NANCY DREW AND THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE SERIES

Instead, we get an installment that focuses on Nancy’s general state of emotional repression, something that apparently may be the result of the traumatic events that took place during her first case.

There’s not much here that could be called a larger arc, even if creepy kidnapper Nathan Gomer feels like the sort of Hannibal-esque bad guy we’ll likely see again at some point. This episode contains precious little movement on any of the season’s main plots, but there’s plenty of great character moments, as the town comes together to search for George’s missing little sister, Ted.

NANCY DREW AND THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE SERIES

But it’s as close as this series has come to one, telling a singular contained tale complete with a creepy human villain, a supernatural element, and an emotionally illuminating connection to Nancy. This isn’t exactly a standalone episode, given that there is fairly significant movement on the Dead Lucy investigation at its end. “The Hidden Staircase” kind of gives us a roadmap toward what that kind of series might look like. Though neither of those cases has been solved yet, it’s been unclear where Nancy Drew might go when they are. Much of the season thus far has been driven by the stories of two dead women – the decades-old mystery surrounding Lucy Sable’s death, and the recent murder of Tiffany Hudson. It also instantly wins Best Episode Title Nancy Drew Has Used So Far, and if the season finale isn’t called “The Old Clock,” we riot.

Nancy drew and the hidden staircase