[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Spice and Wolf: halfway thoughts
Is it just me or is the whole economics thing playing second fiddle to the Lawrence/Horo dynamic? Not that I’m complaining about the latter of course - placing characterisation over subplots is always a good thing - but the business about the valued and devalued silver seemed full of plot holes and didn’t interest me much at all.
The thing is, I started watching this show as a period/road trip piece and viewed the economics as an interesting diversion between the comedic and dramatic bits, but little more than that. I was however interested in how Chloe fit into the picture - there was a nagging doubt in the back of my mind that we hadn’t seen the last of her so I suspect her ambitions to do well as a merchant (possibly inspired by Lawrence’s sound business sense?) stretch as far as siding with whatever organisation it is that’s after Horo.
In the time in which this show is set, I guess primitive communications and lack of central government meant that anyone who could weild as much power as this would be very influential indeed and probably be head and shoulders above ther rivals: the Church was the only candidate at the time that was able to influence the economy and organise the rounding up of individuals it deemed troublesome. If organised religion is good at one thing, it’s scaring the gullible masses into doing what it wants. But I digress.
So then, getting on the wrong side of the Church in the Spice and Wolf universe isn’t a terribly good idea - being on good terms with the various trading organisations and local governments invariably helps them get by to a certain degree but if Horo and Lawrence are on the Church’s hit list I don’t know how many safe places they have to run to. Perhaps the series will delve further into the worldview, along with a Philip Pullman-esque Organised Religion Is Bad mantra but I hope suspect that it will take a simpler tack by focusing on Horo and Lawrence instead. That is to say, these two are possibly the most likable and engaging anime couple I’ve seen in recent months.
Although their relationship isn’t quite in romantic territory, and perhaps because it isn’t necessarily a romantic relationship (although one or two scenes are beginning to hint otherwise!), I’ve been enjoying every second of screentime the two of them share. Lawrence’s gruff and money-orientated exterior is being pulled away to reveal a warmer and more sensitive individual beneath, which I’m sure will continue in the episodes that follow. Because her age is several times that of any human character in the show, Horo’s personality offers fascinating hidden depths for the viewer to explore too. Her supernatural nature coupled with those centuries of observing the human condition from afar mean that, whether it’s a sarcastic quip or a simple droop of the ears, everything she say or does carries more meaning than would otherwise be expected from a teenage maiden character. The moment where she actually shed tears was a significant one; it shows how far she’s come in terms of interacting with those around her, and how far she still has to go as well.
TV series of any length, be it twelve or 20+ episodes, seem to find the mid-run filler instalments an inevitability. The definition of ‘filler’ differs of course: Denno Coil for instance gave us the most entertaining and worthwhile middle section that it wouldn’t have seemed like filler at all if it weren’t for the outstanding nature of the episodes that surrounded it; many though start off well, end well but are a bit ‘meh’ in the middle (I’m looking at you, Bokurano). This makes it all the more of a pleasant surprise that, instead of getting bogged down in side-stories and other measures that stall for time, Spice and Wolf actually picks up in pace at this stage. Granted, the financial side of things wasn’t as important for me but the kidnapping of Horo and Lawrence’s efforts to set her free seemed to strengthen the bond between them and by the series’ own standards was edge-of-your-seat stuff in places. If this is setting the course for the latter half of the series, I’ll be happy.
Posted on February 25th, 2008 @ 11:16 am
I watched the first four episodes of Spice and Wolf a week ago, but I haven’t felt the urge to continue with it. I found it fairly dull, the animation is lackluster but mainly, I just wasn’t interested/couldn’t be bothered to follow the detailed plot about currency and ultimately, found myself disinterested (much like Moyashimon, really). There’s definitely something fascinating about Horo, but as is the case with a lot of anime, the male lead (Lawrence) is apathetic and boring. I guess I just found it to be a fairly middling/mediocre series that’s almost entirely carried by Horo’s charisma, and for me, that’s not really enough.
Posted on February 25th, 2008 @ 6:38 pm
@Bateszi: as always is the case with such things, it’s a shame you didn’t enjoy it as much as I did but then, it is one of those shows that isn’t action-packed so is something of an acquired taste. The main draw really is the Lawrence/Horo interplay because quite frankly the economics are pretty dull and don’t make a whole lot of sense! There are those fans who seem to have a wolf girl fetish of course, but I can’t really speak for them… o_0
Posted on February 25th, 2008 @ 10:58 pm
I just ‘Blogged myself about episode eight being purely a Lawrence and Horo double act, and in all honesty it was all the better for it. I can understand the pairing being an acquired taste, but it’s actually surprised me how much I’ve warmed to both of them - I really wasn’t expecting to enjoy this series much when I started watching it.
I’m a little curious as to why they’ve chosen to make episode 7 a DVD-only release though (apart from as a money-making venture, of course).
Posted on February 26th, 2008 @ 4:45 pm
The “currency” plot seems to be more of a distraction than an actual part of the story. It seemed to serve as a way to get the couple into trouble. To a certain extent, the intention was probably to provide a topic of conversation when talking about the show. However, for all we know, the author may have been reading an economics text book on mercantile economies while creating the story.
I agree with bateszi, implicitly you, that Horo is a fascinating character.
Posted on February 26th, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
@Hanners: I have #8 on my hard drive now actually, so I’ll be watching that sometime this week (although I’m amassing a healthy backlog of stuff to keep myself occupied while I’m getting the ‘net installed in my new place). It’ll be interesting to see why #7 isn’t being broadcast though.
@j.valdez: the economics gives some degree of fuel as it were to the story I suppose, but I can only agree on how fascinating Horo is. Characters who look like teenage girls are commonplace in anime but it’s rare to see one who’s mentally/emotionally much older…she runs rings around Lawrence at times, which never ceases to entertain me!
Posted on February 29th, 2008 @ 12:53 pm
I must say I’m enjoying the Lawrence/Horo badinage, plus of course the fact that Fukuyama’s voicing Lawrence helps to alleviate my Lelouch withdrawal. And Horo’s inscrutability is, as you say, quite fun to watch. But I’m finding the show a little boring at times, which is probably because of my debased, action-craving tastes.
The commonest theory on #7 is that it’s ‘the fanservice episode’.
Posted on February 29th, 2008 @ 7:34 pm
@IKnight: I’m sure the blogosphere will suggest some fun speculations regarding the lost seventh episode but since #8 seemed to follow on straight from #6 I think it’s fair to say it’s just a filler ep that in all probability is pure fan service as you suggested. Whatever it is, I’m sure I’ll watch it anyway because simply seeing Horo and Lawrence hang out together is so entertaining!
Posted on March 15th, 2008 @ 8:04 pm
I’m really liking this series. I enjoy the Lawrence/Horo dynamic as much as anybody, but the economics has a lot of appeal to it as well. Then again, I majored in Economics in college, so I was pleasantly surprised when they had already started going into the workings of currency speculation by the end of the second episode. The economics is pretty accurate too, so you might learn something if you’re not too bored by it.
I suppose this series is something of an acquired taste for most, but I liked it right from the start. I’m sure the other otaku economists out there would feel the same. (there’s gotta be at least… five of us?)
Posted on March 17th, 2008 @ 11:57 am
I can’t quite put my finger on what it is but there’s something really charming about this show. I actually like the fact that series is deliberately slow and “dull”. It’s an acquired taste maybe but the Lawrence/Horo relationship has enough magic to keep me hooked.