Welcome to the weekly review of Spice and Wolf (2024). Here, we’ll recap what happened in the latest episode, break down some of the economic talk, and discuss the differences between the anime, manga, and light novel. So let’s discuss episode 6 of Spice and Wolf.
Recap: "Merchant and Unreasonable God"
In episode 6 of Spice and Wolf, Holo and Lawrence flee from the agents of the Medio Company through the sewers. They are eventually cornered at a dead end, where Yarei finally reveals himself. Yarei tries to convince Lawrence to give up Holo and share in the profits of his deal with the Medio Company, but Lawrence refuses, stating he has a contract to fulfill. As Yarei gives the order to attack, Holo drinks some of Lawrence’s blood, allowing her to transform into a giant wolf. She makes short work of their assailants and starts walking away.
Lawrence tries to convince her to stay, but she doesn’t respond. He then falls unconscious. Later, Lawrence wakes up in the Milone Trading building, where Marheit informs him of the silver negotiations and gives him his share of the profits. Then, Lawrence receives an invoice for items he did not purchase. He puts two and two together, and finds Holo, ready and waiting in his cart to continue their journey together.
Most of the business in this episode is straightforward, but to summarize: Milone Trading was able to obtain privileges from the king of Trenni in exchange for the silver coins they had collected. However, during the negotiations, several stipulations were imposed on Milone Trading such as transportation fees, silver taxes, contract fees and so on. This would be the same as the extras fees you pay when buying a car or renting an apartment.
The king tries to make back as much as he can by charging Milone Trading for any extraneous details, thus Lawrence’s profit only coming to 240 coins. Then Marheit reveals the contract with the Medio Company, who were so desperate for the special privileges they were willing to pay a small fortune, bringing Lawrence’s promised amount to 1,000 coins. He asks for an equivalent value in pepper because he knows the value of the spice will rise with the heightened demand in winter.
Review of Episode 6 of Spice and Wolf
Thus the first arc is complete! It’s a great introduction to the world and how conflicts are set up and resolved. Lawrence and Holo have easily earned a spot in the “most iconic duo” category. Their relationship will develop even more as they travel together. Comparing the various versions to one another, it’s hard to say if the 2024 anime stands out. For the original story, pick up the light novels. The manga provides very good art to accompany it.
However, comparing the 2008 and 2024 anime, the former just barely comes out ahead. Nostalgia plays a big factor. In terms of animation, composition, music, and pacing, the 2008 anime has a style that sets it apart. So far, the 2024 version, for all its modern polish, is held back by stiff animation and generic musical choices. Narratively speaking, it will be interesting to see what the 2024 version includes, and whether or not it can be called a definitive version of the story.
When next we join Lawrence and Holo, they’ll face several new obstacles, a lost lamb, and a looming threat to their way of life.
Spice and Wolf (2024) is streaming on Crunchyroll.
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