Nancy Drew Review: The Clue in the Captain’s Painting (Season 1 Episode 18)
On Nancy Drew Season 1 Episode 18, “The Clue in the Captain’s Painting,” a brutal loss is only the beginning as the season draws to premature close.
Save for the possibility of a few extremely unlikely future scenarios, episode 18 is the season finale of Nancy Drew; the last we’ll get until whenever the show is able to return for season 2. Most of it doesn’t feel much like one—at least until the end.
We’re already at our darkest point yet for an already dark show with the confirmation that Owen is really dead. It’s the first time we’ve lost a character we’ve had any time to relate to when they were alive.
I do wish I could say there was still more impact. We know Owen as a good person (at much as any character here is) but even the time we have spent with him is minimal compared to other characters. Not that I want anyone we’re even closer with to die, of course
Any pain we feel is more tied to empathy for Nancy and the other characters than how much we’ve come to care for Owen ourselves as an audience. For better or worse, that means his death is soon a tool for one more mystery.
Sure enough, Owen is murdered by a human being. Learning that than human is Joshua, the one person we’ve already pegged as a killer, is a bit anticlimactic. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Joshua is also one of the most logical person to have done this, given we’ve already seen him sink to such a level. Everyone is still a suspect, but I appreciate learning towards the idea that not everyone can be a murderer.
There’s also care given to the emotional impact here. Owen is given a last bit of respect in death with the news he was killed for protecting Nancy. That also means she and everyone will have a lot to sort through when we finally see them again.
A couple other poignant moments stand out. First, the speech George makes to Ryan, and second, the new breed of interactions between Nancy and Patrice, who we now know to be her grandmother.
With all we’ve done to humanize Ryan (and then alternate constantly between whether he’s a suspect or a good guy,) there are can be some important points that can lost in the midst. His former relationship with a teenager is an essential one.
Apart from all the other damning dynamics, including George’s age and Ryan’s infidelity, George lays out just how damaging Ryan’s been for her. It’s an important conversation for him and us to hear, especially in a show geared to teens.
Is it wrong to like Ryan, especially when he’s contrasted against his family? No, but he is an extremely flawed human being. Anything we see of him, especially his interactions with Nancy as his daughter, should factor that in.
On that note, I again miss seeing Carson here. He’s an essential part of all this, and with all Nancy has to reflect in herself and both these men, it’s disappointing we won’t see that for a long time.
Seeing Nancy with Patrice is another shot of bittersweet emotion. Somewhere, something good can come out of this, though I don’t know how much we’ll ever see of this new granddaughter/grandmother relationship.
With Patrice’s age and mental state, the latter continually plagued by all she endured, I’m not sure she’s long for the world. For now, I’m happy this character who could have been written off is getting more depth. It means so much for both her and Nancy.
Then, just as so many characters, including George and Nick as new couple, are approaching some measure of peace, we hit them and us with the kind of left hook that feels a bit much even with all we’ve already witnesses
The scenes of everyone watching themselves die in gruesome ways aren’t especially graphic, but the very idea is enough to stick with us long after the episode ends. Maybe it’s a good thing, with how long we have to wait.
Much as I can joke about this show’s horror movie elements, I’m certain we’re a long way from a “kill characters off one by one” angle. Yet nobody is ever safe. The message we’re left with seems to be one that helps define Nancy Drew’s tone: enjoy the good moments for how briefly they last.
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.