Spice and Wolf II - Episode 2

After delivering a sparkling example of the kind of beautifully witty dialogue between two characters that has become Spice and Wolf's trademark from virtually the very beginning last episode, this second episode of Spice and Wolf II actially deprives us of that fascinating Lawrence and Horo dynamic for much of the episode.

Despite the beginning of the festival in town, Lawrence ends up leaving Horo alone as he attends to business - Albeit a form of business that is anything but, as he spends time trying to learn the location of Horo's home in the north, Yoitsu. He does this courtesy of his guild contacts, who in turn introduces him to a darker side of town inhabited by alchemists, so-called witches and those of whom the church disapproves. Meanwhile, Lawrence leaves Horo in the capable hands of young Amati, asking him to show her around town - A request he begins to regret slightly when he hears a little more about Amati's reputation...


While this episode wasn't packed with dialogue and those wonderful moments between Lawrence and Horo, it was at least book-ended by their conversations, which gave us a suitable reminder as to what makes this series great; in other words, more of that fabulous dynamic between this pairing, accentuated by the quality of animation on show when it comes to Horo's facial expressions and body language, which are almost enough to let you get away with watching with the sound turned down. Luckily, the great dialogue here manages to extend beyond simply the two main characters, giving some of the supporting characters equal chance to charm and fascinate with their own relationships, while the drama looks set to be ratcheted up next time around by the mysterious cliffhanger left at the end of this episode. This might not quite have been Spice and Wolf at its very best, yet it still manages to have plenty to offer, and that endding alone has left me impatiently waiting for episode three.