Nancy Drew Review: The Path of Shadows (Season 1 Episode 8)

The Drew Crew enters the spirit world on Nancy Drew Season 1 Episode 8, “The Path of Shadows.”

There are two major immediate arcs following us into this episode: Nancy’s belief that her father may have killed on the Hudsons’ behalf, and the car accident that may have killed both Laura Tandy and Ace. For the episode before the mid-season finale, we get a lot more answers than I’ve been expecting.

Of course, that’s a double-edged sword. What of the questions yet to come? The new cliffhanger assures us there will be plenty, but for now let’s focus on what we get—and on how much of it we can believe.

Nancy and Carson continue that conversation, despite the obvious distractions. The air around it feels strange even considering the circumstances. My impression is that a part of Carson has been expecting this, much as he tries for shock.

The good news is, everything he says fits with what we know and can assume. He’s done shady things, but only under potential threat, not payment. I certainly have no doubt his fear of the Hudsons is legitimate and backed up by pretense.

Still, I worry this isn’t the end of the story. There’s still more to be said, if only because there’s not enough time to say it all here. There are major steps that need to happen before father and daughter can approach closure.

Overall, I’m pleased. Both parties have a point: Carson has been hiding far too much, but Nancy has only the slightest upper hand when it comes to dubious methods. This reflects strong writing of flawed but sympathetic characters.

None of this has anything to do with ghosts, but don’t worry (or maybe do,) because we get a hefty weekly dose of the supernatural, though the world of it we enter is so dark it’s hard to make out a thing.

The idea of someone controlling Ace’s car is an interesting but minor twist. I don’t think anyone believes Laura just accidentally spun out while driving. The aftermath is much more important, and it relies heavily on Chief McGinnis.

I can’t decide how I feel about his new role. I like the doors it opens, but his turn from interfering foe to helpful ally is abrupt. The jury’s out on whether that means we shouldn’t trust him. I do appreciate the role he serves here.

All this time, he’s been a true believer in what Nancy and her friends have stumbled upon. Now that he knows everything (more or less,) having him as an asset is helpful for the gang and us as the audience to understand where we go next.

That would be into the spirit world, where Ace’s non-dead soul wanders in child form. George is unwittingly set after him in a series of unsettling scenes—though, as I mentioned, this is slightly dampened by how little of it I can actually see.

The emotional impact here is better than the additional horror movie scenes like George almost being pulled away by shadow beings. Even as we assume they’ll both come back safe, we feel for the terror they must be going through.

George returns and, though Ace doesn’t wake, there’s promise he’ll recover. We pin the assault on a young corrupt cop whose been working with the Hudsons. We’ve seen him before, but too briefly for this reveal to have much impact.

With changing views on characters being a theme in this episode, let’s go for one more: Lisbeth, who goes from likeable love interest to a suspect as a driver for the Hudsons and finally to the revelation that she’s really an undercover cop.

Is this believable? I’ll just say its on par with everything else we’ve seen. I am very intrigued by the possibilities it offers and look forward to how her arc will continue. Also, the act to maintain her cover very nearly has me convinced for several minutes.

We must ultimately return to another cliffhanger as George’s sister disappears, seemingly taken by the spirit I so wish could have just been a kind ghost. This is why we can’t have nice things.

Joking aside, though Ted is another character we’ve hardly seen, targeting a child is a good way to ratchet up our emotional involvement before the finale. I’m sure she’ll be okay, but I am anxious about what the work to get her back will mean for everyone else.

 

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Nancy Drew airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.

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