English Dub Review: Spice and Wolf MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF “Church Girl and Miller Boy”

Overview

With a load of flour, Holo and Lawrence head deeper into the north, arriving at the town of Tereo, and searching for an abbey with information on Holo’s home…

Our Take

A new arc of Spice & Wolf begins with Lawrence and Holo arriving at the eerie town of Torneo, where they encounter a miller named Evan and a suspiciously tight-lipped churchwoman, Elsa. The town’s hostility toward outsiders and the secrecy surrounding the abbey set a mysterious tone, contrasting sharply with the playful banter between the two leads who continue to grow closer even as they face new challenges.

The interactions between Lawrence and Holo remain a highlight, from Holo teasing Lawrence about how they appear to outsiders to the more subtle moments of intimacy, like their playful arguments over small tasks. Holo’s sharp wit and Lawrence’s attempts to keep up with her add a layer of charm to the unfolding mystery. The town’s gloomy atmosphere and the villagers’ secretive behavior hint at a deeper plot. Especially the twist ending regarding two recently introduced characters…

Overall, this arc is off to a strong start. Upon research, this particular storyline is said to be based on the 4th Volume of the Light Novel series called the “Pagan Gods” arc which was never previously adapted until now. So it should be interesting to see this unused story get the Anime spotlight in the Reboot that it never had in the original 2008 series. The new characters and setting add freshness to the proceedings, while the familiar dynamics between Holo and Lawrence keep the proceedings grounded. And with this new mystery, I’m left wondering where it goes next!