Nancy Drew Review: The Mark of the Poisoner’s Pearl (Season 1 Episode 10)
Nancy Drew Season 1 Episode 10, “The Mark of the Poisoner’s Pearl,” feels a little disjointed after a month-long hiatus, but provides plenty of tension and drama.
A long break can be overwhelming for both a show trying to tell a cohesive story and the fans trying to follow it. That’s especially true when you’ve got as many plot threads to keep track of as Nancy Drew does.
We don’t get much of a recap, and to be fair, there’s really too much to cover sufficiently. The episode itself generally does a good job of jarring our memories where necessary, though there are noticeable gaps; the most obvious in not seeing Carson on screen at all.
There are plenty of possible reasons for this, many beyond the show’s control. Still, given we last saw him getting carted off to prison, his absence is even more noticeable than it would normally be.
At least the explanation we’re provided is completely believable. I can certainly see Nancy avoiding contact both due to lingering tension and her own guilt. Their father/daughter relationship has been interrupted at a critical time and it shows.
I’m also happy to see that, at least for now, the story has moved toward a determination for her to prove his innocence. It may or may not last, but it gives me hope that we may finally move toward a truly positive dynamic.
Tiffany’s murder case is another aspect shooting off in new directions. Though we pick up where we left with the revelation of poisoning, that means different evidence, different suspects, and in this episode, a red herring who still manages to be a serial killer.
As an episodic storyline, I love Nancy setting herself up as bait, being lured in by a supposed victim, and eventually getting saved by her friends. I’m a bit iffy on the “secret antidote ring” thing, but I’ll let it slide.
There are a lot of a character dynamics established here that have been set aside for plot twists before. The group is finally starting to feel like true friends, all of whom know just how brave (and/or stupid) Nancy will be in these situations.
I love everything to do with Ace’s dad, and I really hope he’s a character we’ll get to see more of. Seeing the two communicate both through sign language and lip reading is an interesting, positive depiction of disability.
Ryan remains a character I’m not sure what to make of. More and more, it appears he’s going to be on our side, but it’ll be a while before I let my guard down. As ever, everyone is a suspect.
Between his likeliness as a suspect and his own past actions, I’m biased against seeing him as a true ally. But if we see now is what it seems (still a big “if”,) the show is making a strong effort to change my mind, and add engagingly tense Hudson family drama in the process.
Other Notes
- While I love the dynamics either way, I’m not sure whether the actor playing Ace’s dad is hearing impaired himself. Wherever possible, shows should be hiring actors with the disabilities the portray.
- We don’t get enough time with Owen to process learning about him and Bess, but I’m certainly curious to see how their relationship will progress now that we know they’re family.
- On the other hand, I have reservations about him and Nancy, especially now that Nancy and Nick probably/tentatively back together. I think he’s aiming for something “more”, and I’m not too excited about a potential love triangle.
What did you think of this episode of Nancy Drew? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Nancy Drew airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.
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Caitlin Wyneken
Caitlin is an elder millennial with an only slightly unhealthy dedication to a random selection of TV shows, from PBS Masterpiece dramas to some of the less popular series on popular networks. Outside of screen time, she's dedicated to the public sector and worthy nonprofits, working to make a difference in the world outside of media.