhat obvious how much cleaner a lot of the animation and art is. It doesn't feel "old" anymore, for starters. The characters themselves look more detailed, their animations are improved slightly (this is especially the case for Holo), and there is generally more "action" going on per scene. Once again, there is a lot of talking that goes on, but this potential stall in animation is alleviated by the camera work, which I will get to shortly.
While watching the second season, I also felt as if the show was better able to capture more distinct settings or environments. For the most part, season one typically felt more or less the same atmospheric-wise. This time, however, the show incorporates better mood creating: cool autumn sunsets, serene nights, and gloomy overcasts. It mostly helps to give the world more detail besides it being just day or night, so this addition was quite welcomed.
Finally, the camera work. I started noticing this more closely as it was happening. Spice and Wolf 2 does a great job of using the camera to its advantage. While it does do single-face shots, it also changes the formula up quite a bit. It uses low shots, panning shots, wide-shots, and more intricate ones such as far shots and "one-on-one" shots, where the camera rotates between characters who are facing off against one another. This seems like something rather arbitrary to bring up, but many shows don't take into account that the "camera" is a tool to be used for the anime's advantage in order to create better detail and atmosphere. Thankfully, season two is not one of them.
For argument's sake, besides these three new additions, everything else that was done well in season one was carried over. It still feels like an era where bartering is the go-to method, the town feels like a community, and Lawrence's and Holo's character designs feel right. These feelings were already established, but seeing it not tampered with is a sign of good artistic direction.
CHARACTERS
Spice and Wolf Season Two introduces two rather significant side characters, Amarty and Eve. I'll talk briefly about them, but like last time, I will focus majorly on Lawrence, Holo, and the relationship they share.
Amarty is a young man looking to prove himself in the world of merchants. Cunning, intelligent, and knightly, his actions are seemingly simple. But the implications he has behind what he does are far greater than what most people realize, and by the time they do, it's usually already too late. Amarty's presence in the story serves one major purpose: to let Holo understand how important Lawrence is to her.
Eve is a woman who is initially shrouded in mystery. "Friendly," wise, and formidable, her past experiences shape her to be outwardly cold and inwardly hostile. It's difficult to get a read on her, not only because of the way she dresses but also in the way she talks and handles herself during conversations. Like Amarty, yet contrasting him as well, she serves one major purpose: to let Lawrence understand how important Holo is to him.
Keeping these two purposes in mind, let's jump to our main duo. Lawrence is the man of the hour. Witty, determined, and as good-natured as ever, he loves to talk, investigate, and tease Holo on a daily basis. In season one, his characterization was about realizing that its not about profiting but about not losing. Season two narrows this focus even more; it's not about just losing, it's about losing Holo.
Holo is, once again, the star of the show. More playful than ever before, relishing in teasing Lawrence not on a daily basis but on an hourly basis, she brings about good humor and incredibly romantic moments. At the same time, we also get to witness incredibly uncharacteristic sides to Holo that, like her aversion to loneliness, help to make her be even more human. Along the same lines as Lawrence, season one was about her being afraid of becoming alone. Once again, this focus narrows further into not just becoming alone but losing Lawrence along the way.
Taking all of this into account -- Amarty's and Eve's purposes and Lawrence's and Holo's newfound passion -- what we discover is a beautiful and charming relationship that nearly fully blossoms between peddler and wolf. The circumstances they find themselves in form stunning amounts of emotion from both parties, but their ability as characters to respect, remember, and reflect upon what occurs between them allows them to come to their respective realizations. The beginning of their journey saw the creation of their relationship. The middle part here pushed it to the very brink between extremely close companion and lover for life. Such a development (not having it fully come to a head) works well here because such a climax honestly should take place during the climax of the series; namely the ending to their journey. As it stands, the second season is another fine example for when it comes to love and how to properly expand upon and further develop it.
SOUND
If I'm speaking from the heart, season two's OP is not as good as season one's OP, but that isn't really saying much considering how incredibly well-done the first one is. This time, the OP starts off extremely calming, giving off a false-sense of safety that contrasts nicely with the anime. By the half-way point, it picks up tempo, bringing about delicate singing that is pleasing to hear.
The ED, likewise, pales in comparison to season one's ED, but again that's not saying much. Once more, it's quite upbeat and follows Holo's theme of, "play now, play always." I think besides being a cute little song, it actually serves its purpose rather well, namely that it further outlines why the two of them, Lawrence and Holo, will be together forever.
The soundtrack is in top-form once again, with the flute playing and the high-tension violin. Along with the more instrumental/old-time-y bar music, the sound pieces really help to captivate the audience and place us in the world it is trying to convey.
Voice-acting wise, I will say that Holo's VA, Ami Koshimizu, grew on me. The acting performance itself is nothing downright spectacular, but I don't think I'll ever be able to hear a similar voice from her or anyone else again and not immediately think about the lovable wolf-goddess.
ENJOYMENT
Probably my favorite moment from the show is when Holo removes the "spell" placed on Lawrence, and everything that follows it for the next five minutes. It's heart-warming, comedic, and romantic all in one stroke. While these types of feelings only make up about half of the show, when they are there, it's quite the joyful experience.
When the first arc concluded, I actually got pretty mad at myself for doubting certain things that were going on. It's pretty funny to me how these 2-D characters that will really never exist in corporeal form are able to elicit immense feelings just by acting in particular ways, either good or bad.
As with season one, I often found myself re-watching certain scenes to make sure I caught the little details, such as Holo's nuanced mannerisms or how certain deals would be handled. This time, I actually re-watched an entire episode because I had that much fun going through it. Beyond that, I was also looking up plot synopses and comparing certain sub-groups because I was having way too much fun indulging in the anime.
In the end, Spice and Wolf Season Two is the second installment to a trilogy. It's funny, dramatic, romantic, and memorable due to it's interesting story-telling and more importantly its unique characters. Like all anime, it isn't without its flaws. But it's as close to a masterpiece as you are going to get.
SUMMARY
Story: Great, money and love serve one another, while hope shines through
Animation: Great, visuals, setting, and camera work are on point
Characters: Great, supporting cast develop the mains, Lawrence and Holo are as fantastic as ever
Sound: Great, good OP and ED, good soundtrack, nice VA work
Enjoyment: Great, one of the best couples in anime
Final Score: 10/10
ravenrage
After an epic final in the first season which left me stunned. I was expecting the second season to slow down and turn more romantic. Found out i am right, but the mercantile stuff is still going strong and there is even a merchant duel on par with death note quality. Backstabbing and market values etc. It all returns in its great glory! At start, the first episode gave me an impression of "Hmm... it's turned soft." But at the same time it was nice too see the cute side of our heroes. But it doesn't take long before they leave the town in episode 2and move out. That is when i got the magic feeling as i had when watching season 1! The gorgeous nature scenery returns as does the merchant drama. But this season also focuses on the relationship between our heroes, there are more frequent blushes and silly episodes. Towards the end it was all going out of hand and i litteraly begged for a good ending!
The story in this one is a continuation, there is no episodic feel to this series. Each episode flows nicely and the plot twists never stop to surprise you. Although it's not as epic as the first season, it's a good one which manages to keep the same magic feeling you had during season 1.
Art is even more polished in this so this can only be better than season 1. Nature scenery is gorgeous and characters are drawn well. They have managed to keep the unique personalities and showing us new sides of them which we didn't get in season 1.
Sound effects is improved. Furious door bashing that made me turn my head around to see if it was my door. The music in this one borrows many of the same songs from first season, but some new ones are there which is nice for a change. The opening is slow paced like the first one but more beautifull than epic. Ending song is also good.
As for characters. They have the same voice actors which is a big relief. Unlike other animes where the cast and studio is changed which ruins everything. The characters turn to their soft sides more often now and even the wolf girl seems weak sometimes. Characters are deep and lovable. And the male protagonist is still an idiot sometimes.
I enjoyed this almost as much as season 1. I felt like i was watching the same anime but in season 2 there is many changes, but those are changes done in a way that it felt just like season 1. Something you RARELY find in anime sequels, which tend to turn worse than the first season.
The characters returns to themselves and seing a cute relationship unfold is always nice. The merchant drama, marked values, mercantile stuff also returns, although it's relationship that is the big focus this time. All in all this was an excellent sequel which didn't dissapoint! The first episode was a letdown as i watched this in a marathon. I was still pumped and excited from the ending of season 1. But don't let the first episode fool you, season 2 turns great already on the next episode!
Hubbz
This is the first review I have ever written on anime, however, that is only testament to the fact that I have never been so moved by one. Spice and Wolf's greatness stems from the fact that they do not pander to the lowest common denominator. Spice and Wolf does not intend to be an extremely popular anime, what it intends to, and succeeds in doing is being the very best anime for a niche audience. Story: 9.5/10 The creators obviously spent countless hours studying and researching the economics, politics, culture, religion, and ethics of the time, not to mention the setting and society. Their workshines through brilliantly throughout the story. Even those who consider themselves knowledgeable in history will be delighted to learn some things themselves throughout the story. The sole reason the score is not 10 is because it is overshadowed by the character development.
Art: 10/10
The art style throughout the series is brilliantly subtle, to say the least. Slight blushes by characters, single frame hints, and even body movement, the attention to detail and subtlety in this is simply incredible. They certainly did not cut corners here, they went above and beyond. The art subtly tells the viewer entire stories within of itself. The artists respect the viewer and consider them perceptive and smart enough to pick up on the slightest movements or actions of the characters, which manages to add to the story and fit in perfectly, as, in the merchant world, the characters must be perceptive of those that they are working with.
Sound: 10/10
Period-appropriate sound was a big gamble, but it paid off incredibly, the BGM nearly always fits in with the scene, and contributes to the story. It both scares you and consoles you throughout the series and it is very rarely done so masterfully. The reason this is not 11/10 is because a select few scenes, I felt the music was not appropriate for the situation, however, I very might well be mistaken.
Character: 11/10
This is simply the best character development I've ever seen, and it will be disappointing return to other anime. This is the real substance of the anime, and if you ignored the entire story, the character development alone would still be brilliant. The romance of this story does not pander to the common tropes, it does not develop overnight, it grows slowly and realistically. The hard work in the Sound and Art departments pays off as it manages to not be overshadowed by the impeccable character development, it even contributes to the development. The development has highs and lows that will leave you always wanting more and never disappointed.
Enjoyment: 10/10
This anime is not for everyone, because it was not made for everyone. It is a rather mature anime and younger audiences may not get nearly as much enjoyment out of it. However, if you have the right interests, this anime will forever hold the spot as your favorite, as it does mine.
Overall: 10/10
Carefully constructed entertaining story, Art style that tells a story all on its own, Sound that can drop and lift emotions as if feathers, and, perhaps, the best character development to date all contribute to make this anime a masterpiece.
VeiledEdge
Of Spice and Wolf season 2 is a disappointment in almost every sense of the word. It is slightly worse in every aspect than the first season, and the first season wasn’t even that good. The art quality, directing, storytelling, plot, and character development are all slightly worse than the first season. The drawings are less precise and lack detail when compared to the first season, which is surprising considering shows tend to get more money from season to season when they’re popular (Dragon Ball Super excluded lol). Same with the directing. There are 0 of what I’d like to call ‘inspiring shots’. Nothing reallystands out. The shot composition is simply not quite there, even when solely compared to the first season.
As far as plot goes, there is no plot. If you thought nothing happened in the first season, brace yourself because there’s even less plot in the second season. The entirety of the second season feels like pointless filler.
And when there’s such little plot, it’s hard to squeeze in character development, which the series isn’t great at, to begin with.
The first season of Spice and Wolf leaves you with a substantial thirst for more plot and character development, and those are the two things the second season doesn’t do. Like I said at the beginning, it is a pure disappointment. I guess we just wait for season 3.
GodOfWolves
To start things off, I loved the first season... Howevvveeerrrrrr....... First off the story... Horrible, In the first season it was great, we see many many new towns and have a good few trades and exciting moments with a diverse cast of characters and actual thinking involved. In the second season, we have one town, mainly one trade, a extremely smaller cast of characters and almost no progression besides mostly dribble, cut towards the end and they rush everything because they did not have the source material for another season. Making anyone who does another season either redo season 2, please god let that be, or B ignore thelast episode and continue from there or C, hope not, skip a lot of story from the novels....
Anyways.... The story aside, it was still entertaining at times.
Art
The art was still amazing, although not enough background scenery was shown. The first season did way better. I honestly think the problems at hand are from the studio change.
Although the new company still did well to continue it. Here is where they really MESSED UP!!! The damn characters! How can you ruin their personality this way! I gave it a 9, but moved it to a 8 upon re-watching, honestly it deserves a 7, but I cannot bring myself to do it until a new season comes. Although that might not happen sadly... There is a new book though, so there is still hope!
Characters
So! Here is the problem, Lawrence although dumb at love is way to dumb at it this season, before the banter and arguing was cute and mature and understandable. Now he acts all blushy and confused, that happened maybe twice in the first season and stood out like a sore thumb, if anything they should have made it happen once or not at all this season, instead its none stop. Holo what do you mean? Why say that! What are you talking about? Every time she flirts! He also does not seem to be as quick witted before and complains more about money then the first season, like that is suppose to be funny or cute or something?
AND THATS ANOTHER THING! She does nothing, I swear!!!!!!! Nothing!!! But flirt! And talk about drinking or eating, and she is less wise then before which was a bad choice for the character. She became like a tsundere. And she might have been a little bit of one in season 1. But in the first season she still had personality. She wouldn't push it or hang on him or act, literally,,,,, like a kid..... She is hundreds of years old. Sure she made mistakes, but she was in a simple village for 500 years. That can put a stop on wisdom. But in season 1 She learned fast and made less mistakes as they season went on. She grew by the end of it. In season 2, she learns nothing, neither does lawerence, they actually progress in love in a okward way and then regress in intelligence in the most awful way...
When she would originally flirt she was mature, waiting for lawerence to act before she responded, never pushy, she expressed her feelings but she did not force it or even sob unless it was something extreme.
IT WAS FUN! They fed off each others energies and it felt like you could be there with them bantering back and forth! But now....
Now that's been put out the window by the new studio, all the growth she did is gone and shes a bi-polar insane girl who doesn't know what todo with herself... If i watched season 2 first, I would of hated spice and wolf! It is nothing compared to the first & defiantly different. And although the first let me watch the second for the love of Holo.... Holo is no longer Holo in season 2 and i therefore cannot enjoy it the same way as I did the first. Not in the least likeliness...
I mean she could of got clingy, but like maybe wait for season 3 or 4 or give them a reason to make them clingy instead of just doing it because fuck it we can, hate when production changes hands, only so few do it right....
Sound!
Music is way better, the pipe music when they bicker back in forth is quitter and you can here them speak when it happens lol. But the soundtrack is rather repeaty....
Enjoyment.
I enjoyed it, but alas, it could have been so much more. Still worth a watch for holo fans or romance fans or even economics, but its not as fun as the first season so be warned. The economic lessons are toned down, still informative but it lacks the same intrigue it once had, it could of been better and again, it really needed more traveling and trading like before.
OVERALL!
It was ok... It was almost good. But that is actually sad, because the first season was great, it was borderline master piece. With a good second season it could of been one.
The only things that held this season back was to much love. Holo going from mature to immature which makes no sense. Holo becoming a full tsundere instead of teasing like the first, she pushes and shoves now, which kills the mood. There was no traveling, if they would of seen more then one town or made more then one or two trades, it could of been fun.
Things that helped move it forward, the sound was better although limited, the art was better although limited as well with backgrounds and the enjoyment was still there. It just wasn't as great...
My final verdict. Is to watch it if you like spice & wolf. If you find spice & wolf ok or good and not great or at least a fun ride. Then stop at season 1, because it was the best. If you haven't seen season 1. By all means. Watch it! If you cannot stand romance or dribble dribble, don't watch season 2, but still watch season 1 lol.
Thanks for reading, and if only I had the money to resurrect the show and do it the right way I would...
I'm out, Later my dudes,, & Later My Loves. --- GodOfWolves...
AngryCactus
I had very high expectations for this anime since I had heard nothing but praise for it. And while I was watching it I was waiting for something to blow me away, but even after two seasons nothing did. If I had to describe this show in one word, it would be boring. I can't just chalk the pace of this show up as a deliberate one like I would with an anime like "Monster". Instead I have to say that it was uneventful and forgettable, and that was my biggest problem with it. Problems aside for a moment, this animedidn't have any areas it really succeeded in in the first place. Aside from the concept which is unique and its pretty much unprecedented focus on economics, at least in anime, all aspects of this show are average or worse, except for the voice acting (I can't speak for the Dubbed version however).
The soundtrack fit well, but many of the tracks were overused, and nothing stands out. The animation and art style were standard. It didn't do anything wrong in that area, its just that even the scenes with action were not visually impressive. Most of this show is conversation and just the animation of the characters' mouths moving, nothing to write home about. The story is not all that captivating, especially the lazy, or if you are optimistic, "open" ending with a pitiful payoff. The interactions between characters are somewhat interesting, but there is not much development for the main two characters who are still not fleshed out enough for an anime where the characters are the main focus. I won't lie, it was a chore to sit through this show, no offense to the people that enjoyed it. It felt like a waste of time watching this, and I cannot help but feel that I've missed something.
TheContractor
Well, im simply saying this to strengthen my next sentence, but i have watched nearly 500 anime series... And this is by far the best romance anime among them and one of the best among all genres. Even though the Light Novels ended and even fully translated by now, they should animate all of Light Novels,not for the profit from it or to advertise Light Novels, but to leave an example of pinnacle for all japanese animation made from Light Novels and the pinnacle for Light Novels alike. It would not be far fetched to say that this is the pinnacle of them all, byoverall story, by overall character development, by overall execution of the story and by execution of light novels into anime while story staying intact. P.S. : 2 seasons only consist 2 books,1st to 5th 4th being excluded. And whole book series have 17 books, leaving are much more books to animate... This is what a "Masterpiece" is.
ffaargentum
The first season was awesome, so I went into the sequel with high expectations, but was horribly let down. I'm a sucker for information-dense anime, so I didn't mind the use of economics in either season, but the fact that Holo was being sold off twice in this season just rubbed me the wrong way. The ending was simply lacklustre and the romance was possibly the blandest thing I've ever seen. Lawrence was so pathetic and clueless at times, I questioned myself as to why I'm continuing the season. The only saving grace for the anime would probably be how nice the sounds of naturewere, for example, sounds of rain along with the music. Loved how engaging that was and how it saved the scenes from becoming an absolute snooze-fest.
I LOVE Holo's character so much and this season did NOT make her shine in the way it did in the first season. Lots of shows suffer from a terrible sequel, and it's unfortunate that it had to be this one.
Terri-Chan
Fuck that beautiful just beautiful end, this anime pretty surprised me ah never thought an anime of 2009 in terms of Animation, ambience and soundtrack far exceed Anime Anime 2014 This was just a masterpiece with very uan style ambience of the time where cities bestimentas funds occurs, all very style of the time, the plot is just very well thought makes me think the phrase "are pure business" and again, the characters are also maravollosos (protruding Horo) the more secondary side may have a past or a story that makes you get more desire to know (A what Space Dandy), the animation is exemplarybackgrounds, designs, lights, shadows, etc are extremely well made pieces as I said before many many current exceeds Animes. In a purely conclucion excellent series with faults at least I count them on the fingers of one hand enters my Top of my favorite Animes without doubt a second
patkarunungan
If you just want to continue watching the interactions between Laurence and Holo, watch this season. But be warned: it's bad. The first episode starts boring, and it's not a good start to what is said to be the weaker season of the original anime adaptation. The first arc is okay but an episode or two can be cut. On the other hand, the second arc ends abruptly. We don't know what happens to Eve, and we don't know what happens to the town, which suddenly finds itself in a revolution. Our pair just left it unceremoniously. In other words, it needs an episode or twoto properly conclude the arc.
Whilst the first season is worth watching to understand why Spice and Wolf is a good anime, not to mention so we can meet the anime-original Chloe, the second season is a mess. Also, the original adaptation omitted a volume of the light novels.
Perhaps, instead of watching the second season, one can proceed to the new Spice and Wolf adaptation, which I hope will adapt the source material better and that episodes covering the same events in the original adaptation's second season be better executed.
dublincore
*Some minor spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.* *Have not read the manga or light novels, nor am I aware of what goes on in them. I will likely not be reading them.* *This review assumes that you have yet to watch the first season!* If you've seen any of the other media associated with this anime, you probably think you know what it's about. Cute wolf girls, lots of fan service, medieval action, etc. It is with no small amount of surprise that I can report that this show is not at all what it appears to be on the surface. I believe that I'd go sofar as to call it truly unique--at least, I've never encountered another anime (or really, television show period) that's comparable. Yes, it draws you in with the furry manic pixie dream girl element, but two episodes in it reveals its true intentions: Spice & Wolf is not about mindless, hyperactive cuteness and adventure. At the risk of sounding off-putting, it's equal parts Renaissance-era Wall Street and Linklateresque talky romance. Let's approach these two halves one at a time.
Anime fans are used to action. Even the rom-com and every-day life drama anime equivalents typically have action sequences. Consider the mindlessly cute and mostly harmless Fruits Basket--sure, the kung-fu is mostly used for comedic effect and nothing is really at stake, but that doesn't stop these action sequences from being choreographed carefully (well, within the context of the show) and from being absorbing at a character level. There are exceptions to this generalization, but even if there's no strict action there still tend to be sequences of increased hyperactivity that pass for action--characters bouncing around the frame and super-deforming to ramp up the emotion, drama, or absurdity of a sequence are very common, as are moments of un-explainable magical realism or characters showing off previously unseen skills to liven up the on-screen happenings a bit.
While Spice & Wolf doesn't break completely from the above conventions (obviously--there's a wolf-girl, after all!), it does so more drastically than any other anime I've seen, with the possible exception of Paradise Kiss. The key difference between the two is that Paradise Kiss built tension by relying on coming-of-age storytelling elements and teenage angst. Spice & Wolf is concerned with economics and trade. And I'm not saying that it's concerned with economics and trade in the same way that Hikaru no Go is concerned with Go. There is very little effort to hold the viewers' hand or to make the tension of the central machinations 'more exciting.' Spice & Wolf's plot twists revolve around market crashes, unexpected fees, and the ebb & flow of supply and demand. Its characters talk at great length and (and so far as I can tell) display great knowledge about market influences, financial risk assessment, credit poisoning, etc. Occasionally (particularly in the first season), surprise violence pushes the plot forward, but more frequently it's the hazards of being a traveling merchant in a volatile market that supplies the series' tension, at least on the plot-arc level.
It's not for everyone. Some are going to find it incomprehensible. I actually had to rewind and pause frequently while watching the subtitled version to fully understand what was happening in some scenes (and some moments are still beyond me), and I was pleasantly surprised to realize that the characters were 'coming' to conclusions more quickly than I was--which almost never happens in anime. Anime is fully capable of being heady and difficult--though frequently when it is challenging your intelligence it's doing so from a post-modern/avant-garde/metaphorical position. Spice & Wolf instead challenges your logic and your intuition. When its characters sit down to discuss business, you realize that they are playing a very advanced game of chess, or perhaps poker, with one another. They are gambling, and the stakes are high, and if you're not as in-tune with their dealings as they are, you will get left behind. I thought it was actually sort of exhilarating. Frustrating, yes, but challenging and stimulating. Of course, I suspect that this aspect of the show won't hold up as well on repeat viewings--which is where the romance comes into play, and where the writers really, really deserve credit.
The story gets its start when Holo, a wolf goddess who influences wheat yields for a small southern town, sneaks onto a travelling merchant's cart on his way out of town. The townsfolk, through their own ingenuity, no longer require her supernatural intervention, and she is tired of being alone and unneeded. She wants to journey north, to her place of origin, and reunite with entities she has not seen in centuries, and has largely forgotten. The series hints (or maybe I'm reading into it way too deeply) that her hugely extended lifespan may be coming to its drawn-out conclusion--she seems to suffer physically from a weak constitution, and mentally from years of regret and a desire to do things over again. The merchant she imposes herself upon is Lawrence, and he is truly a breath of fresh air, insofar as male leads in anime are concerned. He's got a head of grey hair and has already been through his 'coming-of-age' story. Lawrence has learned how to be an adult and has been one for some time. He's set in his ways, wise, and sure of himself. He does have some weaknesses, particularly for pretty women and for gold, but he knows what he wants in life, and is already working toward it when he discovers the very naked Holo in the back of his cart.
Let me quantify 'very naked' here. Holo is shown nude frequently throughout the series--as a wolf goddess, the only reason she really wears clothes at all are to hide her ears and tail from prying eyes when in her 'human' form. This sounds like a weak attempt to defend the nudity, but it helps that Holo's nudity is rarely sexualized, thanks to her Barbie doll anatomy--by which I mean not only in the lack of explicitly drawn detail (contrast this to the frequently disgusting nude fan service in a show like Elfen Lied), but in her unrealistic features (her conical breasts). She does know that she's attractive and uses her sex appeal to her advantage, but in another rare turn for anime, she manages to do so while being clothed head to foot. (Indeed, when in public, she looks almost like a nun, albeit a stylish one.)
Anyways, Lawrence, in awe of her power, agrees to aid her in her journey north. Along the way they become business partners after Holo demonstrates uncanny business sense and intuition, and they quickly thereafter become fast friends. They consistently and amusingly banter with one another, and their teasing and flirting (sometimes gentle, sometimes not) is a pleasure to behold. They both relish wit and wordplay, yet both seem afraid of their emotions, and occasionally wound each other deeply. By the time the second season starts, we realize that Holo may love Lawrence in ways that he either does not reciprocate or is afraid of returning, and Holo is afraid of the emotional harm she'll do to herself if she allows herself to love a mortal, whose lifespan is but the blink of an eye, compared to hers. It's a well-worn idea in fiction (and in myth), but is here spiced up considerably by their complex relationship that balances business and flirtatious friendship with Holo's need to go home and Lawrence's dreams of owning his own storefront in a large city. They cannot travel together for forever, no matter how much they enjoy one another's company. The two come to the conclusion that it may take in excess of a year to find Holo's home-this is presumably not a problem for Holo, but a year is a long time for Lawrence. Lawrence can only put his life on hold for her for so long, and when Holo realizes this fact, she begins to consider leaving him early and letting him move on with his life.
Viewers conditioned to expect certain things from romantic relationships in anime might be frustrated. (Typical YouTube comment: 'I would sell my family just to see Holo and Lawrence kiss!') Both strive to keep the heat between them low, but both eventually become possessive of one another, and commonly-explored themes like jealousy and self-sacrifice are given time in the limelight, though in ways viewers may not be used to seeing. In a sense watching the relationship between the two grow can be maddening--the writers treat the romance on a slightly cool and reserved level (outside of Holo's seemingly playful attempts to seduce Lawrence), and so much depends on what the viewers think of the characters themselves. It'd be easy to just call Holo a manipulative tease and Lawrence a greedy idiot and just move onto another anime with more 'satisfactory' character development. In fact, it almost seems like the writers are trying to do this on purpose--as if they were weeding their audience. Viewers that become truly invested in Holo and Lawrence will be physically pained when the two genuinely fight--others will just shrug and say that they don't get it.
The ending will please even fewer people. The ultimate destination is not reached, with the writers opting for an emotional climax instead--albeit it a hugely understated one that relies on a close, almost literary reading of the characters and an important development in the penultimate episode to get anything out of. It will please those who admire restraint, but people who want definite conclusions will either be itching for a third season or will just be turned off completely. Truthfully, I would not mind seeing a third season myself, and since the anime is based on a still ongoing series of novels and/or manga, there is more than enough material to justify another season. Still, it's a finely honed ending to a finely honed series that has subverted expectations throughout. I realize that I haven't yet written about the art or the music (both fine, but neither amazing), but let's leave it at this: Spice & Wolf is a series that boasts incredibly well-developed characters, fantastic writing, and a unique sensibility with regards to conflict and resolution. It trades in action for talkiness, and ease of appreciation for real challenge. Its greatest flaws (the mercantile plot, the tricky romantic angle) are also its strongest attributes. It's not for everyone, but you won't know if it's not for you until you give it a try. Or if you possess greater respect for my reviews than I do, myself. Lol.
