Ep 2. Happy Birthday, Nancy

Nancy Drew season 1 episode 2, titled "Happy Birthday, Nancy," follows the titular character as she celebrates her 18th birthday while trying to solve a new mystery. The episode begins with Nancy's friends, George and Bess, surprising her with a cake and gifts. However, their celebration is interrupted by a new case - a young girl named Lucy Sable's ghost has been haunting the town's seafood restaurant.

Nancy, intrigued by the case, decides to investigate and discovers that Lucy Sable used to work at the restaurant before her untimely death. Nancy proceeds to talk to various people who knew Lucy, including the restaurant's owner and Lucy's former boss. She learns that Lucy was a talented artist who used to draw sketches for the restaurant's menus. Additionally, she discovers that Lucy had a complicated relationship with a man named Ryan Hudson, who is the wealthy owner of a nearby luxury resort.

As Nancy delves deeper into the case, she realizes that Lucy's death was more complicated than it initially seemed. She discovers evidence that suggests Lucy was pregnant at the time of her death, and her boyfriend at the time, Ryan Hudson's son, could be the father. Simultaneously, Nancy is constantly harassed by a shadowy figure who is trying to get her to stop her investigation. The figure seems to be connected to Lucy's ghost, as it appears every time she gets close to uncovering the truth.

Throughout the episode, Nancy tries to balance her personal life and her investigation, but her determination to find out the truth about Lucy's death puts a strain on her friendships and relationships. Meanwhile, the shadowy figure becomes more and more aggressive, ultimately leading to a climactic ending that promises to change the course of Nancy's investigation.

Overall, "Happy Birthday, Nancy" is a compelling episode that combines personal drama with a mysterious case that keeps the viewers hooked. The show does an excellent job of balancing the show's central mystery with Nancy's own life, which allows for well-rounded character development. The episode does not disappoint in terms of twists and turns, and the ending leaves viewers eagerly anticipating what's to come in future episodes.