Loneliness is an affliction that no one is fully immune to. Even those who constantly surround themselves with people cannot always dispel it, because companionship is more than just being in the vicinity of another person; it is about feeling a connection.

In Spice and Wolf, each of the major characters has experienced lives largely isolated from other people. This distance has marked their souls with loneliness, and the story is distinguished by how their chance meetings result in friendships that change their fortunes.

At the center of the story is a merchant named Kraft Lawrence, who makes his living transporting goods from one place to another, bartering the items he trades for small profits in hope of one day saving enough to open his own shop. While he is well respected, Lawrence is hardly prosperous, and though he has many acquaintances, he seems largely cut off from the people around him. He seems to fear letting his focus on his goal slip because of allowing someone else to get too close.

One day, Lawrence is passing through a familiar village that is holding its annual harvest festival for a wolf deity. While the celebration is lively, the people no longer have the reverence they once did for the goddess once believed to ensure a successful crop, because the spread of organized religion has condemned such beliefs as paganism.

Unbeknownst to the villagers, the wolf deity has always existed, looking after their crops through countless years. Having noticed the change in their behavior, Holo the Wise Wolf has sought release from her obligations to the village, and Lawrence provides her with just the opportunity she's been waiting for.

Upon initially discovering Holo in his cart, Lawrence believes her to be a simple stowaway, and while her ears and tail are quite unusual, he is unconvinced she is indeed a wolf until she reveals her true form. Recognizing someone in need, and perhaps a kindred spirit, Lawrence agrees to let Holo travel with him, and eventually promises to accompany her to return to her homelands in the North.

Traveling with Holo proves to hardly be the burden Lawrence initially expected, as he discovers the keen intelligence and charm of his companion to be favorable to his business prospects. The banter between the two is often amusing; with Holo’s naiveté about modern life blending with her haughty nature to create a sharp contrast with Lawrence’s own inexperience with women and penchant for teasing.

While the pair proves adept at spotting chances to make money, the trouble Lawrence and Holo find themselves in because of those opportunities usually turns out to be more than they can handle. Whether it’s running from competing merchants or hiding Holo’s identity from the church, their penchant for making enemies evens the scales. Thankfully, Holo being able to transform into a giant wolf also has its advantages. Despite the schemes not being overly creative, the plot manages to keep your attention largely because the world of business is a very unusual backdrop in anime.

The introduction of a cute shepherdess spices up the plot in the final story arc, adding feelings of jealousy and doubt to the complexity of Holo. Through it all though, Lawrence and Holo forge a bond that fills the hole that existed in each of their lives and start taking risks to preserve the well being of the other. The relationship is an entertaining one, which at the conclusion of the initial season, has not blossomed into a romance, but rather a complex interplay that holds a lot of potential.

Spice and Wolf is a solid series with an unusual premise and well-developed main characters. While it won’t likely hold the attention of action junkies and its comedy is not derived from absurdity, those in the mood for a charming story will likely find a worthwhile diversion.