'Nancy Drew' Episode 10: Nancy investigates a murder without having to deal with the supernatural
This story contains major spoilers for Season 1 Episode 10 of 'Nancy Drew' titled 'The Mark of the Poisoner's Pearl'.
When Kennedy McMann's Nancy Drew returned in the titular role of The CW horror-murder mystery series after the fall break, her father Carson Drew (Scott Wolf) had been in jail for two weeks.
By the time the series went on its fall break, Nancy had gathered just about enough circumstantial evidence against her father in the Lucy Sable murder case. And when Detective Karen Hart (Alvina August) happens upon this diary, she loses no time in putting Carson behind bars for a murder that has gone unsolved for almost two decades.
Meanwhile, Nancy has turned into the walking dead — a vessel filled with guilt, regret, remorse and anger, barely spending any time with her friends, just going to work from one day to the next.
So far, we have seen Nancy carry herself with not just confidence but also a certain conviction. In the returning episode, we see a completely different Nancy — a bitter Nancy who pushes away not only her father but also her friends.
In this episode, there is a serial killer on the loose for almost two decades and Nancy must find and bring them to justice. Their weapon of choice is white baneberry poison — while creating the poison for the berries is difficult, detecting it in the bloodstream is harder. The poison mimics a death by cardiac arrest and coroners just sign off without a second thought.
Episode 10 'The Mark of the Poisoner's Pearl', is closer to a murder investigation than the channel's supernatural fusion take on the teenage sleuth. It is good to see Nancy go back to her roots and take a moment or two without having ghosts and/or spirits on her head.
At the same time, no matter how much we wish it were otherwise, it doesn't look like Nick and Nancy will be getting back together anytime soon. In fact, there seems to be a love triangle forming on the show, and honestly, we're here for something to brew between Nick and George.
Nancy Drew's return to television made for palatable viewing. With a concluding sequence that focuses on the importance of friendships and the relationship the Drew Crew shares, 'Nancy Drew' continues to feature a plotline that relies on The CW formula, and it is highly unlikely that they will step away from it.
'Nancy Drew' airs on Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.