Arson and Old Lace

Nancy Drew has been missing for six months. The police have done all they can and have pretty much given up any hope of finding Nancy alive. Frank and Joe won't accept this and decide to take a look into Nancy's case. Oh, and there's an arsonist loose in the city.

I'm not sure why I keep coming back to this show. Nostalgia is a funny thing. What I keep remembering are the episodes from Season 1 and how much fun I had with them back in the 70s. Arson and Old Lace, like much of Season 2, isn't very good. The whole set-up is utterly ridiculous. Nancy, a kidnap victim with finally quaffed hair and makeup, looks ridiculous. The reasoning behind the kidnap is ridiculous. But the worst, the fact that Frank and Joe are able to put together some good clues based on items that the FBI has gone over with a "fine tooth comb" and found nothing is the nadir of ridiculousness.

I admit, the arson angle added a bit of unexpected, but welcome, drama to the episode. Even though I knew the Hardy's would save the day, the tension added by the fire worked. However, the notion that the once resourceful Nancy Drew was reduced to damsel-in-distress during these scenes didn't ring true to the series.

Two interesting names in the supporting cast list - Pernell Roberts and Cathy Rigby. Roberts would shortly go on to success in Trapper John MD. He makes way more out of his small role than he should have. As for Rigby, well, she was a gymnast and never much of an actress. I'll be generous and say she does okay here.

4/10