For those of you who don't know your Nancy Drew basics, here's a basic overview. Ned Nickerson and Nancy Drew have been together in the books since the beginning. Frank Hardy has had a crush on Nancy throughout the Supermysteries, and this idea is known as "Francy". These two ideas have come up over and over again throughout Nancy's history.
Ned Nickerson
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| Ted Nickerson and Nancy |
Starting from the original books, we have Ned Nickerson, or as the Bonita Granville Nancy Drew movies call him, Ted Nickerson. He is established as only a close, consistent friend in the original books, but later in the series becomes jealous of the young men around her. With the 1980s Supermysteries comes the idea that there is drama between them, and for the same reason the original Ned got jealous - other admirers. We get into Herinteractive Games to find that same Supermystery drama, slightly toned down, but still present. The latest game, Midnight in Salem, drew out that drama more than the last 32 games before it (because Ned asks Nancy if Frank is there). One strange exception to these series and games are the On Campus book series, where Ned isn't with Nancy but is in the series as her ex-boyfriend. It was a canceled series where Nancy ended the relationship after book two because of a fan poll from the publishers. (It was not aimed at young readers.) In the CW series she is with Ned, but unlike any of these Neds, he was a felon and goes by Nick.
Their relationship in the original books involves casual gatherings, solving mysteries together, and is light-hearted to attract young readers. He isn't in all the original books, but shows up more often later in the series. With the Supermysteries we see him sometimes. They usually have to work out something in their relationship when he is there, but they are definitely together. Going into Herinteractive Games shows that these two have some communication problems. If you play through all the games up to the latest one, you can tell they are trying to consistently work things out, much like the Supermysteries, but both have busy lives and dreams. The On Campus series, on the other hand, was all jealousy and no working out the relationship because Ned was too controlling.
On Campus
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| book 2 On Campus |
So, as some Nancy Drew fans know, this one was not written for younger readers, but for adult readers. As a direct result of a 1-800 number poll, they split up the classic Ned and Nancy pair in favor of her going out with other men who are less controlling than Ned. Whether you like that or not is entirely up to you. Given that it was canceled in 1997, when it had started in 1995, tells me it wasn't all that popular.
Her love interests for this one include Peter Goodwin, reporter Jake Collins, and a guy named Terry who looks like Ned. All of them end in breakups, but Jake stays through most of the series. One word to describe their relationships would be drama, lots of it! See the second source in the source list to get more details, because it is far too complicated to explain in one paragraph.
Francy
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| 1980s Supermystery 2 - a crime for Christmas |
The Supermysteries TV Show and books (both the first and second series) play with this idea all the time. Frank and Nancy are so similar in lifestyle that it's so easy to imagine them together. Personally, I eat this idea up with a spoon. It creates drama in the books and the games. With this idea comes relationship issues, easily illustrated by the 1980s Supermysteries series. Frank and Nancy kiss during a snowed-in situation - and Ned walks in on them -at some point in that series. You can just imagine how much damage this does to the whole Ned relationship.
Frank in the games has always been super supportive and worries about Nancy, much like Ned, but ends up working with her during mysteries far more often than Ned. In the 1970s TV show, if there are Nancy and Frank around the same area they work together on it (and obviously Joe and Frank come together, so Joe's there, too). He's shown as a bit shy in the second series of Supermystery books (which combine Girl Detective and Undercover Brothers). Frank is also a little more understanding in some of the games when it comes to Nancy's busy life, as well as eager to see her every time they meet or call. It makes some people think they could work out better than Nancy and Ned (Nedcy is the name some use for short).
Fan opinions
Like any fandom out there, Nancy Drew fans have shipped everything under the sun. Some say Joe and Nancy should get together, while others are full-on Francy, full-on Nedcy, or even Deirdre Shannon and Nancy shipping. With the game fans comes the idea that, since Ned and Nancy are so bad at communication, Ned is kind of clingy, or Nancy doesn't make time for Ned that they need to break up and just be friends. Team Single has a legitimate voice in the fandom.
What do you think? Comment below and let me know!
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