English Dub Review: Spice and Wolf MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF “New Town and Nostalgic Feeling; Bird Feather and Mysterious Ore “

Overview

“New Town and Nostalgic Feeling”

Lawrence and Holo continue their long journey north, reaching the town of Kumerson, where they see the first northern pagans of their journey.


“Bird Feather and Mysterious Ore”

With no real information on how to get to Yoitsu, Lawrence uses all his resources to find more information. Will pagan stories of the North yield any clues?


Our Take

This time around, Crunchyroll felt the need to release two dubbed episodes at once this week with the first one with our two leads continuing their journey north from Ruvinheigen, aiming for Yoitsu (Holo’s Homeland). Their next stop is Kumersun, a town bustling with preparations for the Radla Festival, known for its grand market. Along the way, they meet Fermi Amati, a young fishmonger from the same Rowen Trading Guild as Lawrence, who helps them with lodging and other arrangements. As the new arc unfolds, the interactions between Holo and Lawrence are filled with their usual banter and teasing, yet a new goal has been laid out before the two with Holo’s journey to Yoitsu nearing its end…

For the other episode, Holo is in high spirits, although it feels like Lawrence is handling most of the work, maintaining his realistic approach. Despite the excitement of the Radla Festival, it’s clear Holo looks forward to spending time with Lawrence rather than the event itself. Instead, Lawrence allows Amati, who’s now an instant fanboy for Holo, to accompany her to the festival, which doesn’t sit well with many. Meanwhile, Lawrence seeks information about Yoitsu from a chronicler, Dian Rubens, introduced to him by his colleague Marc Cole (voiced by Ian Sinclair of “Space Dandy” fame). Dian, residing among alchemists, provides crucial insights into Yoitsu’s fate which leaves me to wonder, what happens if Holo finds out?

Overall, this was quite an interesting two-part episode. Despite some static animation compared to the original, the new adaptation captures the charm and bittersweet moments of Holo and Lawrence’s relationship. The new arc promises more engaging developments as they navigate their adventures together. The first episode introduces Fermi Amati, the biggest Holo admirer, and sets the stage for potential romantic conflict. Lawrence is improving his business negotiation skills, while Holo’s inability to read is highlighted, making sense given her past in the wild. Their journey’s emotional depth is touched upon, especially with the mention of Yoitsu, and what’s become of it. Despite this, Holo’s playful interactions and Lawrence’s attempts to gather information keep the story engaging, and the cliffhanger at the end left me hooked enough to see what happens next!