A series finale is both scary and special at the same time. Fans dedicate years of their lives loving a story and it can all go up into flames within an instant.
There’s so much vulnerability invested from the fandom and cast and crew. I’ve had my heart ripped out from them but I’ve also felt immense love and gratitude. I’m so thankful to say that The CW’s “Nancy Drew” fulfilled my dreams when it ended Wednesday, Aug. 23.
As a way to honor this beloved classic retelling, I had to share what Taylor Swift songs reminded me of Nancy and Ace’s love story.
Missed seasons one, two and three? Read those articles here!
Here is #Nace’s story told through season four using Taylor songs:
Season 4: Friends to lovers
Castles Crumbling (Speak Now Taylor’s Version)
Poor Nancy felt so sad this entire season. I hate to think of her alone at Icarus Hall thinking that the love of her life dislikes her. She deserves the world, and “Castles Crumbling (Taylor’s Version)” expresses the inside critic she was most likely facing in season four episode one.
“And I feel like my castle’s crumbling down / And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground /And you don’t want to know me, I will just let you down / You don’t wanna know me now”
Back To December (Taylor’s Version)
“Nancy Drew” was giving so much “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” this season. I put “Back To December (Taylor’s Version)” on this playlist to represent the majority of it. Nancy and Ace both wish they could go back in time where things were simpler between them. It’s more like “Back to Season One,” am I right?
“These days, I haven’t been sleepin’ / Stayin’ up playin’ back myself leavin’ /When your birthday passed and I didn’t call /Then I think about summer, all the beautiful times /I watched you laughin’ from the passenger’s side / And realized I loved you in the fall /And then the cold came, the dark days / When fear crept into my mind /You gave me all your love and all I gave you was goodbye”
You All Over Me (Fearless Taylor’s Version)
I’m sticking with the sadness of the season before Nancy and Ace first tried breaking the curse. No matter what, they couldn’t lie that they were still all over each other. I just want to sit and listen to “You All Over Me (From the vault) (Taylor’s Version)” on repeat and cry thinking about these earlier episodes.
“I lived, and I learned and found out what it was to turn around / And see that we were never really meant to be / So I lied, and I cried, and I watched a part of myself die / ‘Cause no amount of freedom gets you clean / I’ve still got you all over me”
I Wish You Would (1989)
Ace really wished Nancy would come back and confess her feelings at the beginning of season four.
“And I wish you were right here, right now / It’s all good / I wish you would /I wish we could go back / And remember what we were fighting for /Wish you knew that / I miss you too much to be mad anymore”
Treacherous (Red Taylor’s Version)
Nancy was finally forced to spill the beans about the curse after Ace confronts her about her writing his name on the paper. That was thrilling to watch, which made their love so much more treacherous for them to navigate.
“Put your lips close to mine / As long as they don’t touch / Out of focus, eye to eye / ‘Til the gravity’s too much / And I’ll do anything you say / If you say it with your hands / And I’d be smart to walk away / But you’re quicksand / … This love is treacherous”
Paris (Midnights)
The two of them talked about going to Paris together and their hot air balloon trip after defeating the curse, and we never got to see them experience that together – a tragedy. I like to imagine them there right now though.
“I’m so in love that I might stop breathing / Drew a map on your bedroom ceiling /No, I didn’t see the news / ‘Cause we were somewhere else /Stumbled down pretend alleyways / Cheap wine, make believe it’s champagne /I was taken by the view / Like we were in Paris”
Sparks Fly (Speak Now Taylor’s Version)
They had their first real kiss when they thought they broke the curse, and sparks literally flew. Now, those are soulmates for sure. We’ll just ignore it not working and Nancy nearly dying in Ace’s arms right afterwards.
“Gimme something that’ll haunt me when you’re not around / ‘Cause I see sparks fly, whenever you smile / I run my fingers through your hair /And watch the lights go wild / Just keep on keeping your eyes on me /It’s just wrong enough to make it feel right / And lead me up the staircase /Won’t you whisper soft and slow / I’m captivated by you, baby / Like a fireworks show”
Electric Touch (Speak Now Taylor’s Version)
Their first real kiss scene was so iconic that I had to include another song for it. It was indeed an electric touch with all the lights shattering around them. It was absolutely brilliant framing.
“Got a history of stories ending sadly / Still hoping that the fire won’t burn me /Just one time, just one time /All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life /Got a feelin’ your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life /And I want you now, wanna need you forever”
Last Kiss (Speak Now Taylor’s Version)
This was back when they thought their first kiss was going to be their last. Oh, if Nancy and Ace could know things were going to get better for them at that time.
“I never thought we’d have a last kiss / I never imagined we’d end like this /Your name, forever the name on my lips”
False God (Lover)
My heart broke when the realization that the curse wasn’t broken came crashing down on them. Ace might have thought they were crazing thinking this could work. I was okay about dying for her, but he would never allow her to die for him. Cue one of many break-up scenes before they actually started dating.
“We were crazy to think / Crazy to think that this could work /Remember how I said I’d die for you? / We were stupid to jump /In the ocean separating us / Remember how I’d fly to you? / … They say the road gets hard and you get lost when you’re led by blind faith / Blind faith / But we might just get away with it / Religion’s in your lips / Even if it’s a false god”
Haunted (Speak Now Taylor’s Version)
Nancy stood there at Icarus Hall begging Ace to not walk away after their first curse break attempt. She couldn’t go back after knowing what it was like to kiss him, but he couldn’t go forward knowing it could hurt her again. So much pain this season, so I have “Haunted (Taylor’s Version)” for this.
“Come on, come on, don’t leave me like this / I thought I had you figured out /Something’s gone terribly wrong / Won’t finish what you started /Come on, come on, don’t leave me like this / I thought I had you figured out /Can’t breathe whenever you’re gone / Can’t go back, I’m haunted”
All You Had To Do Was Stay (1989)
All Ace had to do was stay, huh? There are so many songs for that first breakup of the season!
“Hey, all you had to do was stay / Had me in the palm of your hand /Then why’d you have to go and lock me out when I let you in?”
right where you left me (evermore)
I have yet another song about Nancy reeling from Ace leaving her. The lyrics from “right where you left me” about being stuck at the restaurant also reminds me of her talking about Ace to all the guys she speed dated at The Claw, which was such a fun scene to watch.
“I swear you could hear a hair pin drop / Right when I felt the moment stop /Glass shattered on the white cloth / Everybody moved on / I, I stayed there /Dust collected on my pinned-up hair / They expected me to find somewhere /Some perspective, but I sat and stared / Right where you left me”
Sad Beautiful Tragic (Red Taylor’s Version)
Nancy and Ace really were having a sad, beautiful, tragic love affair this season.
“Distance, timing / Breakdown, fighting / Silence, the train runs off its tracks /Kiss me, try to fix it / Could you just try to listen? / Hang up, give up /For the life of us we can’t get back / A beautiful magic love there /What a sad beautiful tragic [love affair]”
peace (folklore)
It’s time for #Nace’s breakup part two. We had to watch Nancy try to fight for her relationship with Ace again a couple episodes after their failed curse break, and it hurt exactly the same. They might have been over, but they would still die for each other in secret if it came down to it. It was so hard for them to find peace this season (but they eventually got it *tears up).
“But I’m a fire, and I’ll keep your brittle heart warm / If your cascade ocean wave blues come / All these people think love’s for show / But I would die for you in secret / The devil’s in the details, but you got a friend in me / Would it be enough if I could never give you peace?”
exile (folklore)
“Exile” could really fit anywhere throughout their story. I originally had it for season three when Ace saw Nancy dancing with Park, but the lyrics “I think I’ve seen this film before and I didn’t like the ending” fit perfectly with Ace having to watch Nancy dance with another guy again. We could’ve had a Chunky Felez and Nancy meetup if Ace didn’t walk in on seeing Tristan’s arms around her.
“I can see you standing, honey / With his arms around your body /Laughin’ but the joke’s not funny at all / And it took you five whole minutes /To pack us up and leave me with it / Holdin’ all this love out here in the hall /I think I’ve seen this film before / And I didn’t like the ending”
Foolish One (Speak Now Taylor’s Version)
I think Nancy and Ace both took turns feeling like the “foolish one” this season. They knew they loved each other and had to let the other one move on, but neither of them were capable. They even chose unavailable people to be with like a ghost and a sin eater destined to die.
“Oh, you haven’t written me or called / But goodbye screamin’ in the silence /And the voices in my head are tellin’ me why / ‘Cause you got her on your arm and me in the wings / I’ll get your longing glances, but she’ll get your ring / And you will say you had the best of intentions / And maybe I will finally learn my lesson”
Don’t You (Fearless Taylor’s Version)
They both tried to get over each other, but a soulmate love like theirs just doesn’t go away. No matter what, they knew the truth. Nancy and Ace always knew they would be each other’s greatest loves even if they simultaneously pushed each other away multiple times.
“Sometimes, I really wish that I could hate you / I’ve tried, but that’s just somethin’ I can’t do / My heart knows what the truth is / I swore I wouldn’t do this / But don’t you / Don’t you smile at me and ask me how I’ve been / Don’t you say you’ve missed me if you don’t want me again / You don’t know how much I feel I love you still”
The Way I Loved You (Fearless Taylor’s Version)
The Tristan of it all may have been frustrating but at least I can add “The Way I Loved You (Taylor’s Version)” to this playlist. Tristan was definitely the easier option, but it was always going to be Ace for Nancy every single time.
“He can’t see the smile I’m faking / And my heart’s not breaking / ‘Cause I’m not feeling anything at all / And you were wild and crazy / Just so frustrating, intoxicating, complicated / Got away by some mistake and now / I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain / It’s 2 a.m. and I’m cursing your name / I’m so in love that I acted insane / And that’s the way I loved you”
invisible string (folklore)
I yelled “one single thread of gold tied me to you” when Ace found Nancy from the mystical string thing that tied them together in her final mind weave. “Invisible string” is their song plain and simple.
“And isn’t it just so pretty to think / All along there was some / Invisible string / Tying you to me? / A string that pulled me / Out of all the wrong arms right into that dive bar / Something wrapped all of my past mistakes in barbed wire / Chains around my demons, wool to brave the seasons / One single thread of gold tied me to you”
The Great War (Midnights)
We all survived the great war!
“All that bloodshot, crimson clover / Uh-huh, the bombs were close and / My hand was the one you reached for / All throughout the Great War / Always remember / Uh-huh, the burning embers / I vowed not to fight anymore / If we survived the Great War”
Change (Fearless Taylor’s Version)
The night they burned Nancy’s soul away from Tristan’s was the night things changed for Nancy and Ace, and I’m so flipping happy.
“It’s a revolution, the time will come / For us to finally win / And we’ll sing hallelujah, we’ll sing hallelujah / Tonight we’ll stand, get off our knees / Fight for what we’ve worked for all these years / And the battle was long, it’s the fight of our lives / But we’ll stand up champions tonight / It was the night things changed”
How You Get The Girl (1989)
Ace certainly knows how to follow Taylor Swift’s instructions. He did indeed get the girl. He showed up at her place and told her he wanted her for worse or for better and he apologized for breaking her heart. I spy a king.
“And then you say I want you for worse or for worse or for better / I would wait for ever and ever / Broke your heart, I’ll put it back together /I would wait for ever and ever / And that’s how it works / That’s how you get the girl”
Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince (Lover)
It has certainly “been a long time coming” but Nancy and Ace are finally together. Time to celebrate! The pure happiness that bubbled out of my chest when I watched Nancy and Ace kiss during those last 10 minutes is pretty similar to how I felt when Taylor sang “It’s been a long time coming, but it’s you and me, that’s my whole world” at the Eras Tour.
“Running through rose thorns, I saw the scoreboard / And ran for my life / No cameras catch my pageant smile / I counted days, I counted miles / To see you there, to see you there / It’s been a long time coming, but / It’s you and me, that’s my whole world”
This Love (Taylor’s Version) (1989)
Nancy and Ace’s love came back to them, and it did glow in the dark. I have to give a big shoutout to the flashlight in that scene for not breaking when they kissed and for the lovely mood lighting. They might have had to let their love go free at the beginning of the season, but it came back to them in the end.
“This love is good / This love is bad / This love is alive back from the dead, oh, oh, oh /These hands had to let it go free, and / This love came back to me, oh, oh, oh / This love left a permanent mark / This love is glowing in the dark, oh, oh, oh / These hands had to let it go free, and / This love came back to me”
Enchanted (Speak Now Taylor’s Version)
Nancy and Ace were enchanted to meet each other. The Drew Crew was enchanted to meet each other, and I was entirely enchanted to meet this show. I am wonderstruck indeed.
“This night is sparkling, don’t you let it go / I’m wonderstruck, blushing all the way home /I’ll spend forever wondering if you knew / This night is flawless, don’t you let it go /I’m wonderstruck, dancing around all alone / I’ll spend forever wondering if you knew /I was enchanted to meet you”
Lover (Lover)
Nancy and Ace started off as co-workers, immediately became great friends and then finally became lovers at the end of it all. Their story is beautiful and I’m so thankful we got to see a glimpse of their joy together.
“I take this magnetic force of a man to be my lover / My heart’s been borrowed and yours has been blue / All’s well that ends well to end up with you / Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover”
Thank you for reading! What’s your favorite song for Nancy Drew and Ace (Hardy)? Comment below!
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