Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew Premiere Review – A New Mystery Unfolds (2×01)
A new mystery unfolds as Nancy Drew kicks off its second season.
Competing with the spine-tingling Lucy Sable mystery is a tall order, but it’s a challenge that the writers and the Drew Crew are up for! The Nancy Drew Season 2 premiere delivers an exceptional mystery with the same amount of scares we’ve come to expect.
Though the Drew Crew tackles a brand-new case when a mystery woman runs out from a forest and mutters Nancy’s name, it all ties back to the Aglaeca curse introduced in the latter half of the first season.
For those who don’t remember, here’s a quick refresher: Nancy and friends performed a ritual that upset a vengeful sea spirit. When they failed to pay the blood toll, it not only killed Nancy’s boyfriend, Owen Marvin, but it triggered a deadly curse that saw the rest of the group having visions of their untimely death: Bess was burned alive, Ace was hung on a meat hook, George and Ned drowned in his pick-up, and Nancy fell off the cliff just like her late mother, Lucy.
So it’s not surprising that their main priority is to stop the Aglaeca curse before it wipes them off of the face of Horsehoe Bay.
But how does one even begin to fend off an evil spirit? With Nancy, answers tend to fall into her lap. This time, however, they come at the hands of Bess, who utilizes social media to get some help. Bess really is the MVP of the crew even if the way she goes about it is a bit sloppy.
Nancy Drew — “The Search for the Midnight Wraith” — Image Number: NCD201c_0420r.jpg — Pictured (L-R): Leah Lewis as George, Tunji Kasim as Nick, Kennedy McMann as Nancy and Maddison Jaizani as Bess — Photo: Colin Bentley/The CW — © 2021 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
The answers are directly connected to the case of the missing Jane Doe, which leads Nancy and the team to the Gorham Woods during a full moon where legend has it, a wraithe is said to feed on fear.
The self-awareness of the series is one of the reasons it’s able to sell the urban legends and the idea of supernatural ghosts and spirits haunting the town. The team is all too clued into the dangers of their “missions” because past experiences have proven that urban legends are not legends in Horseshoe Bay. If they know it’s outrageous and accept it at face value, it’s easier for the audience to digest that there’s some creature lurking in the woods ready to attack them at any moment.
It also allows audiences to understand why they keep putting themselves in danger; they don’t have much of a choice as their very survival is on the line.
Wanting answers on how to defeat the Aglaeca, they locate the spot where Jane Doe, whose real name is Amanda, was attacked, and conveniently find a cellphone with footage of her conversation with her twin brother, Gil, which pretty much clues them into everything that the twin-duo had planned. (I’ll ignore how convenient all of their findings are because it’s necessary to help usher along the story and get some real answers about breaking the curse.)
Other items they find to help them solve the mystery include an insulin pump, which forces them to race against the clock because if they don’t find Gil in time, he won’t make it to give them they answers they’re looking for or the mirror her promised that can break the curse.
Ace, who clearly knows the grounds better than anyone thanks to his boy scout days, suggests that maybe Gil ran to the hunting lodge in the area.
And again, that conveniently connects to the Hudson family. Then again, what in this town doesn’t?
The Hudsons – which we now know is Nancy’s biological family – have their hand in everything. This is why you never trust a town’s founding families.
Including the Hudsons in this mystery is very clearly a ploy to include Ryan Hudson in Nancy’s life in a meaningful way. They have a lot of catching up to do, and if he’s not included in her mysteries, there wouldn’t really be a chance for them to get to know each other.
But he also comes to her aide twice in the premiere episode, so maybe having a Hudson on her side will prove to be beneficial or, at the very least, to get her out of trouble, which she always seems to find herself in.
The first time around, Ryan protects her and her friends after they trespass on Everrett’s property. The second time, when Nancy is arrested for “stealing” the mirror, a Hudson family heirloom, he bails her out.
For now, Nancy’s identity is a secret that only a handful of people know about in this town, but it’s a powerful weapon, especially for Ryan, who proves that while he’s trying to make good with his biological daughter, he isn’t above “threatening” her adoptive father, Carson Drew.
This makes is harder to root for Ryan since he teeters the line of being a good guy versus being just like his father. However, his hostility towards Carson is understandable as he was stripped of being a father and lied to his whole life by someone he trusted. Their beef isn’t just going to go away, but eventually, they’ll have to put their differences aside for Nancy and to take down Everrett.
I can’t help but feel for Carson, who not only had his reputation ruined by being accused of a murder he didn’t commit, but is now on the outs with his daughter because he did what he thought best. Nancy may feel betrayed, but Carson thought he was protecting her and acting in her best interest. At some point, she has to acknowledge that. He’s always been a good dad to her.
Nancy Drew — “The Search for the Midnight Wraith” — Image Number: NCD201e_000945r2.jpg — Pictured: Riley Smith as Ryan — Photo: Colin Bentley/The CW — © 2021 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Nancy also doesn’t want her true identity getting out simply out of the fear that people will think she’s just like her blood relatives. And there’s nothing worse than being compared to a Hudson.
When Ace suggests she’s just like her grandfather leading them into danger, it really takes a toll on Nancy.
Ace may be Nancy’s right-hand man, but his fears and frustrations are understandable, also. This isn’t the first time Ace and the team almost died because they decided to help Nancy. Once again, it’s refreshing when characters don’t sugarcoat that their lives constantly revolve around shady situations that could get them killed. It humanizes the characters and shows that the supernatural occurrences aren’t just something you can “get used to.”
We often wonder why the supporting cast always does everything to help the heroine, and while that proves that they are great friends, it doesn’t mean that she should always expect it from them.
Nancy attempts to payback the favor by facing the Wraithe alone and saving her friends, but it also comes off as simply a gesture to prove to herself and everyone around that she’s nothing like the Hudsons.
It also doesn’t seem like we’ve seen the last of Gil. He may have a rap sheet and seized the opportunity to extort money from Nancy, but he knows more about the Hudson family than he’s letting on. Plus, there definitely seemed to be some sparks with Nancy as he ran onto the bus to save her.
And he actually delivered on his promise since the mirror actually gave them the next step to beating the Aglaeca: a sea shanty.
Seeing as Nancy is able to solve any mystery quicker than the police and the newest detective Demora, who is already weary of her probably because of her sleuthing reputation, it likely won’t be a challenge for her. It’s just like solving a riddle only this time, it’s a sing-songy riddle.
But will they find the sea shanty before any of those death visions come true? Let’s hope so!
Other Musings
- What is Everett Hudson up to? Why does it feel like he also knows more than he’s letting on?
- Nancy would have to be blind not to realize that George and Ned are an item. There’s no use in hiding that relationship anymore! I may be mistaken, but I feel like she gave them her blessing back in season 1 and made it clear she’s moved on by dating Owen.
- Ace continues to provide tense moments with some comedic relief. Telling Everett that he has a “lovely home” and asking if there’s a “meat hook” in the house were two highlights the episode.
What did you think of the Nancy Drew season 2 premiere? Sound-off in the comments, Cravers!
Coffee Table News
‘Riverdale’ and ‘Nancy Drew’ Announce Final Season Premiere Dates—And Series Finale Dates
Riverdale and Nancy Drew are gearing up for their final hurrah.
We’ve known that the end for these CW dramas was near—and now we know exactly when we’ll have to say goodbye and part ways with our favorite TV redheads.
Riverdale will premiere for its seventh and final season on Wednesday, March 29 at 9/8c.
The wait for Nancy Drew will be a bit longer as the series will return on Wednesday, May 31 at 8pm taking over The Flash’s time slot.
Riverdale will have a significantly higher episode count with 20 total episodes to wrap things up, while our time at Horseshoe Bay will be limited to 13 episodes.
Both teen dramas will come to an epic conclusion when the series finales air on Wednesday, Aug. 23.
The CW also gave fans official synopses for both shows so fans know exactly what to expect.
Riverdale — “Chapter One Hundred Eighteen: Don’t Worry Darling” — Image Number: RVD701a_0716r — Pictured (L – R): Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones, Madelaine Petsch as Cheryl Blossom, KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller and Nicholas Barasch as Juilian Blossom — Photo: Michael Courtney/The CW — © 2023 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Riverdale
“Picking up where last season ended, Jughead Jones finds himself trapped in the 1950s. He has no idea how he got there, nor how to get back to the present. His friends are no help, as they are living seemingly authentic lives, similar to their classic Archie Comics counterparts, unaware that they’ve ever been anywhere but the 1950’s.”
Archie Andrews is the classic all-American teen, coming of age, getting into trouble, and learning life-lessons; Betty Cooper is the girl next door, starting to question everything about her perfect life — including her controlling mother Alice; Veronica Lodge is a Hollywood starlet who moved to Riverdale under mysterious circumstances; Cheryl Blossom is the Queen Bee with a withering wit and a secret longing; Toni Topaz is an activist fighting for the Black students of recently integrated Riverdale High; Kevin Keller is a ‘square’ crooner wrestling with his sexual identity; Reggie Mantle is a basketball star from farm country; and Fangs Fogarty is a greaser who’s destined to be an Elvis-type star. It isn’t until Jughead is visited by Tabitha Tate — Riverdale’s Guardian Angel — that he learns the cosmic truth about their predicament. Will Jughead and the gang be able to return to the present? Or will our characters be trapped in the 1950’s forever? And, if so…is that such a bad thing?”
Nancy Drew — Image Number: NCD405b_0554r — Pictured (L – R): Alex Saxon as Ace, Kennedy McMann as Nancy Drew, Tunji Kasim as Nick, Maddison Jaizani as Bess and Leah Lewis as George Fan — Photo: Colin Bentley/The CW — © 2023 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Nancy Drew
“George’s desire for justice has brought her fighting spirit to the courtroom as an aspiring law school student; Nick, whose broken engagement with George has left him single, is back on the dating scene, and focused on becoming a rising star as a local businessman; Bess is eager to become the town’s guardian of dangerous supernatural secrets, only to encounter a threatening new foe who’s hellbent on leading a witch-hunt to undermine her mission; and Nancy’s star-crossed love Ace must confront the deathly curse keeping him and Nancy from acting on their feelings for each other.”
Nancy Drew‘s final season “begins as Nancy launches a new investigation to find a group of missing bodies from Horseshoe Bay’s cemetery that have been dug up and stolen—or have possibly risen. As Nancy is drawn into this ghostly case, a string of unexplained paranormal crimes leads the Drew Crew to believe that the literal sins of the town’s past have returned to haunt the living. Meanwhile, Nancy struggles with yearning for Ace, the man she loves. But when a slow-burning attraction begins between Nancy and the son of Ryan Hudson’s newest enemy, Nancy must decide whether this love interest is worth the ire of both her father and Ace —whose own heart may also be tempted by a new relationship. Nancy’s exploits this season will bring the Drew Crew numerous standalone cases, stunning twists, humor, and unexpected romances as they are drawn into a season-long mystery unlike any they have had to solve before. When Nancy’s efforts to protect her seaside hometown from the sins of its past backfire, she must do the unthinkable to save her friends from both the supernatural and earthbound threats coming for them—and it could cost her everything, and everyone, she’s ever loved.”
Find out more about Riverdale Season 7 right here!
We’ve got some bad news for you, Nancy Drew fans—the sleuthing days of Nancy (Kennedy McMann) and friends in Horseshoe Bay are coming to an end.
The CW has canceled the detective series, announcing that the upcoming fourth season will be the last.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, Oct. 26, showrunners Noga Landau and Melinda Hsu Taylor wrote: “We are so honored and proud to have brought Nancy Drew’s iconic determination, individuality and resilience to life in a years-long collaboration with incredible creative talents in front of the camera, behind the scenes and among our studio and network partners. Our hearts are full of gratitude, knowing that we are able to bring this chapter to a close with intentionality, inclusivity and kindness — and of course with plenty of sleuthing twists, supernatural scares and star-crossed romance along the way. We are especially indebted to our wonderful fan community, whose connection with our themes and stories has meant the world to us. Season 4 will be a worthy and resonant payoff for their continued love and support.”
McMann also shared her thoughts, noting: “It has been the greatest pleasure to begin my career as one small part of Nancy Drew’s endless legacy. What a privilege to walk in her shoes for as long as I have, to be inspired by her and to grow with her. I wish our incredible fans could feel the heart and passion of our crew that has been ever-present on and off screen, day in and day out since the very beginning. You are every bit a part of this incredible show as we are. Thank you, thank you, thank you for every ounce of passion and kindness you have shared with me and with each other.”
The series has been beloved by fans since its inception in 2019. It also stars Scott Wolf, Leah Lewis, Maddison Jaizani, Tunji Kasim, Alex Saxon, and Riley Smith.
While there is no premiere date set for the fourth and final season yet, it is expected to arrive next year in the midseason.
The cancellation of Nancy Drew is heartbreaking but not entirely surprising as The CW axed a handful of its shows earlier this year ahead of Nexstar’s acquisition of the network, including the Nancy Drew spinoff, Tom Swift, which barely lasted a full season.
The Nancy Drew Season 3 finale was on a mission not just to destroy Temperance Hudson and save Horseshoe Bay, but to give fans all. the. damn. feels.
Every single one of them.
It was an interesting finale in that it embraced a different vibe than all the previous episodes.
The flow was choppy and rushed. Instead of setting the scene and witnessing the Drew Crew form a plan to save Ace’s life from the Copperhead, the episode jumped right into the action with Nancy presenting Temperance with a plan — her blood to open the veil in exchange for the soul splitter to help Ace.
Naturally, we know Nancy would never just risk the wellbeing of the town for her own selfish reasons, and if you questioned the legitimacy of this “truce,” you’re a true Nancy Drew fan!
The master plan was revealed in snippets that didn’t fully make sense, but considering the Temperance Hudson situation was wrapped up mere minutes into the episode, it’s clear the finale had a lot to pack into an hour and wasn’t interested in wasting precious moments of screentime.
In short, once Temperance agreed to Nancy’s plan, they initiated the process of splitting Ace’s soul while Nancy gave Temperance her blood… which was dosed with a sedative through the donut holes Nancy kept munching on.
And while it was a genius plan, it, once again, didn’t stand a chance against Temperance’s skills. I’ve said this in previous reviews, but that 200-year-old witch had a lot of time to think this through; her plan was going to go off without a hitch, no matter what.
Or, so she thought.
Once she got ahold of all four hearts, she enacted what she referred to as the New Genesis.
However, Ryan Hudson arrived in the knick of time with a hatchet to kill skin walkers, which he got from a very shady couple harboring a house full of relics and dangerous objects.
Nancy used it on Temperance… and it was all over.
If you thought, “this was too easy,” again, you’re a true Nancy Drew fan. Anytime there’s an overly happy moment right after the world is almost swallowed up whole, it’s natural to be skeptical.
But what happened next was next-level.
Ryan Hudson was hit with a piece of shrapnel from the hatchet which KILLED HIM.
I had to rewind the episode several times to see his obituary because I couldn’t believe my eyes.
The Nancy Drew writers are known for delivering big twists (I’m still not over the Lucy Sable twist), and they’re not afraid to kill off main characters that seem pivotal to the storyline (see also: Owen Mavin, RIP), so I thought this might be a similar situation, but then, the whole vibe felt off once again.
The transitions between scenes, the way everyone interacted with each other, and even the happy sendoff for Nick all felt misplaced as if part of some wicked dream… or nightmare.
But it flowed with the course of events, so it wasn’t much of a cause for concern either. Nick wanted to get away for a bit so he planned a trip to Florida. George finally decided to pursue law. After a near-apocalypse, Bess didn’t want to be involved with the Historical Society anymore. And following weeks of mourning, Nancy decided to finally act on her feelings with Ace… and it was so hot, it broke the barometer!
You’d think that’s a good thing, but nope, it was 100% an omen… and confirmation that none of this is real.
Of course, the actual confirmation came from Temperance at the site of a car wreck that took Ace’s life.
In Nancy’s mind, a whole month passed by, but in reality, she was still at the moment of the veil deciding whether or not to kill Temperance.
To be fair, it was kind of Temperance to take this moment to warn Nancy about the holy hell she was going to unleash if she went through with killing her. The fact that she can manipulate a split-second moment also shows just how powerful Temperance really is. The Drew Crew, despite being Horseshoe Bay’s leading supernatural investigators, never had a shot bringing her down or thwarting her plans.
Temperance’s dire warning gets worse: if Nancy does kill her, this is the fate that awaits Ace if they ever act on their feelings for each other.
Family sure knows how to push our buttons, don’t they?
When Temperance snapped her fingers and brought Nancy back to reality, she was faced with the toughest choice of her life. As everyone urges Nancy to quite literally bury the hatchet, Nancy makes the decision to let Temperance open the veil.
And the moment she does — chaos and destruction follow that looks like a scene ripped straight from Day After Tomorrow.
Whoever the director for this episode was, they really nailed the whole post-apocalyptic/doomsday scenario.
And that CGI was pretty incredible considering it’s a CW show.
As Nancy saw the beginning of the end — Bess warned that fire and cyclone storms were sure to follow — she made the ultimate sacrifice for her town and used Temperance’s “blind spots” for a surprise attack.
Horseshoe Bay recovered in a month’s time, and everyone seemed to be back on the right path.
Everyone except for Nancy and Ace. Considering the “prophecy” that he would die the moment they even went there, Nancy chose to avoid him.
However, the fact that she was able to save Ryan’s life by removing the shrapnel before it killed him leads me to believe that there is a way out of this if the Drew Crew put their minds to it.
They’ve been through worse and come out on top! You just have to undo the spell.
I truly wanted Nancy to be honest with Ace about what was going on, but the moment she got too close and the barometer broke again, she hit the brakes and said some awfully terrible things to him. We know that she’s coming from a place of love to protect him, but Ace doesn’t know that, so it was a heartbreaking scene to watch.
Of course, no one knows Nancy better than Ace, so he likely won’t take this at face value. He’s just as inquisitive as Nancy, so he’s going to want to figure out why she hesitated at the veil, why she didn’t kiss him back, and why she’s pushing away. He knows something is up, and he has to figure it out or save her.
Nancy was crushed by the curse that basically stripped her of controlling her fate, but a heart-to-heart with Carson Drew seemed to put things into perspective. I don’t think Carson is the right person to go to for advice on this situation considering he doesn’t know what’s at stake or even understands that the situation is life or death, but it’s the thought that counts.
Nancy Drew — “The Ransom of the Forsaken Soul” — Image Number: NCD313a_0315r.jpg — Pictured: Kennedy McMann as Nancy — Photo: Colin Bentley/The CW — (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Eventually, Nancy, who is the proud owner of Icarus Hall, which she turned into an official office for “Nancy Drew Investigates,” finds a deck of cards that alludes to the prophecies introduced at the beginning of season 3.
Cue the song: “I can see clearly now.”
“One of u will be the other’s demise” alludes to Nancy essentially being Ace’s kryptonite. It’s a clever way to keep them together and leave fans craving more, but it’s also beyond cruel and frustrating.
“One of you will forsake what’s dearest to you” alludes to Nick selling the valuable ring he bought for George, the woman he saw a future with.
“One of you will betray your true love” alludes to George’s decision to split with Nick and pursue a law degree.
“One of you will lose your heart” alludes to the fact that Ace cannot be with Nancy.
“One of you will wreak havoc on this town” alludes to Bess’s decision to take on the Historical Society.
“Only one of you will fulfill your destiny and that one will cause the rest to fall,” seems to allude to Ryan paying his debts to that shady artifact couple who want to meet the keeper of the Historical Society. That does not sound like good news.
It seems as though the Drew Crew fulfilled their prophecies, but where do they go from here?
And does this mean that no one has actually been in control of their own destiny this whole time?
As I said, it was a whirlwind episode full of ups and downs that changed the direction of the show’s future trajectory.
And what’s Nancy Drew without a little mystery?
The world stops for no one — not even the town’s detective — so, amidst this whole personal crisis, Nancy gets her first client: a man who asks her to meet him at the cemetery alone.
When Nancy arrives at the cemetery, however, she sees a bunch of dug-up graves and the bodies missing.
Um… what happened to them? And why do I feel like Addy is somehow involved?
This might be the first “normal” and non-supernatural case in a while, and it feels kind of refreshing. The third season leaned heavily into magic, but that’s not actually necessary. At her core, Nancy Drew is just a girl solving mysteries in her small town. Why not get back to that?
Let’s hope that Nancy Drew is renewed for a fourth season so we can get some answers.
As of now, The CW hasn’t made an official ruling, so when they killed off Ryan and Ace, and said goodbye to Nick, I thought that this episode was surely meant to serve as closure for a series finale. I’m so glad that isn’t the case because while Nancy is at the helm of the show and Ace is the best character, it wouldn’t be complete without Ryan. Also – can we talk about how Nancy finally called Ryan “dad” for the first time?! Be still my heart.
Plus, Friday nights wouldn’t be the same without a little thrill.
What did you think about the finale? Did you like the pacing and rhythm of the episode?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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