On The Christmas Case: Will The Real Santa Claus...? (The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries)

 

It's been years since I've looked at anything related to The Hardy Boys and I do apologize for that. And unfortunately, the original entries in my Hardy Boys retrospective have been lost to time. I will truck on as I do have the second season on DVD.  I'd been wanting to look at something Christmas related starring my favorite detectives. I knew that there was a Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys crossover called A Crime for Christmas but it's actually rather hard to find as it's currently not in print. 

That's where I decided to turn Frank and Joe's frequent partner, Nancy Drew, and found two Christmas related items to look at. The first being a Christmas episode of the 1977 series and a 2018 book from the Nancy Drew Diaries series simply titled A Nancy Drew Christmas. Now full confession, I am listening to the audiobook version of that book, so the review will be a bit different.  

When it comes to my familiarity with Nancy Drew, I've read one Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys book years ago. Before this episode, the only other thing I saw Pamela Sue Martin as Nancy in was the season two premiere The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula. I've seen the Emma Roberts movie, the new direct-to-video movie and I love the CW series, which is a heck of a lot darker than this show.

All things told throughout these various adaptions of Nancy, I have liked the character. The Emma Roberts movie kinda plays like The Brady Bunch Movie. Hidden Staircase is a faithful adaption that modernizes one of her earliest mysteries. The CW show updates and darkens it while throwing n the supernatural. 

As for this episode, I really enjoyed it and it's quite cute. If I had to compare it to anything, it reminded me of the classic Miracle on 34th Street and I also some compare it to Night of the Meek. 

So, what is the exact plot of this episode?  That's what we are here to discuss.  The Nancy Drew Wiki isn't much help because all it states is.

The Plot

At Christmas time, Nancy Drew tries to prove the innocence of a derelict who could not have committed a series of Christmas robberies which involves a man dressed in a Santa suit and is robbing houses and tries to capture him.

This is true and there are some other interesting elements to look at such as how this man that is Santa is first discovered in a barn by two young kids and is later taken in by the Drews as he has nowhere and at the same time as this is happening someone in a Santa costume has committing robberies.   The Santa costume of the burglar is actually creepy.

This honestly looks something out of a horror movie but it works.  Meanwhile, a new rival arrives , Ned Nickerson played by Rick Springfield. Yes, the same one that did Jessie's Girl.

This episode does the rivals to lovers trope but apparently, Springfield doesn't show up in the show again as this review points out. 

. (This was Springfield’s first and last appearance on the show).

So what else could be going on with Santa?  Mr. Griffin as he goes by here.  Apparently he saw a drug deal take place and some bad men want him out of the picture. All while Mr. Griffin takes on the role of department store Santa and that is where the Miracle on 34th Street comparsion comes in as Mr. Griffin really loves kids and they all fly to him because they know he's the real Santa. This is also where we get another fun element whee Mr. Griffin takes part in a parade on Christmas even night after Nancy is attacked by the Santa robber unmasked and it is actually a man named Cortez.  There are a good amount of suspense in this moment as it takes place in a barn. It's actually intense and makes you feel for Nancy in this moment. Granted things get a little weird.

When the parade stops for a second, Griffin sees the men through the wall with his powers/X-ray eyes (Hey, he's Santa Claus! He has special powers unknown to man). Griffin disappears. When they discover he's `missing,` Carson says they'll just have to go on without him. The shooters can't see Griffin now, and figure their sites are blocked. The "bad guy" says he'll just get `Drew and her old man first.' He starts shooting. They manage to dodge the bullets. The cops, Nancy, Carson and Ned run around the side of the building and find two men konked out and handcuffed together. It's the shooters. Ned says, "what happened up here!?" The cop says it must've been one of his men who caught them.

The episode ends with the Drews , Ned and her friend George celebrating Christmas and Mr. Griffin working his Christmas magic as he presents a poreclain doll that Nancy had told her father that she wanted as a child and she finds it under the tree.

Honestly, the best part of this episode is how much Nancy beleives Mr. Griffin and is willing to go to bat for him and prove his innoence.  The mystery is a little interesting but I beleive this is a case where the spirit of Christmas overrides the mystery a tad.

Characters

Nancy Drew played by Pamela Sue Martin 

The best part of this episode was how much Nancy believed in Mr. Griffin and didn't give up on him when everyone else was willing to. She stuck to her guns and was willing to prove his innoence when no one else believed him. 

Mr. Griffin played  by Dan O'Herlihy

I'll admit,  this isn't my favoite take on Santa but it does work  to sell the idea of Santa and people that never stop beliving in him. This is seen both with the young kids that find him and Nancy after some convicing.  And she doesn't give up on that.

Supporting Character

Ned Nickerson played by Rick Springfiled 

Rick Springfiled may be a good singer but he was not good as Ned here. He just felt so stuff and you never once bought into the relationship that was blossoming between him and Nancy. It honestly felt a bit contrived. And maybe that's why he never showed up again.

My Final Thoughts

In all, this is a good episode that I'd readly suggest if you wish to check out some oldschool Nancy Drew material. It has a lot of heart and warmth for the holiday season.  Join me next as we go from Nancy Drew celebrating Christmas in 1977 to Nancy celebrating Christmas in 2018 as I take a look at the book...

A Nancy Drew Christmas