Welcome to the weekly review of Spice and Wolf (2024)! This week, we’ll discuss episode 19, wherein the big finale of the pyrite market plays out. As this arc comes to a close, the anime ventures into unknown territory. For now, let’s see what episode 19 has in store!
God’s Unseen Hand and Wolf’s Unseen Heart
Lawrence anxiously watches as more and more buyers of pyrite line up. He is desperate to secure enough product to crash the market, but he needs to meet Diana’s messenger to know how negotiations went with her other client. In the meantime, he keeps a close eye on Amati and Holo, who strangely leaves Amati’s side for a time without explanation. In an attempt to gauge the market’s reaction, Lawrence sells the pyrite he has on hand. Unfortunately, it has little impact and the price rises even higher. A message appears from Diana and informs Lawrence that negotiations have fallen through.
Lawrence is just about ready to give up when Landt, Marc’s apprentice, shakes him out of it. With a clearer head and fresh perspective, Lawrence sells the rest of his pyrite, just as Holo sells her supply. Sellers swarm the stall and the price plummets. Later that evening, Lawrence apologizes for his lack of insight and trust. Holo reveals she is Diana’s other client and was working her own angle to help Lawrence. The two reconcile and join the night’s festivities.
Here’s a refresher on how the pyrite market board works. The demand for pyrite is very high because of the festive atmosphere and superstition surrounding the mineral. Supply, however, is low, which artificially drives up the price. At the top of the episode, the market board shows that buyers outnumber sellers. For Lawrence to achieve his goals, he needs sellers to outnumber buyers. However, for that to happen, the supply of pyrite must outweigh the demand. This is why Lawrence is counting on Marc’s connections and Diana’s negotiations.
Landt appears and directs them to a customer who wants to pay for wheat with pyrite. Lawrence takes that opportunity and attempts to shake up the market with the sale. He hopes it will be enough to dip the price a little, but demand ratchets back up and the price increases. When he finally catches on to Holo’s plan, their combined sale incentivizes everyone else to sell. With that much pyrite flooding the market, the price drops exponentially. Amati’s supply, along with the margin contract he received from Lawrence, are ultimately worthless.
Review
The way the action peaks throughout the episode, and the story develops on its way to the climax, was incredibly satisfying. There is also something to be said about having all of the protagonist’s efforts pay off and see the plan come to fruition. Whereas a lot of other stories may leave the main character with lingering doubts or loose ends, Lawrence came away as the undeniable victor against Amati. It’s like Landt said, “The god of money doesn’t come to those who pray, but to those who don’t give up easily!”
This episode also showcased excellent development and usage of minor characters to deliver exposition. It’s worth noting that there is very little internal dialogue in this episode and in the series all together. Unlike the light novels, where the reader dives into the mind of anyone at any given time, the anime relies on characters to express how they feel and explain the situation. Using Marc, Landt, and the crowd’s voices to not only describe the action but also heighten the tension breaks up what might otherwise feel like a drawn-out monologue. Sometimes this method can feel a little clumsy, like when Lawrence explains Holo’s feelings for the benefit of the viewer, but the good character writing mitigates the downsides.
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