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「いたずら狼と笑えない冗談」 (Itazura Ookami to Waraenai Joudan)
“Mischievous Wolf and No Laughing Matter”
You know it’s almost surreal coming to Spice and Wolf in this day and age and almost being able to think it’s the original. Yeah yeah, different art styles and all that, but these past two weeks have done a pretty damn good job of keeping to the feel and atmosphere without fully giving into major shifts. And just think, still nearly two seasons left to work with.
If last episode was all about introducing Kraft and Holo this was the one which elaborates on why both make for such a great duo. While largely confined to banter and teasing for the moment, stuff like Holo’s gentle – and not so gentle – ribbing meshes with Kraft’s sense of pride and willingness (if strained) to set it aside when getting down to brass tacks. Holo likes having her fun sure, but she understands when she pushes too far. Likewise Kraft appreciates when he’s bested, yet also knows how to give as well as take. It’s small things right now, however the chemistry between these two is what makes Spice and Wolf so well-liked, especially once it starts to really get going later on. Let’s just say this week had quite a few teasers of more significant events to come.
In terms of these events the first is already here as well courtesy of sly merchant – and even slyer liar – Zheren. The name of the game is simple: buy up one currency to make a killing once a new one is supposed to take its place. Naturally there’s more to it than that (no such thing as a flawless get rich quick scheme), but it’s Holo’s remarks about the reason of the lie being more important than the lie itself which helps indicate just what this arc, and indeed all the later ones, will be about. For the merchant it’s all about information and how you use it. Get a piece of bad info or information leading to a bad outcome? Pull on the string and see where it leads because the instigator might in turn lead to more fruitful pursuits. While Zheren could be lying about the monetary reward, he could also lead to an even more profitable venture, particularly when accounting for Holo’s keen sense of truth. The only way to know is to take the gamble, and as we shall see the gambles Kraft pursues will yield quite a bit more than simple profit once the risk starts ratcheting up.
After all, some things are significantly more valuable than money, and you won’t know the cost until it hits you when you least expect it.
Preview
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The fascinating part of the relationship between Holo and Kraft is how both represent a race that has killed one another and is continuing to kill one another. Yet, Holo and Kraft can work together to meet their goals.
At the same time, it’s interesting to see how Kraft mentally suffers from remembering how others get eaten by wolves, while Holo doesn’t show an ounce of misery when wolves get slaughtered by humans so that the woodland can be safer for hunters/poachers.
I wouldn’t say Holo hasn’t shown misery, her reflection on what drives wolves to target humans was a pretty good indication of the melancholy she feels from her past as a “true” wolf. This is a point which will come up later as well since (spoiler alert) both Kraft and Holo aren’t through with their canine encounters just yet.