Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 “Merchant and Unreasonable God” gives us the return of the wolf. I mean, it’s not like it’s easy to forget that Holo is a wolf goddess. You know, what with the ears and tail and all. However, this episode makes it ever harder to forget that immutable fact.

Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 “Merchant and Unreasonable God”: Details

Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF NA key visual.
The dawn seems even further in this episode.

Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 “Merchant and Unreasonable God” is the sixth episode (you can reviews for Ep. 1, Ep. 2, Ep. 3, Ep. 4, and Ep. 5 here) of season 1 (which hopefully won’t be the only one) of this reboot anime series by studio Passione (Citrus, Mieruko-chan, Yuri Is My Job!). Said anime series is the reboot of the 2008 anime Spice and Wolf by studios Imagin (season 1) and the duo of Brain’s Base and Marvy Jack (season 2). Said original anime series (along with this reboot) are the anime adaptations of the light novel series of the same name by Isuna Hasekura (World End Economica, Magdala de Nemure). Crunchyroll is the company licensing this anime for its NA release.

Junichi Kato is the director behind Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 “Merchant and Unreasonable God”, with Shinji Itadaki as the writer, and Tatsuhiko Urahata doing the storyboard. As for the anime as a whole, we do still know that Hijiri Sanpei is the director. Takeo Takahashi is actually returning from the original 2008 anime series as the chief director. Tatsuhiko Urahata is the overall writer, with Kevin Penkin (Made in Abyss, Tower of God, Bye Bye, Earth) as the composer for the music you hear in this reboot anime.

Speaking of music: the opening theme music for this reboot anime is “Tabi no Yukue” by Hana Hope. Meanwhile, “Andante” by ClariS is the ending theme music for the same.

Voice Cast

Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 “Merchant and Unreasonable God” features the voices of Jun Fukuyama (J. Michael Tatum in English dub) as Kraft Lawrence and Ami Koshimizu (Brina Palencia in English dub) as Holo the Wise Wolf. The other notable voice role in this episode is Tomokazu Sugita (Austin Tindle in English dub) as Yarei.

When and Where to Watch

Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 “Merchant and Unreasonable God” made its airing and streaming (aka. simulcast) debut on May 6, 2024. You can watch this episode only on Crunchyroll. In fact, you can watch this reboot anime as a whole only on Crunchyroll for now. If you want to watch the original 2008 Spice and Wolf anime for comparison, then you can do that on Crunchyroll as well.

Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 “Merchant and Unreasonable God”: Synopsis

It’ll be a while before Holo smiles again in this episode.

Alas, Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF is an ongoing anime series. In fact, Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 “Merchant and Unreasonable God” only just made its debut yesterday as of this writing. Thus, you will all get the official synopsis from Crunchyroll instead of a spoiler-filled plot summary. You can read that synopsis below:

Holo and Lawrence are trapped in the tunnels below the city, with hunters searching for them in all directions. When danger comes, how far will they go to protect each other?

Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 “Merchant and Unreasonable God”: The Good

Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 "Merchant and Unreasonable God" visual by Juu Ayakura.
This Juu Ayakura visual makes sense in context.

Without a doubt, it’s the story of Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 “Merchant and Unreasonable God” that’s the best part about it. All entirely because it’s the same story Isuna Hasekura wrote that became the original 2008 anime. It’s this combination of fantasy action, horror, and drama that sells this episode to me. Seriously, Holo going back to her wolf form is legit terrifying, especially in this episode’s context. Let’s just say that everyone finds out what Holo is willing to do to protect Lawrence.

Adding to that story is the animation. Passione have been quite passionate about giving this anime some pretty high quality animation. It almost feels like watching a painting in motion, even in the grim depths of the sewers Lawrence and Holo found themselves in.

Finally, the last touch to this episode was the music. It’s certainly not the least though. Kevin Penkin did an amazing job with the music, especially when Holo finally goes full giant wolf again. That wail of lamentation that went during that scene was the perfect accompaniment to it.

Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 “Merchant and Unreasonable God”: The Bad

Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF Ep. 6 "Merchant and Unreasonable God" screenshot showing Holo's eyes as she begins to turn back into a wolf.
When Holo is like this and you wronged her, you’d better run.

Honestly, this is the most action-packed episode of Spice and Wolf: MERCHANT MEETS THE WISE WOLF we’ve got so far. If this isn’t enough for you, then perhaps this isn’t quite the anime for you. Perhaps something more like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Kaiju No. 8, or Solo Leveling is more your kind of anime? Those have plenty of action in them.