When watching this show I ponder on what it really means to “Falling into the Hype”.It is naive to think that when a show is popular that it doesn’t affect your mood going in. But on that same thought is there a difference in “Falling into the Hype” and just seeking understatement on why something is popular. I didn’t come into this show hyped but throughout this experience I was always search for that special something. Something I never found. All I was left was this indifferent feeling. When you are stuck in an indifferent feeling is a good indication that the show is average. It is tasked upon you at that point to go through all the aspects of the show and see what would you say is above average and if that is enough to warrant putting up the score.

When I asked about this show before I started watching my comrades noted there was a lot of mentioning of economics.That is definitely something that caught my attention and was the most enjoyable plot about the show.I actually wrote a paper in college all about merchant guilds and having an anime that covered it was satisfying but only to a certain extent. We saw glimpses of the trade warfare going on but it wasn’t a full-fledged dive into the economic wars of the world. I would personally like to see a show about merchant guilds that would operate more like 91 Days or Koei's The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. There was no individuality given to any of the guilds.

The merchant guilds were primarily there to only put hardships on our main character Lawrence. A character that I have to say am disappointed in as he was fairly bland the entire entry. There were glimpses at the end that showed he could improve in the second season. But he needs to drop the White Knight act. Then even as a businessman I can’t respect him as I don’t know who in their right mind would put all their money in one basket instead of building up a contingency. There is no time in this show where I can definitively say I felt bad for him.

When Holo calls this guy a loser. She isn’t wrong. Holo is the best character of the show by default but still isn’t exactly my type of girl.I have seen a lot of individuals deeming Lawrence and Holo to be one of the best couples in all of anime.Yet the romance in this season has barely even been scratched. I would hope in the second season there would be much improvement. In the first season it has we’ve only seen Tsundere flirting. That is nowhere near enough for me.

Then we move on the supernatural element of the show. I really liked the opening of the show and the world it was attempting to create in episode 1 about Holo’s origins.But all of that was downgraded to a side story and an unfulfilling one at that. There was all this talk about the people believing they didn’t need Holo anymore to bless their crops. But because of everything else going on in the show the climax to that just fell flat. I wouldn’t even put that into the importance of the currency wars that was noted throughout the season. Having rivaling currencies was very intriguing aspect to follow.But when the economics changed over to just being there for hardships on Lawrence we lost that flare there as well.

Even when I attempt to think of something satisfying I'm coming up with a blank. The OP and ED are good but nothing I would put in my top 20. The Art is good but nothing I’d rave about. Maybe 3 or 4 points given for that. I will also note that I felt the pacing was rushed for the plot. There was also time for more plot that was taken up by slice of life episodes. Finally I do find it ironic that even in the moment of writing this review. My feeling on this review of the show reflects my opinions of show. Indifferent. So I feel like a base 60 out of 100 is the right way to go. Spice and Wolf is neither a bear or bull market.