Nancy Drew Review: The Gambit of the Tangled Souls

Remember the episode from last season where Nancy gets infected with “lust butterflies” and hits on just about every man in Horseshoe Bay she’s not related to? Nancy Drew Season 3 Episode 7, “The Tangled Souls,” has very similar vibes.

With Carson long in the running for the title of Ultimate Dad and Ryan putting in every effort to make up for lost time as a parent, we’ve spent some time establishing the actual adults on this show as, well, the adults. Just what would happen if something were to erase that maturity completely?

The answer is glorious chaos. After breathing in a magic powder, the two are doing doughnuts in the parking lot of The Claw, filming themselves messing about on drums and a guitar, and all in all wearing poor Ace, left behind to babysit them, down to his last nerve.

The particular breed of teenage behavior is a bit 90s- which actually fits well with their real ages- and they pull it off with disconcerting believability. It’s also kind of sweet seeing the whole thing remind Ace (and perhaps all of us) to be a little more grateful about what parents go through.

There is one moment where things almost take a turn for the worst. Teenage Carson is in no fit stakes to be the lawyer he is now, especially when high stakes are at play. But teenage Ryan is surprisingly clever. Who knew? Regardless, I need an entire blooper reel just for this episode.

Lest we get too giddy about it all, we also take a complete emotional 180 as the soul splitter is put into use, finally freeing George’s soul from Odette’s and extending her life back to normal expectancy. This also means Bess must cast Odette’s soul from the world for good.

I’ll be honest: poignant as the scenes between Bess and Odette have been, I’ve struggled to attach real belief to a main character pining for someone who doesn’t physically exist. The romantic notion of paranormal star-crossed lovers is intriguing, but what is there to really root for?

On one hand, that really comes to a head in Bess’s reaction here. There can be no true support for her attempt to flee when the stakes come down to Odette’s soul or George’s. It’s hard not to be frustrated or angry with her, even as we empathize with her pain.

And still- the final act of crushing the stone that holds the last traces of Odette is like a sucker punch, heightened by Bess having to be the one to do it. At least we get one last sign from the beyond that Odette approves of Addy, giving real promise for a lover who’s on this plane of reality.

So the story the story of George’s limited lifespan seemingly comes to an end. I say “seemingly” for all the other times plots have come back to bite us. But the relief here feels real. I never truly believed we were meant to accept her fate, so I sure hope this is indeed our answer, once and for all.

Bess’s relationship isn’t the only one to take a step forward. In apologizing for-er, certain behaviors to Jean, Carson shows up on her doorstep and they take their first tentative but definitive steps toward a real romantic relationship.

I’m happy to see him happy and be willing to find love again, especially when Nancy has already offered her acceptance of it, but my first thought is that we need to see Jean’s characterization expanded a bit more first. This is the first time I’ve even been able to remember her name.

As for that slow-burn Nace that most fans are really here for? That conversation between Ace and Ryan about how nice it is to be with Nancy and have her good nature change people for the better? Yeah, that’s not exactly subtle. This is starting to get real, folks. Our ship’s pace might just pick up soon.

Of course, we can’t forget about that troubling little footnote. Nick spends most of the episode doing his own things at the youth center and giving us some nice moments with Addy and the kids there. He attempts to reach George while she’s unconscious. When she’s finally able to call him back, he’s nowhere to be found.

Could the callbacks to his past connect here? Either way, where is he on this day that should be so huge for him, too? With no contextual clues as to whether he’s gone off on his own or is in danger due to an outside threat, all we can do in this department is wait for the next episode.

 

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

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