On Nancy Drew season 2, episode 6, weeks have gone by since the Drew Crew’s last encounter with the Aglaeca and George’s death, but all is not well in Horseshoe Bay, Maine… particularly for the titular sleuth.

In what definitely feels like it would have been the start of Nancy Drew season 2 (if not for COVID-19 shutting down production early), Nancy Drew season 2, episode 6 picks up, post-Aglaeca, with the Drew Crew having gotten a few weeks of well-deserved rest… all except Nancy, of course.

Instead, Nancy has been sentenced to community service for breaking into the morgue… at the morgue. (Horseshoe Bay doesn’t have the brightest judicial officers, huh?) And when a weird body comes in, Nancy has a new mystery to solve.

‘Nancy Drew’ season 2, episode 6 review

After Nancy Drew season 2, episode 6, I can definitively say this is one of the best shows currently on television. Though these episodes were filmed simultaneously, it feels like time has moved on in Horseshoe Bay and the characters are all in much different places, mentally, than we left them.

This episode is impressive, and teases that the supernatural element will definitely be heightened in upcoming episodes (in case that wasn’t clear from Nancy unleashing various horrors and hauntings on the unsuspecting citizens of Horseshoe Bay to save George’s life). I hope Nancy Drew, as it dives deeper into the supernatural, doesn’t lose the aspects that kept the show more grounded in season 1.

My one complaint about Nancy Drew season 2, episode 6 would be how easily the Drew Crew fell back into old patterns, especially after they spent the beginning of season 2 blaming Nancy for ever getting them involved in her sleuthing. (Despite how they constantly begged for Nancy to let them in when the series began). Nick was the only one at all reluctant, which doesn’t make sense considering he was possibly the least blame-y when things got dire with the Aglaeca.

The Drew Crew

Obviously, after Nancy Drew season 2, episode 6, George’s storyline is incredibly exciting. George’s reluctance to deal with what happened to her that night is very in-character, but I’m kind of surprised that it took this long for anyone to notice something was really wrong. How often was George “spacing out” and Odette (seemingly) taking control?

I love the episodes that include George’s family. Her sisters offer us a different version of George that explains exactly why she’s so rough around the edges with the others. It’s an important reminder to see on-screen because sometimes it can be hard to root for George. Focusing more on that aspect of her life is a good choice for the writers, particularly because George has now seen how real the threat to her life is and needs to prepare her sister to take care of the others.

It’s heartbreaking, too, to see just how badly George’s mother has failed to support her daughters. Though George may be young, she’s lived a full life, and it’s important to keep that in mind when she has little patience for others (particularly Bess lately).

Speaking of Bess, I want to see what she’s been up to over the last few weeks (besides relaxing, of course). After she knew she was no longer sentenced for an early death, did she consider reaching out to Lisbeth to patch things up? That’s a couple I’m dying to see more of, especially with the angst we’re going to be getting after Bess ditched the dinner with Lisbeth’s parents.

As for Nick, it was nice to see him interacting with Nancy again (in a positive, no yelling way) on Nancy Drew season 2, episode 6. Their relationship, regardless of whether you prefer them platonic or romantic, felt like it was barely explored before they started fighting all of the time.

Nick’s relationship with George is just barely starting to grow on me. Most exciting about this dynamic is Nick getting George to open up, so we can see another side to her. She’s too tough and cold all of the time, and it can be hard to enjoy George’s scenes when she’s being mean/rude in the name of comedy (or whatever reason she has). This is definitely an opportunity for the writers to show us the George Fan underneath the hardened exterior.

However, it just kind of feels like Nick is George’s boyfriend right now, and I’d like to see him get an ongoing story of his own.

Meanwhile, it seems we know even less about what Ace has been up to than Bess. After the phone call to his sibling, who is likely the person in witness protection — and it’s infuriating we know nothing else about that — Ace is just acting normal. The writers keeping that a secret for now is cruel.

Finally, the titular sleuth herself, Nancy Drew. Learning that Nancy had been sentenced to community service was a bit of a shock, but Nancy working in the morgue will likely lead her to more mysteries, as we saw with the Lamia.

But how is Nancy going to balance work at The Claw, investigating for her father, and her community service hours? Seems like others may have to step in for her occasionally…

I truly love how devoted Nancy is to putting the pieces of a puzzle together. I expected some hesitation on her behalf after the Aglaeca showdown, but Nancy had none. She saw the body and was ready to immediately solve the mystery.

It’s heartening to see Nancy and Carson’s relationship beginning to be repaired. The last few episodes after the reveal of Nancy’s true parentage were rough, but I love how Carson was willing to be the villain so Nancy could cope with everything she had just learned. That felt like one of the most fatherly things any parent on television has done, truly.

With the two working together, and knowing how Nancy’s portrayer Kennedy McMann loves playing the Nancy/Carson relationship, I expect great things to come from this new working arrangement. Let the father/daughter bonding begin!

The mystery

First, let’s break down the Lamia on Nancy Drew season 2, episode 6. Honestly, this may be one of the series’ most disgusting and frightening creatures so far. When the corpse blinked, I think a little part of me died.

I absolutely love that the Nancy Drew writers are thinking outside of the box and giving us stories (or even elements in their familiar stories) that I, personally, have not seen on television before. That goes for their version of the Lamia, which was terrifying in all of the right ways. (Writing in a likable kid with the start of an adorable relationship with Nancy that the monster was trying to eat didn’t hurt either.)

The gang coming together to perform an autopsy on a haunted corpse in Nancy’s living room with kitchen appliances is just… perfect. It sums up this show so well, and how far these characters are willing to go to get answers (and help each other out).

The Lamia seems to be just the easy beginning of Nancy Drew‘s growing threat of supernatural creatures, kind of like the Eldridge Terrors on the final season of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. What exactly has Nancy unwittingly unleashed on Horseshoe Bay?

Second, let’s talk about Odette LaMar. George being haunted by Odette (AKA the Aglaeca’s human form) will likely lead to some very interesting, unsettling, and character-defining moments for sure. Odette already revealing herself to George at the end of Nancy Drew season 2, episode 6 is quite shocking to me. I expect it means she will be taking charge and causing some mischief for the others soon.

What is Odette’s endgame here? I’m thinking Odette wasn’t expecting to get attached to George and it was caused by the artifact Nancy used, so she doesn’t have a mission. But, perhaps, her mission is to truly get revenge for her death and take out the Marvin family. (Watch out, Bess.)

Odette still being around is quite exciting because the Aglaeca storyline was fascinating, and we didn’t learn too much about Odette’s life before the Drew Crew had to fight their death date. So you could say I’m loving this twist.

‘Nancy Drew’ season 2, episode 6 final thoughts

Nancy Drew season 2, episode 6 is an exciting “fresh start” for the show in the aftermath of the fight with the Aglaeca. Everyone is on a somewhat new course now, and the potential for each of the characters is compelling.

The show stepping up the supernatural element is engaging, but I do admit I’m a bit nervous as I really hope the show doesn’t overdo it. The grounded elements and real world mysteries are what makes Nancy Drew what it is.

Throughout the rest of season 2, I really hope the show puts more effort into developing the friendships between Drew Crew members. Some dynamics have really fallen short compared to others, as we’re not always seeing differing pairs split up to investigate together. (Fair warning: I’m not much of a fan of the romance on the show, I’m here for the friendship and mysteries.)

Anyway, is it time for the new episode yet?

Nancy Drew returns on Wednesday, March 10 at 9 p.m. ET! Be sure to come back for reviews, (occasionally) previews, and more!