On October 11, , David Opie reviewed the premiere of the new CW Nancy Drew , arguing that the depiction of Nancy having casual sex with Ned is what, in large part, successfully updates the character for modern audiences, making her newly relevant and relatable.
He even goes so far as to argue that any depiction of teenagers without sex is not realistic:. For far too long, the character of Nancy Drew has been impossible to decipher for modern audiences, much like some of the toughest mysteries she became famous for solving in the first place. When I think about the impact Nancy Drew has had on my life, and on the lives of other women I know, such an argument seems absurd.
I admired and still admire Nancy, not because of her sex life or lack thereof , but because of the qualities she exhibits: fearlessness, perseverance, intelligence, and kindness. Nancy was a hero to me because she seemed, somehow, like the perfect woman, always knowing how to act gracefully in social situations, always caring, but also able to confront the bad guys and solve the case, no matter the danger to herself.
I wanted to be as smart and brave as Nancy. After all, Nancy Drew was originally written for childrenβa fact Opie does not seem to consider.
Opie, I believe, misses the reason so many women have grown up loving Nancy Drew and so puts forth a deeply flawed premise that modern audiences can only relate to a teenage character if that teen is having sex.
