Spice and Wolf, Episode 9
Wolf and Shepherd’s Lambs
[Catch up with your wolf spirits at the Spice and Wolf Info Page]
Spice and Wolf continues slowly developing its current storyline, but by the end of the episode I think the pace is sufficiently picking up. I’m not sold on this whole Nora thing, but she’s mysterious and she ramps up the still-clever interaction between Horo and Lawrence.
Recap
The shepherd, called Nora, wants Lawrence to hire her as an escort (a guide, that is — mind outta the gutter) to get him through the wolf-infested road he’s traveling. Of course, he’s not worried about wolves but it wouldn’t be prudent for him to tell a stranger why he’s not worried. On top of that, he seems interested in having some cute human company. She’s interested in making some extra cash because shepherding is laborious work — especially when you’re in the employ of the Church. Plus, she talks to sheep all day and wouldn’t mind company either.
Travel seems to go without a hitch, with the exception of Horo constantly giving Lawrence shit. Is it… jealousy? She would never admit to that, and berates him for even thinking it, but she certainly likes having control of him.
Nora’s church connections get them into the city without much hassle. But the customs officer gives a little snorting laugh at Lawrence’s suits of armor. We also get to see Nora entering the city to the tune of slamming doors and citizens shuffling their children out of her way. According to the bits of light novel trivia we’re given by certain benevolent fansubbers, the Church is mistrustful of a female shepherd as skilled as Nora (i.e., they too think she’s a magician), so her employment situation exists as much to keep an eye on her as anything else.
After some drinking and eating (sadly for Horo, no honey-pickled peaches), Lawrence goes to the merchant guild’s headquarters. He makes Horo wait outside, with obvious reason — the guild master likes to loudly tell embarrassing stories.
But Lawrence and Nora aren’t the only people entering the city: a mysterious stranger is about, and he’s looking for Lawrence…
Thoughts
Lawrence and Horo’s conversation in the cart after Nora goes to sleep is a fine example of one of my favorite things about this show. Lawrence tries to counter Horo with some smooth talk (with a hilariously timed shooting star to aid him), but it just makes her cackle with laughter at his pimp-attempt.
Their back-and-forth makes even the slowest episodes cleverly entertaining. We’re past the halfway mark now and it’s about time the next portion of the story got rolling. There really hasn’t been much happening since the Silver Coin Scandal. But like I said, I enjoy Spice and Wolf even when not much is going on, so I’ll wait somewhat eagerly for next week.
- otou-san out!
March 14th, 2008 at 3:59 am
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