Spice and Wolf Discussion

So I have finally read that scene. Knowing what I do about the outcome and about what was going through Holo's head during it, it wasn't as painful to read as I had feared but I most certainly could not stop reading and, even now, I'm having great difficulty typing since I'm shaking from the release of tension.

Hasekura-sensei is a phenomenal writer.

Also, I have to say that the insight provided by the narration painted that scene in a very different light.

edited 5th Aug '15 10:30:46 PM by Zelenal

I never did really see much of the anime, and what I did was a while ago. What differences come to mind?

Well, it's been a while since I've seen the anime, too, but the narration made Holo's statements appear in an entirely different light. For example, her request for Lawrence to lie with her. In the anime, be it in English or Japanese, I thought her request was entirely serious. In the LN, however, I see this bit of narration:

In the anime, be it in English or Japanese, Holo simply sounds broken, alone, and depressed for the most part. It's a most excellent scene that shows just how amazing the VAs and seiyuu are. However, in the LN, I see that Holo's tone was, by and large, caustic; that she was choosing her words to inflict as much harm as possible due to her state (something that Lawrence realizes from the beginning). I now understand Lawrence's reaction to certain things a lot better.

Now I must read as Lawrence decides he's going to win this thing come Hell or high water while Holo does everything in her power to get Lawrence to talk to her so that she can properly explain just what is going on. Now that I know what's going on, this promises to be strangely amusing.

Just finished Volume 3. I loved the Epilogue- Holo and Lawrence's reconciliation. I want to say just what I loved about it, to give specific moments and impressions, but I loved absolutely everything about it so I can't. Of course, I loved absolutely every about this volume. And the last two. And likely all future volumes.

Now it's on to Volume 4 where I know absolutely nothing about what is going to happen.

Just found out some bad news today... Finally we get a CONFIRMED "NO" on the will there be more S&W Anime. In other words, no Season 3 ever. IMO it a poor choice for the Franchise but not all authors make the best managers. Onto the books for real this time lol

edited 8th Aug '15 3:44:55 PM by Chris7024Arc

Really, anyone who thought there'd be a Season 3 after all this time was just deluding themselves anyway.

I guess we'll never see Chloe again?

I hope the light novel or manga will feature Chloe in a different setting at least.

Well i started this show last week of September 2014, i watched the dub which completely wrapped up in 2012 so 2014 didn't feel too far from 2012 so it consequently made me hopeful of another season. Plus for some reason they wouldn't release a simple yes or no

anyone know how to make this thread pop up in your notifications when something new is posted on it??

The best you can do is add a thread to the watchlist and periodically refresh that.

Even though it might not seem like a lot, Spice and Wolf went five or six anime seasons without a third season. Unless it's for an ultra popular manga series like Bleach (which is likely to get a continuation to wrap things up once the manga ends) or Shingeki no Kyojin or Full Metal Alchemist or InuYasha, it's highly unlikely to be continuing.

thanks

And Spice and Wolf only just made back its investment. Not really the best bet.

Damn, you're appearing everywhere these days, Arha.

And what do you mean by that?

Spice and Wolf made a profit, but only just barely. It's just not a good investment for any anime studio. If it sells less than before, they make a loss, but even if it sells better the sales still won't be anything amazing.

Ah.

That's an absolutely shame since the anime was truly amazing. After reading the LNs, I can see that it was a fantastic and faithful adaption.

Regrettably, it was Too Good to Last. At least the same wasn't true for the source material.

Fair warning for the novels, pace yourself. It's easily engrossing, but reading too much gives pretty heavy burn out. I recommend at most one novel read per week, keeps them reflective.

And strangely amusing would describe the atmosphere, I think. It's witty about being witty about itself, but at the same time the honesty stays raw through all the banter, which makes Holo endearing, and not a typical tsundere.

Especially since Holo never once acts tsuntsun. Holo is an example of The Tease. She never once pretends to not like Lawrence (at least, she obviously jesting if she ever does) and only gets mad at him when he really has done something wrong or stupid.

I started reading Volume 4 today and I already love it. The opening scene alone makes me wish it was animated (even if it can't compare to roughly the first half of Volume 5 where Lawrence and Holo do little more than flirt with each other). I also like the change of pace by having a guy who was more interested in Lawrence the traveling merchant than Holo the maiden. We also have the noticeable changes in Lawrence where he's no longer just a merchant but is now simply an excellent merchant. The plot is also setting itself up to be more like they're trying to solve a mystery than anything else and that's interesting.

Also, a compliment for the series as a whole, I love how smart Lawrence is. He may not be as clever as Holo in general but the guy figures out a lot of things on his own and occasionally does figure things out before Holo does. It also feels completely natural rather than the author is simply giving him the answers.

Holo can be mistaken for a tsundere, but it's really more that she's got a bit of a Hair-Trigger Temper that's often very unpredictable, and she goes between having reasonable reasons for it, and being mostly irrational. On the other hand, she often fails to get angry when he expects it. Sometimes because she doesn't understand him, and sometimes because she's just mature enough to handle it (like realising she's wrong).

There's a long short story that features her a few hundred years before the main story, and man does she emphasize the cruel in cruel to be kind. Our traveling merchant's softened her up quite a bit.

Also the fourth not getting adapted is really a shame, as it goes into some pretty deep spiritual questions. Like, if Holo can sense and respond to prayers, is she a god? Does God exist, and what does he think of the spirits?

And can a god truly have all the answers, or is that up for the believer to figure out?

Also that the anime stops right as the real meat gets going. The anime aside from Holo is very, very mundane. Novels at least back up the claims that the further north you go, the more fantasy elements start popping up.

edited 21st Aug '15 7:53:26 PM by darkabomination

The only short story I've seen so far is with Aryes and Klass. That's about as far as I've gotten. Which is followed by apples and sickness, both of which are animated.

So I'm right at the end of Volume 4 and I think I now fully understand why the anime team decided to skip it.

1. The plot is very disconnected from the other volumes. Interesting though it may be, the only interesting thing learned is that Holo's friends were cowards.
2. Lawrence and Holo's relationship doesn't really progress much. There's one good scene in particular where a few things change but nothing that major, I don't think. Compared to the previous three volumes and what I know happens in the next volume, nothing terribly important happens between them here.
3. This one deals heavily with God and whether or not He exists given the presence of entities like Holo and Diana. Even with Elsa's conviction and the series taking place in a completely fictional setting, I can understand wanting to sidestep that potential landmine.
4. Some of the things Holo does to Lawrence in this volume seem rather malicious if viewed solely at face value (more so than usual). There are two instances where Holo's teasing was only prevented from going too far because of what I assume her true feelings are. Even with that knowledge, I wasn't terribly fond of those moments in comparison to her usual lighthearted teasing. She also seems to be a bit more physically abusive in this volume.
5. There's one picture on page 209 where Ayakura Jyuu really fucked up on Holo's face and she looks rather disturbing. I literally had to cover that page as I read the other one.

Really, while this has certainly been interesting, I think I fully understand why they skipped it.

It's definitely the darkest of the early volumes, and the religious overtones might have made the animation team reluctant to adapt it not wanting to isolate their audience. So I get it.

Personally I rather enjoyed it, but I can see why others didn't.

So I finally got my hands on Volume 5 and I couldn't help myself but to peek at the end given what happens. I was surprise to find that the LN translation uses "I like you" over "I love you." I did a quick check of the anime to find out what Lawrence is saying in Japanese and it's　「俺はお前が好きだな。」^* "Ore wa omae ga suki da na." While the LN is far more literally accurate, it really loses a lot of impact. Especially compared to J. Micheal Tatum's whispered "I love you, Holo."

I really don't know what to make of Col. I don't dislike him but I don't terribly like him, either. He really seems like the epitome of a third wheel.

That's kind of my impression as well. He just doesn't add much.