Ned Nickerson

[Phaedruss]

I feel a little stupid asking this, but did Nancy Drew break up with Ned? Where did he go?

[IrishWest0902]

Not sure, but I know at the beginning of the Captive Curse, he gets mad at her for wanting to follow a case instead of going back home to go on a date with him. I haven't finished that game, so not sure; however I just realized that in both the Deadly Device and in the Lost Tomb, Ned is nowhere to be found.

[nandydrew]

He comes back in later games. Actually if you play the most recent game, Sea of Darkness, he actually has a big moment with Nancy (a good one)

[Phaedruss]

Cool -- thanks. I've played all the games up to and including The Silent Spy. I've been waiting for the games to make their way onto Steam. Good to know Ned is still with her! I'm a romantic at heart. Hahaha!

[nandydrew]

Oh okay! Nice! Hopefully they'll all be up soon. The next one, The Shattered Medallion is a super awesome game!! Got a lot to look forward to! And lol I don't think they'd ever break up Nancy and Ned, so don't worry.

[Osiris~]

As I understand it, Nancy's friends Bess, George, Ned etc. come and go throughout because of writing/storyline needs and/or voice actor availability.

I don't think your ever suppose to think that Nancy and Ned ever dated seriously, just really good friends although I know they hint in that direction. I think they like keeping you guessing but it is also realistic. Many times one may have someone they like but the mutual interest never fully develops.

There are times they actually 'date' but there is never exclusivity that carries over throughout the series. They frequently attend dances and dinners but they keep you thinking he is a potential rather than a 'steady' (kind of like Who's the Boss - that show is an awesome cult fav so I am not dating myself).

In the book Secret in the Old Attic, they actually express romantic feelings but since there is no follow-up we must conclude that they have decided to keep it casual or platonic. In the video games they make him the GO-TO-GUY for the boyfriend which is fun and nice because most of us readers silently root for Ned a bit.

If you watch the TV series he has a silly nerd quality and is treated much more like the books. I prefer Ned portrayed a nerdy friend with potential rather than a boyfriend. I think that George O'Hanlon did an excellent job and is my favorite Ned.

There is also the book Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion. I read the older 1940's version not the 1970's version with the exploding oranges (lol - I am not sure but the ghostwriter may be to blame). The older version is Nancy Drew and Ned is just a friend. The 1970's ghostwriter tried to make Ned a love interest against the original intent. This rewrite is NOT considered Nancy Drew but rather more like a writer quaffing a barrel of Jack D's finest (or read it for a laugh).

Any and all feel free to correct anything you feel may be wrong.

Anyways, hope this helps and I strongly recommend reading/listening to the series and watching the TV shows.

One final thought about older books that some may not realise:

Through the years there have been a number of publishers rewriting literature including the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. They would make minor changes to some stories yet in others they would change entire plots keeping the titles and author the same in order to assist in the confusion. Clearly these ghostwriters are not honoring the original intent of the author/creator, but they don't care. Some of these changes are good and some not. Just keep in mind that you can never KNOW about something that is this malleable.

[alexismarie]

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE!!