Rating: B+ Even if I hadn’t read the source novel or seen the original adaptation, I think I still would have seen all the major twists in this episode coming. While the series can pull off some genuine surprises, those are predicated more on readers/viewers not fully understanding how things work in a practical senseContinue reading “Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 11”
Category Archives: Episode Reviews
Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 10
Rating: A- The end of last episode found Lawrence at his lowest point, knowing that he was in trouble both financially and with his companion. Left with nowhere to go but up, he spends this episode gradually digging himself out of that hole, and he does so with the help of two formidable women: oneContinue reading “Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 10”
Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 9
Rating: B+ The original adaptation fell into a steady and familiar pattern throughout its two seasons: the first two episodes of each arc set up the circumstances as Lawrence and Holo move to a new location, encounter someone new who figures into the overall arc, and generally engage in more relaxed banter. The third episodeContinue reading “Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 9”
An Archdemon’s Dilemma, episodes 7-9
Collective Rating: B+ The first six episodes of the series established the two main characters, justified the series’ title, and (more or less) formalized the relationship between Zagan and Nephy: they are, for all practical purposes, a married couple, even if neither is willing to admit it out loud and they’re still shying away fromContinue reading “An Archdemon’s Dilemma, episodes 7-9”
Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 8
Rating: B Like its name suggests, the episode “Fellow Traveler and Foreboding News” deals with two plot threads running in parallel: one concerning Lawrence and Holo’s encounter with the shepherdess Nora (and her dog Enek) and the other concerning various ominous notes about Lawrence’s business situation. Exactly how the two are connected is unclear asContinue reading “Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 8”
Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 7
Rating: B+ With this episode, this take on the source novels begins its adaptation of the second novel. It equates to episode 8 of the original series, since the original episode 7 was only released on DVD and adapts a short story which comes up later in the novels (but chronologically happens between novels 1Continue reading “Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 7”
Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 6
Rating: B- Whether you’re a newcomer to the franchise with this series or a long-established fan, this was always going to be the make-or-break episode for this adaptation’s first story arc: the point where Holo finally fully reveals her true form. Up until this point, the new adaptation has done a mostly-worthy job of matchingContinue reading “Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 6”
Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 5
Rating: B+ Episode 4 ended with a crisis which demanded quick action. But while this series is many things, it’s definitely not an action series at heart. It has its own way of dealing with a crisis, and that is beautifully demonstrated by how episode 5 plays out. As much as the series is aboutContinue reading “Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 5”
Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 4
Rating: A- With its fourth episode, the economic scheme that Lawrence has gotten a whiff of expands, with Lawrence wading into deeper water as he arranges a deal with the Milone Trading Company. But while the potential returns are fantastic, this also leads to the series’ first true crisis and cliffhanger ending. In the longContinue reading “Spice & Wolf (2024) episode 4”
An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride episodes 2-4
Episode 2 Rating: B Episode 3, 4 Rating: B+ In my Preview Guide entry for episode 1, I had mixed feelings about this series and the seemingly-stereotypical path it was going down, but I did recognize some potential positive points. In the three episodes since then, those positive points have blossomed and been joined byContinue reading “An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride episodes 2-4”
USA Anime 