[Spoilers] 2008 Spice and Wolf II Rewatch (2024) — Episode 10

Hello, guys. Holofan4life here.

Welcome to the 2024 Spice and Wolf Rewatch.

But you knew that already 😛

This is the first official rewatch of the show since the premiere of the remake. In fact, it’s still currently airing as this rewatch is underway. And while we can compare and contrast what the remake did as opposed to the original, I feel it’s still pretty important to remember what the original adaptation was like seeing as how that’s really what got me into the franchise. And what ultimately made me fall in love with one wise wolf.

For the purposes of this rewatch, I will be watching it subbed since that’s what I’ve been watching the remake in. I will be comparing somewhat the two series, and when I do that, I will be using spoilers. I guess I should say for transparency sake that I am writing this in late July/early August, a full month before the rewatch actually happens. That’s because of time constraints and me having four other rewatches I’m participating in planned. I also waited until the first three volumes got adapted in the remake just so I can have more stuff to talk about.

These reviews won’t be as detailed as some of the other ones, as I don’t really want to spend two or three hours dissecting every episode. I’ll save that for when I do it in my questions :]

With that out of the way, let’s begin.

I’m watching the sub, by the way.

All we need is Radio Ali Baba

Well, what do you know? Lawrence is selling Holo. Once a merchant, always a merchant, I guess.

So the 50 man meeting allowed foreign merchants to purchase furs under the condition that they pay with cash. They obviously aren’t fans of this since they wouldn’t have enough to buy any. That is where Holo comes in. If Lawrence allows Eve to sell Holo as collateral, both of them could get triple the cost, with the profit resulting in twice the capital. And Lawrence, knowing time is of the essence, isn’t totally opposed to the idea, since it is a lot of money. I’ve said this before, but I like how Lawrence is always doing unconventional stuff that would normally be unbecoming of a main character. It makes him feel more real and authentic.

This flashback is lasting a really long time.

Eve mentioning she was bought by an upper-class merchant.

And now we see why Lawrence and Holo had that slavery conversation three episodes ago.

This flashback is so long, I’m starting to wonder why is it a flashback.

Still really good stuff, though

I think it’s pretty mature of Holo to tell Lawrence to let her be sold. She is telling Lawrence to put his own dream over her, since she wants to go back to her home anyway. I mentioned in the past that I think this arc does a good job of answering the question of just how dangerous it is to put your loved one on a pedestal. But really, that’s one of the common themes of this show: the dangers when you are afraid of harming your loved one based on your words or actions. Ever since Lawrence saw Holo break down in episode 4, he’s been walking on eggshells. He is scared that saying something or doing something that could upset Holo will jeopardize his relationship with her. It’s why when Lawrence saw Holo getting jealous over Nora back in the second arc, his first instinct was to call her prettier than anyone else, even if he truly felt it.

Lawrence is worried about what harm this deal might cause Holo, but it is almost to the point that he views her as this fragile little thing, which this show always addresses. It’s just this arc makes it the main source of conflict. Almost all of the arcs in the Spice and Wolf anime have the theme of Lawrence coming face to face with his flaws. The second one had Lawrence face his cockiness, the third one had him face his stubbornness, and this one has him face his protectiveness. And really, that’s almost always been the main problem with his relationship with Holo.

None of Holo and Lawrence’s relationship is real. It was founded and it is based on this reality they created to escape from the actual one. When Holo says to Lawrence chose his dream over her, she is hoping for Lawrence to actually not do that. Yet at the same time, a part of her is hoping he does so that she can escape from this nightmare of eternal unrest.

From my perspective, I think Lawrence has the flaw of being too selfless. He cares about other’s needs so much that he pays little attention to his own needs. Here he has this chance to finally get what he wanted all this time, and he is hesitant about it because he’s worried Holo might get hurt. I don’t think he’s spineless per se, but I do feel he needs to learn how to be a little more egocentric. Selfishness is the downfall for a lot of people, but by the same token so can being self-sacrificing.

Lawrence is selfless because he’s afraid if he caters to his own needs, he will quickly learn there aren’t many needs to be contended with. So he is okay with carrying a simple life under the mask that is his future plan of setting up shop. But just like Holo, he too wants to escape from this nightmare that he helped create. He is gasping for air, trying to find an opening that he can’t locate and doesn’t seem to exist, and now he’s having to worry about Holo giving into his dream and being stuck in complete purgatory.

Lawrence talking to a bum

He asks some advice from him

I guess if anyone should have a perspective on the church’s hospitality, it is him.

“Could your type truly rejoice over a gift of brown bread and two bronze coins?”

You know, he kinda has a point

He assesses that Lawrence will have his assets stolen from him.

Poor assets 🙁

A guy selling stone statues

Could this be Eve?

Oh, it is

Dealing in salt, which spills from the loads he takes to the church.

I hate when there’s salt in my loads. Need to stop eating so much meat.

Also, maybe these are the loads lost to Gura that everyone is looking for [](#chitogheh)

Also, is it bad I’m way more interested in the homeless person than any of the other side characters in this arc with the exception of Eve?

Lawrence seems to think that Eve isn’t who she says she is.

Visiting the barmaid now

He’s asking her about the church, which has her skittish.

She advises he doesn’t get involved with them.

Steadily hardening their foundations, surmises Lawrence.

Don’t talk about the money and where it came from.

Money is Bruno, apparently

Oh boy. Looks like the barmaid is a homewrecker.

You just know she broke up at least a couple marriages.

Lawrence and Holo eating bread

Why does his bread look smaller than Holo’s? [](#rengethink)

Lawrence feels that the church is aiming to establish a cathedral in this city.

Lofty goals, this church has

Lawrence promises to make the deal work and come back.

Oh, Lawrence. Your stubbornness never ceases to amaze me.

**Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.**

Don’t let this distract you from the fact that Lawrence sold Holo’s soul for 62 cents.

>Who is your favorite antihero character in anime and why?

Being an Isekai fan, Antihero’s appear a lot it seems. To be honest, I’m a fan of them too. Hajime from Arifureta, Makoto from Tsukimichi, Touka from Failure Frame this past season. But my favorite Antihero right now isn’t even from an iseakai, its Zagan from Archdemon’s Dilemma, dude has no social skills and doesn’t really care about anybody else until he falls in love and now he is walking on eggshells trying not to kill anybody or cause problems so Nephy doesn’t get upset. Honestly it’s adorable.

**First Timer**

I’m watching the **Dub**

Lawrence can’t be dumb enough to agree to using Holo as collateral right?

Holo actually wants to be used as collateral. I think that’s a bad idea

Eve was also a low quality salt merchant? that’s interesting

The church is a problem again. Constantly a problem

“men are onions, many layers and they all make you cry”

So Eve broke off from the church because the bishop was getting in financial trouble and getting power hungry.

Why did that handshake catch their attention? sounds like it was because her hands were shaking

Holo is “worth” 1500 silver. I still don’t like this plan at all

So Eve started her dealings with the church normally. She is the daughter of a noble but was sold off to a wealthy merchant and thus became a merchant herself. Apparently after finding out that the bishop of the church was stealing donations and was under financial stress she started working closely with the church. The Bishop of the church started getting power hungry and is currying favor with nobles and the Cardinal to raise his status within the church. This is when she was cast aside by the church and left with a large amount of statues that she couldn’t sell, and thus why she wants to get back at the church.

I guess the church and nobles associated with it are the ones behind the fur trade. They must want the price to plummet so they can snatch all the furs up for cheap and make a killing off them.