Nancy Drew Review: The Drowned Woman (Season 2 Episode 5)

Even for a show that’s never exactly been lighthearted television, Nancy Drew Season 2 Episode 5, “The Drowned Woman,” is an incredibly intense hour. The final battle with the Aglaeca involves emotional upheaval of all types.

As a unit, the Drew Crew runs a full 360: from a cohesive determined unit, to nearly falling apart altogether, and then back to standing united and taking drastic, consequential action in the face of an ultimate loss.

That falling out itself is perhaps an inevitable part of this narrative but does consequentially feel a bit formulaic. It’s the typical part of the story where a bond must almost be lost with the ultimate goal of making it stronger than ever.

The conversation feels natural on some levels: the issues rehashed have always been present and tensions are sky-high. Still, it also feels like a jumble of people randomly choosing sides and remembering issues they’d long since set aside.

Thankfully, the payoff we are due comes in full force. The threat of losing everything is very real, especially for those moments it seems the very worst has come to pass; an edge-of-your-seat tearjerker for both characters and audience.

When the supposed ultimate battle (each member of the Crew, except Nick and George, facing the Aglaeca separately) comes halfway through the episode, we know we’re in trouble. Sure enough, they must do it again together—or literally die trying.

Is it cheesy that the ultimate confrontation involves not rage toward the Aglaeca, but trying to reach Odette with love? Perhaps a little, but it plays well. I especially love that we get a few moments to see Odette herself, free from her gruesome costume.

And then, immediately, horror. George is still critically injured, is dying, is dead; all while Nick holds her and the others watch in hysteria or numb disbelief. It’s brutal and gut-wrenching enough we believe this truly is the end.

Instead, Nancy brings George back using a ghostly relic, just as Hannah desperately warns her not to. George survives to tears of joy and relief but is soon humming Odette’s creepy French tune. A whole new story begins.

For now, this seems promising. It’s intriguing to be slightly more in the know that those on screen, watching them slowly realize something is still off while not knowing quite what to expect ourselves. The potential for plot twists abounds.

At the same time, I’m glad we’ll also be getting some of the procedural elements of episodic mysteries back. Nancy Drew has certainly taken leaps and bounds from its literary origins, but these gives us the chance to see the spunk of the original heroine.

Between these spikes of high drama come quieter moments, both those that we’ve been waiting to see and that hint at future developments. They are in many ways the most emotionally affective parts of the episode.

George mourns what her family has lost while Bess celebrates the family she’s found in her friends. Nick handing Ryan information that can take down his family gives us something to anticipate—and then there’s the revelation of Ace’s half-brother.

I’m eager to see these relationships develop further and for new complications to bring new drama. What’s most welcome, though, is the scene between Nancy and Carson; heartwarming, heartbreaking, and very much needed.

Of course, these two have had long-awaited conversations meant to bring closure before. After the first was followed by the exposure of Nancy’s true parentage, it’s understandable to question how long this bout of likely happiness will last.

 Again, though, I’m cautiously optimistic. This time, Nancy and Carson’s work back toward the love they once hand offers the promise that we’ll see those hinted developments for both them and Ryan. I’d love to explore such complex and twisty family dynamics.

Finally, if I may get meta for a moment, I notice a lot of people criticizing Nancy for a lack of forethought in her measures to save George. These are understandable. After all, she may well have unleashed a legion of ghosts on Horseshoe Bay.

But can we really say we wouldn’t do the same in her shoes? Mind, it’s impossible to truly say, giving the likelihood any of any of us facing a deadly sea ghost. Still, this is a young woman surviving a terrible ordeal only to face even more terrible grief. Cut the poor girl some slack!

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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