Nancy Drew Season 4 Episode 2 Review: The Maiden’s Rage

On Nancy Drew Season 4 Episode 2, “The Maiden’s Rage,” a single substance tears George’s mentor from hero status, exposes attempted murder, and turns Nancy into a prime example of toxic masculinity.

Nancy and Ace are putting a painful new spin on the concept of a slow burn. Fighting a death curse to be together is already an obstacle decidedly out of the norm, but Nancy’s going to have to overcome trials of her own making before she can even get to that point.

Unwilling to so much as consider the possibility of looking for a way out of her curse, she takes her bottled emotions even further when accidentally splashed by a magical liquid. Suddenly, she’s a manspreading, sexist insult-flinging frat boy.

As cringeworthy as it is to see her this way, it’s helps us wrap our minds around Nancy, always ready for a challenge, giving up the fight for what she wants most. That may not be like her at all, but suppressing her emotions is a skill she’s become expert in.

Thankfully, the solution is quite simple (and decidedly gross). She literally vomits up everything she’s withheld, much like those bodies in the season premiere. True, it only happens after she flies into a murderous rage, but even that now helps to open conversation.

This substance is clearly connected to our season-long arc. It also elicits a confession to the cover up of an attempted homicide—aided by Judge Abbott. We’ve barely glimpsed George’s mentor before now but realizing how deeply he corrupted justice is already a blow.

We feel for George far more than the judge or especially Logan, the man he protected. Still, both this show’s track record and a warning from the judge leave everyone uneasy, especially with the episode-ending cliffhanger that everyone may be drinking tainted water.

The only good outcome of these alarming developments is that Nancy tells Ace everything about Temperance and her missing month. Now, at last, she’s willing and ready to fight for them to have a chance, and we’re more that ready to welcome the new mindset.

There is still another complication to consider in the form of Tristain. It’s still strange to try to establish a love triangle as Nancy and Ace take active steps back toward each other, but I admit to being intrigued by him—and there’s no way the revelation he’s adopted doesn’t have bigger implications.

Elsewhere in the world of romance, we get some lovely moments of relationships new and old. Whether or not these are intentionally airing during Pride month, it’s great to see these characters bring much-needed representation to the screen.

It’s a been a while since we’ve gotten to touch on Bess and Addy, but they’re by far the most stable couple on the show right now. The tense drama of meeting Addy’s parents seems written to threaten that, but by the end, I just believe in them even more.

Finally, Nick is looking to move on from George. I may not love the idea (or truly believe they won’t find their way back to each other), but having him happily wind up on a date with Jade, a nonbinary person who uses they/them pronouns, is very cool.

Things are awkward at first, but Jade’s identity has nothing to do with it. I do hope they get enough time to be seen as more than a token if they become a recurring character. We do have a lot on our plates in the field of young love alone.

The major battles of this final season are being established, but it’s still too early on to make many predictions about where our characters will be left in the end. Even the things I am confident about, like Nancy and Ace winning their renewed fight, leave many questions in their wake.

 

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 8/9c on The CW.

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