For all the dark tone of the show, there are definitely enough sweet moments scattered throughout to alleviate the oppressive feeling for a time.
Season 1
Pilot- With the revelation of the truth of her birth, Lucy's haunting of Nancy shifts from a ghost scaring someone into helping them to a mother watching over her daughter and leading her to the truth.
The Haunted Ring
- When Nancy introduces Bess to Carson, who has never even heard of her, as a friend who needs a place for a couple of days, doesn't hesitate.Carson: Any friend of Nancy's is welcome any time.
The Secret of Blackwood Lodge
- Mixing with being a Tearjerker, but Ryan showing obvious care and affection towards Lucy when he sees her during the Velvet Masque.
- Him telling Nancy about how much he cared for Lucy also becomes this by the end of the first season when it basically becomes a father telling his daughter that he loved her mother.
The Mark of the Poisoner's Pearl
- Nancy accepting Carson's call and trying to reconnect after contributing to his arrest. Extra points for Lucy looking on and vanishing after she does so.
The Phantom of the Bonnie Scot
- It's also an awesome moment, but Nancy invokes Papa Wolf in his dad so he'll finally do something to get himself out of prison.Nancy: If you won't go after the Hudsons to save yourself, maybe you'll do it to save me.
Carson: Listen, you're taking your life in your hands!
Nancy: No, I'm putting it in yours. Because I need my dad back. - The episode also ends with Nick sitting up with Bashiir to make sure the crew of the Bonnie Scott are no longer haunting him. They laugh and hug when the ghosts don't show up at their usual time.
The Clue in the Captain's Painting
- Despite how troubled their relationship was, Patrice shows some genuine love for her when she mistakes Nancy for her. Then when she learns Nancy is Lucy's daughter, she's delighted to learn she has a granddaughter and regrets missing her whole life.Nancy: No, just the part before now.
Season 2
The Secret of the Solitary Scribe- Ryan buying groceries for Patricia Dodd (Lucy's mother). A small moment that really shows he is trying to be a better person and not just for Nancy.
- Lucy's burial is a small peaceful moment where Nancy, Carson, and Ryan are able to put aside their interpersonal issues to lay Lucy's bones to rest.
- When Detective Tamura threatens to search Ace’s house for the bone he stole from the police station, Ace’s dad, who has no idea what’s going on, immediately backs his son up. His only question after Tamura leaves: “How can I help?”
The Echo of Lost Tears
- Nancy tells Carson that the best way he can help with the curse is to go with Ryan and lay Celia to rest, because "he could use a dad right now".
- At the family mausoleum, Ryan asks Carson if there's any way Everett could come after him for taking Nancy and if there's anything Ryan can do to protect him. Carson says there is, by back-dating consent to adoption and loss of parental rights to Nancy, but warns this would mean he wouldn't have that connection to Nancy any more. Ryan is clearly torn between wanting to protect his friend and wanting to maintain the only good family relationship he's ever had.
Season 3
Nancy accepting that Horseshoe Bay is where her roots are rooted and have grown despite having an identity crisis which started in the last part of Season 1 and lasted her whole character arc during the last season after finding out she was adopted.
Season 4
The Light Between Lives
- Before Nancy leaves on her road trip, she gives her old toque to Carson for her unborn sibling.
