The plot of Spice and Wolf literally revolves around how awesome markets and capitalism is
I'm not sure about that reading. It's about a traveling merchant, and the various schemes he hatches to make money in a medieval European economy. It doesn't glorify the system Lawrence lives under, he just has to navigate it to make his living.
Not the guy you're replying to, but I guess the main criticism I have with Holo is the same issue I have with a lot of female anime protagonists in that she seems to be blatant pandering to a male audience. Besides her appearance, there's the premise with her being this "wise", powerful hundreds-of-years-old deity that is relying on and is educated by the MC.
Holo spent a few hundred years acting as the god of the harvest for a farming community. Eventually the village starts to mechanize their agricultural process, and Holo, feeling neglected and unwanted, hitches a ride with a passing merchant to travel back to her original home. Lawrence, the merchant, teaches her about the new modern world outside of her village, and in turn she uses her powers as a minor deity to assist in his business ventures. I feel like they did a good job of making this an equal partnership.
They did make Holo very attractive in the anime, but the stories themselves don't have anything in the way of "fanservice". It's a slow-burn romance story, and it's handled tastefully.
Yeah the in-story justification for it makes sense and I very much enjoyed the series and their relationship which is why I had mentioned the series in the first place. Even so, I guess what bothers me is that as a dude, this premise
Holo, feeling neglected and unwanted, hitches a ride with a passing merchant to travel back to her original home. Lawrence, the merchant, teaches her about the new modern world outside of her village, and in turn she uses her powers as a minor deity to assist in his business ventures
is like the ultimate wish fulfillment. Self-inserting as Lawrence, you are put in a situation where your smarts and kindness are rewarded with the companionship of a literal goddess that helps you make money.
I'm not sure about that reading. It's about a traveling merchant, and the various schemes he hatches to make money in a medieval European economy. It doesn't glorify the system Lawrence lives under, he just has to navigate it to make his living.
What did you dislike about how Holo was written?
Not the guy you're replying to, but I guess the main criticism I have with Holo is the same issue I have with a lot of female anime protagonists in that she seems to be blatant pandering to a male audience. Besides her appearance, there's the premise with her being this "wise", powerful hundreds-of-years-old deity that is relying on and is educated by the MC.
Holo spent a few hundred years acting as the god of the harvest for a farming community. Eventually the village starts to mechanize their agricultural process, and Holo, feeling neglected and unwanted, hitches a ride with a passing merchant to travel back to her original home. Lawrence, the merchant, teaches her about the new modern world outside of her village, and in turn she uses her powers as a minor deity to assist in his business ventures. I feel like they did a good job of making this an equal partnership.
They did make Holo very attractive in the anime, but the stories themselves don't have anything in the way of "fanservice". It's a slow-burn romance story, and it's handled tastefully.
Yeah the in-story justification for it makes sense and I very much enjoyed the series and their relationship which is why I had mentioned the series in the first place. Even so, I guess what bothers me is that as a dude, this premise
is like the ultimate wish fulfillment. Self-inserting as Lawrence, you are put in a situation where your smarts and kindness are rewarded with the companionship of a literal goddess that helps you make money.
Fair enough!