When thinking of a TV show with a great female lead, supernatural elements, and exciting mysteries, Nancy Drew might not come to mind as quickly as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, despite being a perfect spiritual successor. While Nancy Drew has many adaptations due to the book character’s popularity, the 2019 CW version took the story in a completely different direction.
Nancy Drew is a teenage detective who first appeared in the 1930s book series and is regularly reimagined for later generations. The CW’s Nancy Drew reboot is nothing like the books, as it makes the supernatural a part of the story rather than just keeping the spooky tone. The show has kept many original characters in Nancy Drew, but updated them for a modern audience.
Nancy Drew Was Buffy’s Perfect Spiritual Successor
Nancy Drew is a genre-blending coming-of-age story that incorporates elements from detective shows, supernatural dramas, and even horror. The show begins similarly to more grounded detective series, but soon leans into the uncanny when there’s a murder. Over Nancy Drew’s four seasons, Nancy’s friendships and relationships evolve into a tight-knit crime-fighting team that also deals with otherworldly threats.
Nancy Drew looked set to be the next Buffy the Vampire Slayer as the show contains Buffy’s most successful features. The story is set in Horseshoe Bay, which, like Sunnydale, had a dark side, and the group is similar to Buffy’s “Scooby Gang,” comprised of misfits who each bring something new to the team. Both shows also incorporate monster-of-the-week episodes into a larger plotline.
The adaptation even begins by reintroducing Nancy as she works as a waitress, having sworn off detective work. This scene is strikingly similar to one from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in which Buffy serves fast food while trying to earn a living after Joyce’s death. It’s a great show to watch if you miss Buffy the Vampire Slayer, despite its cancellation after season 4.
Nancy Drew Deserved Better: Why The CW Canceled It
Nancy Drew took some time to find its feet, but it was popular with audiences, who gave it a 76% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The show has an 85% positive rating overall, but Nancy Drew‘s season 4 finale became the final episode after CW canceled it. This came as a surprise to its creators, who did not hold back their feelings.
Executive producer Larry Teng wrote a long and impassioned post on Twitter, explaining that the team had not found out until shortly before the show ended. His post on X described Nancy Drew‘s cancellation as “just plain f—cking disrespect.” Fortunately, the writers were able to take this information and make the finale a satisfying conclusion to the series.
Teng’s tweet explained that the CW network felt continuing Nancy Drew was too expensive. The show deserved much better as it was developing similarly to the phenomenally successful Buffy, expanding its lore over time. If Nancy Drew had been allowed to continue telling its story, it could have been the next best thing to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
