There’s nothing I love more than comparing my favorite fictional ships to Taylor Swift songs. Nancy Drew and Ace (Hardy) from The CW’s “Nancy Drew” is just the perfect relationship to be told by her *chef’s kiss.
From co-workers to friends to crushes to cursed lovers to lovers at last, you can count on a Taylor Swift song to represent whatever stage they’re in. Here’s my take on Nancy Drew and Ace’s relationship told all the way from the beginning through Taylor Swift songs.
This article focuses on seasons one and two, but here’s the article for season three and the one for season four.
Season 1: Co-workers to friends
Tied Together With A Smile (Debut)
“Tied Together With A Smile” from Swift’s self-titled album really sets the tone for how Nancy starts the show for me. She’s keeping all of her trauma packed neatly away, pretending she’s fine. However, Ace is about to come into her life and make her realize she doesn’t have to go through things alone.
“No one knows / That you cry; but you don’t tell anyone / That you might not be the golden one / And you’re tied together with a smile”
It’s Nice to Have a Friend (Lover)
Nancy and Ace’s friendship starts growing, and it’s so fun to look back on. I had to use “It’s Nice to Have a Friend” from “Lover” to showcase this.
“Twenty questions, we tell the truth / You’ve been stressed out lately? / Yeah, me too / Something gave you the nerve / To touch my hand / It’s nice to have a friend”
Hey Stephen (Fearless Taylor’s Version)
Let’s just pretend, the song is titled “Hey Ace” instead. I spy a growing friendship!
“The way you walk, way you talk, way you say my name / It’s beautiful, wonderful, don’t you ever change / Hey Stephen, why are people always leaving? / I think you and I should stay the same”
Holy Ground (Red Taylor’s Version)
“Holy Ground (Taylor’s Version)” gives me all the fluff vibes that I felt watching season one. The song takes me right back to “the first day” we saw them at The Claw together. Nancy and Ace really were building a holy ground.
“I left a note on the door with a joke we’d made / And that was the first day / And darling, it was good / Never looking down / And right there where we stood / Was holy ground”
Season 2: Friends to crushes
I’m Only Me When I’m With You (Debut)
Nancy and Ace have built a really sweet friendship by the time season two rolls around. She’s starting to open up to him more, so “I’m Only Me When I’m With You” offers that wholesome feeling I got every time they shared the screen.
“Just a small-town boy and girl / Livin’ in a crazy world / Tryna figure out what is and isn’t true / And I don’t try to hide my tears / My secrets or my deepest fears / Through it all, nobody gets me like you do”
I Think He Knows (Lover)
I couldn’t write about season two without mentioning the magical dress that made Nancy feel lust for all the gorgeous men in her life. It was both odd and hilarious to watch. There’s something so perfect about “I Think He Knows” that describes when Nancy saw Ace’s hair flying in the wind in slow motion and when she couldn’t keep her hands from running through his hair.
“I think he knows his hands around / A cold glass /Make me wanna know that body / Like it’s mine / He got that boyish look that I like in a man / I am an architect, I’m drawing up the plans”
Gorgeous (Reputation)
I had to throw “Gorgeous” from “Reputation” just for good measure to represent the lust dress storyline.
“You’re so gorgeous / I can’t say anything to your face / And I’m so furious /At you for making me feel this way / But what can I say? / You’re gorgeous”
Begin Again (Red Taylor’s Version)
I cannot say enough how much I despised Gil in season two. He was literally draining the life out of Nancy with all of his verbal abuse along with the Wraith. “Begin Again (Taylor’s Version)” reminds me of when she broke up with him at The Claw, and Ace immediately came to her side to comfort her. “But on a Wednesday [at the Claw], I watched it begin again.” If you know, you know.
“And you throw your head back laughing / Like a little kid /I think it’s strange that you think I’m funny, ’cause / He never did / … But on a Wednesday in a cafe / I watched it begin again”
Everything Has Changed (Red Taylor’s Version)
Everything really changed during Nancy’s Wraith dreamscape at the end of season two. Ace was the final member of the Drew Crew to help her reconcile all the pieces of her past selves in this. It might have been a dream version of him, but he still helped her come to terms with the shame she’s felt since she was born. This was the moment Nancy realized that no one gets her quite like he does.
“All I know since yesterday / Is everything has changed / And all my walls /Stood tall painted blue / But I’ll take ’em down, take ’em down /And open up the door for you / And all I feel / In my stomach is butterflies / The beautiful kind, makin’ up for lost time / Takin’ flight, makin’ me feel like / I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now”
long story short (evermore)
Long story short, they served the Wraith!
“And I fell from the pedestal / Right down the rabbit hole / Long story short, it was a bad time / Pushed from the precipice / Climbed right back up the cliff / Long story short, I survived / Now I’m all about you”
State of Grace (Red Taylor’s Version)
Ahh, we were so close to a Nancy and Ace love reveal back in season two. Cut to Nancy showing up at Ace’s door to profess her feelings to him after defeating the Wraith only to find out he left for his romantic road trip with Amanda already.
“This is a state of grace / This is the worthwhile fight / Love is a ruthless game / Unless you play it good and right / These are the hands of fate / You’re my Achilles heel / This is the golden age of something good and right and real”
I’m not done just yet! Check out my Nancy Drew and Ace (Taylor’s Version) article about season three of The CW’s “Nancy Drew” here.
