Spice and Wolf II

[Buffalobiian]

Alternative title: Ōkami to Kōshinryō II (Japanese), 狼と香辛料Ⅱ (Japanese)

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Goddesses, Juujin, Seinen

Plot Summary:

Craft Lawrence is a traveling merchant, hauling all sorts of trade goods to various places on his horse-drawn cart.

One day, after a brief stop in the village of Pasroe, he discovered a young woman who had snuck aboard his cart. She named herself Horo, wolf goddess who watches over the harvest of wheat. Indeed, she does sport a pair of wolf's ears and a wolf's tail.

Lawrence, despite his skepticism, agrees to travel with her to her homeland, Yoitsu, a place far to the north. Together, the pair overcame the travails that confronted them in the city of Passio, and then again in Rubinhagen. As a result, they came to understand each other better, and the bond between them deepened.

Now, the pair, in search of information regarding the whereabouts of Yoitsu, are approaching the town of Kumerson just as a festival gets underway. What adventures await the pair? -AniDB

Links: Official Site, ANN, AniDB, AnimeNFO

[Mazui]_Spice_and_Wolf_II_-_01_[58252B7C].mkv

[Kraco]

I'm pretty sure we already had a thread for Spice and Wolf. Oh, well, anyway, I'll be waiting for a sub from a reputable group. I don't want to lose any economics lessons due to dodgy translations.

[Buffalobiian]

I'm pretty sure we already had a thread for Spice and Wolf. Oh, well, anyway, I'll be waiting for a sub from a reputable group. I don't want to lose any economics lessons due to dodgy translations.

I was half-way through typing a post in the previous thread when I saw it listed as a sequel to S&W at ANN rather than a second season, so I opted for a second thread instead.

BSS still has Horo's curvy figure on their main page, so hopefully they'll free up some time for this as well.

edit: current subbing lineup is - Mazui, BSS, Frostii, ASR:Kurou, Nire

[Lucifus]

Horo!! <3

Yay, they're back. Preferred the old opening, but its bound to a fun sequel.

[shinta|hikari]

I'm glad the relationship between the two seem to be developing. They even make conversation out of how it has developed in this episode. The first scene seems to indicate a choice that Holo will have to make in the future, and I hope it does come. It would suck if Yoitsu is gone and Holo will simply get stuck with Lawrence without having to sacrifice anything in the end.

[Buffalobiian]

Mazui - Episode 2

[Kraco]

BSS's site news tells they aren't subbing Spice and Wolf II... I wonder what group I'm supposed to look forward to now. It's starting to seem like no real one will have anything to do with this. Quite astonishing considering the first season was of pretty high quality and moderately popular.

[shinta|hikari]

Maybe it's because of the difficulty in translating the business talk. Even I have trouble trying to completely understand what they are saying without the subs when they start discussing trade. Still, I would have thought that this series is worth the trouble (because of Holo).

For those who watch the Mazui subs, are they decent?

[Oniken]

Yeh Mazui's subs are good, have no problems with them at all.

[Kraco]

I watched the two episodes out by Mazui and they actually were easily watchable. No problems. Jolly good, because it was already greatly bothering me I couldn't start to watch the show.

The relationship between those two is still exceedingly awkward. Neither really says what they want to say: Horo masks it under playfulness and Lawrence simply can't say anything yet gets time after time alarmed by Horo's jokes. For Lawrence it's obviously a very difficult situation as he plans to help Horo reach her village, yet doing so might mean a separation from her.

What's more interesting is the detail Horo has told oft enough there's no need to hurry, but Lawrence still seems to be wasting no time. I wonder if the uncertainty tortures him so much that he plans to find the place as soon as possible and force Horo to make a decision for good.

[Buffalobiian]

It really is strange how he's trying to find that village even more so than Horo. You'd think the more north you head, the easier it would be to acquire local legends, so there really was no hurry to seek it out at this stage.

The Moon-Hunting Bear may also indicate another transforming creature is to come.

The two's relationship, though awkward (because I can't think of another term right now), is one that's still got room for development, but doesn't start from scratch as if ignoring the entire first series. Mutually accepting themselves as a pair without actually saying "I love you" makes the chemistry all the more sweet but fun.

Not unlike C.C. and Lelouch's relationship at all.

I had a nice chuckle when Lawrence demanded for Horo's "hand" warmer.

[shinta|hikari]

I really don't see the problem in Holo's situation. She can simply live with Lawrence after they find her hometown, and stay with him until he dies. Then she can go back to her kind.

The only issue I can see is that she may be afraid of being too attached to Lawrence that his death will scar her too deeply.

[Board of Command]

[SFW] Spice and Wolf II - 01
[SFW] Spice and Wolf II - 02

These subs are supposedly better than Mazui's. I haven't watched either so I can't say from experience. For what it's worth, I'm in SFW now and I might be doing the editing for this series later.

[Buffalobiian]

Haven't had time to check out SFW's releases yet, but here's:

Mazui - Episode 3

[shinta|hikari]

Fantastic episode.

I never thought Holo would lose herself in such a manner. I can't really blame Lawrence for not being able to say anything back, because for one thing, he knows that Holo doesn't really mean those things, and for another, he was just so shocked at what is unfolding in front of him (including Holo's legs, apparently).

The preview shows that arrogant kid and Holo closing in for a kiss. I wonder if Holo decides to leave Lawrence because of her embarrassment for losing herself? I really doubt she believes the first few statements she gave herself during her confrontation with Lawrence.

[Lucifus]

Wicked crazy episode. Wickerd crazy season.

Man, watching this nearly gave me a heart attack. Haha, great reactions all around.

[Buffalobiian]

Wicked crazy episode. Wickerd crazy season.

Man, watching this nearly gave me a heart attack. Haha, great reactions all around.

It made me feel mushy inside. Just like Lawrence, Horo's words just made the possibility (and probability) of her leaving for the kid very, very real.

She mightn't really believe all the things she said, but that doesn't mean she'll be fine the next morning neither.

Right now, Horo is feeling insecure. She no longer has a home. Her partner's been hiding these facts from her. She believes he's trying to lose her somewhere. She feels betrayed, probably just like how she felt when the other town she helped turned on her.

She doesn't believe she needs someone she loves. Just someone who won't betray her. That's where the kid comes in.

[shinta|hikari]

That would be a pretty stupid decision for her to make. I would understand if she left Lawrence because of embarrassment, but if she actually felt "betrayed," it would be simply foolish. Lawrence has been nothing but sincere with her, and she should know by now that even if Lawrence is smart, he is not smart (or evil) enough to manage all of the things she accuses him of. Numerous events simply prove otherwise.

Right now, I feel for Lawrence more. Holo has the right to be upset, but so does Lawrence, yet he can't even do so because of Holo's attacks. If he cared for Holo as much as I think he does, all of those words must have really hurt him. If she leaves him for that crappy kid for a dumb reason like "He won't betray me unlike Lawrence." (for god's sake, the kid doesn't even know she has wolf ears and a tail, or worse, her true form), that would really disappoint me.

[Buffalobiian]

I'm totally with Lawrence on this one too. My main point however, was more about outlining how Horo is probably feeling right now, and possibly for a good while afterwards.

It was more of a response to "Horo doesn't really mean those things."

Given how hurt Horo is, I don't think she'll get over it with a good night's sleep. With the feeling of insecurity still lingering, it makes her vulnerable for falling with someone who she thinks loves her unconditionally.

A kid he might be, but Amarty is certainly portrayed as being a much better merchant than Lawrence.

And good merchants rarely waste opportunities.

You brought up a point I didn't consider before though, that Amarty doesn't know Horo's true identity.

Then remember their first meeting where Amarty reveals he's a believer.

Of the Church.

[shinta|hikari]

Plus, Amarty seems to have fallen in love with a fake version of Holo. She is simply not who Amarty thinks she is, Wolf God or not. He would probably be shocked when he finds out how high maintenance Holo can be, with the drinking, and the eating, and the teasing, and the clean up (after she gets drunk, and during hangovers) and the drinking, and the drinking... A maiden she is not. That is what makes her so great though.