January 31, 2012 - 8:17am
'Pretty Little Liars' RECAP: Leave the blackmailing to 'A'
BY KELLY ETZ AND ANNA SADOVSKAYA
- ABC Family
Well into its second season, ABC Family's suspenseful teen drama "Pretty Little Liars" keeps twisting and turning as it follows the four Liars in their quest to discovering mysterious A's identity. Daily Arts Editors Anna Sadovskaya and Kelly Etz recap the most recent episode.
Anna: So the main developments of this episode are … Kate coming to Rosewood and Vivianne Darkbloom. How do you think these storylines will develop?
Kelly: Well, thinking back to Kate in previous episodes, I wasn't really impressed with her. Sure, she managed to make Hanna look bad in front of her father and his wife-to-be (puking on the wedding dress was a nice touch), but it seemed like she was better as a one-time kind of villain … more useful in a couple of episodes. I'm hoping they don't give her storyline a lot of space, as there is already so much going on. Now there is a naked picture of her too? It's a bit confusing.
Anna: I'd agree. I feel like “Pretty Little Liars” has enough villains without Kate getting words in edgewise. I'm also not sure I like her playing nice, even if it is for show — if she's going to come back, then let her cause some mischief. I'm tired of the good-girl act that later proves to be bad-girl.
Kelly: I completely agree — the whole I-have-blackmail-on-you-so-you-are-forced-to-play-nice-or-else plot line is a little tired, especially since ‘A’ is the essential blackmailer of the show … it didn't really come across as exciting when Spencer decided to blackmail Kate. And it was a fruitless attempt anyway. Spencer just turned around and showed Hanna thy very lackluster “scandal” of the boils on Kate's face. Also, how do the boils transmit to a naked photo? The mass text (where did it come from?!) made little sense ... though the thought of everyone in school thinking you sent a mass text of your naked step-sister is rather terrifying. So if the point of the whole charade was to construct a just plain crap situation for Hanna, then this really delivered.
Anna: It was brilliantly executed, you've got that right. Maybe it was Kate that did it, maybe not — but you're right in saying this plot is completely overused in PLL: There's ‘A’ (who is most likely a couple different people), there are parents that have blackmailed their kids (hello, every pretty liar's parentals) and not to mention that many TV dramas these days rely on blackmail to keep the plot going. (Revenge, anyone?)
Kelly: The blackmailing should definitely be left to the real professional schemer of the show, A. Speaking of A, the major revelation in tonight's episode appears to be Alison's fake ID, featuring her alter-ego Vivianne Darkbloom … who we are supposed to believe looks completely different from Alison because her hair is dark instead of blond. Completely realistic. But the ID does raise some questions (more questions!). Why did Alison need a fake ID with her alter ego on it? What was she up to? And why was she so crazy when she was alive? I mean, we all might fantasize about being someone else for a minute, but I doubt most rational people take it as far as creating an entirely new identity for themselves and going to salons dressed as their alter-egos. Alison was one crazy cat, that's for sure.
Anna: I think it's safe to say that Alison was (is? is!?) not rational. I wondered why she needed an alter ego fake ID, as well. And what about that J&L locker? And the Vladimir Nabokov reference? I sometimes wonder if PLL gets too ahead of itself with the mystery. I understand the need for questions to lead to more questions, but sometimes I feel like too much is left untied for too long. For example, Hanna's mom stole that money in the first season. It's still a happenin' storyline? Really? And what about Toby? And Melissa? And Jenna? Every character feels unsolved, and the more the questions pile up, the less answers I find. Sometimes I scramble through the episode, trying to connect it with the previous airing. For example, this week’s and last week’s episode felt completely disconnected from episode 16. I think there are too many storylines going for a cohesive series.
Kelly: The storylines are much too confusing, and the way they are all interconnected is not always clear. Sometimes, they aren't even interconnected at all, and we're left thinking 'what is happening?!' Or a minor character will turn into a major character in the blink of a heavily mascaraed eye, then disappear. I agree with you about the Lolita reference, it was just too much too soon. Also, I felt it was a little pretentious, like PLL was trying to say something subtle and intriguing by using Lolita, but I couldn't really make the connection between an old professor in love with a young girl, and the situation between Alison and the Liars. Perhaps I'm reading too much into the choice of novel, but it seemed to be deliberate somehow, with the Nabokov tie-in with her name and all. I'm just not getting what PLL is trying to tell me. However, once again, as with last week episode, I am intrigued with Holden's character. I feel his storyline is the only consistent link between this week and last week. I want to know more about him! That huge bruise is going to be important somehow, as the not-so-subtle reveal of it suggested, and I'm desperately hoping he's an underground street fighter. Though, that could be stretching it a little. But hey, crazier things have happened on PLL.
Anna: It is pretentious to name drop Nabokov — I watch PLL to be entertained. It's not necessarily a "smart" series, but I don't expect it to be. No idea where the connection between Lolita and the Liars lies (ha!). I guess it's another thing to stay tuned for ... Holden, on the other hand, is proving to be interesting, you're right. I also want him to be a bad-ass street fighter, but one can only hope … I kind of want him to be evil. Is that bad? I want him to play a big part in the series because this is the first time I've been interested in a new character for some time. Kate? Not interested. Jackie Molina? Boring. Garret? Alright, he might be important, but I'm over that whole storyline. Basically, Holden better be worth the mystery. I'm also wondering whether or not I should invest time with Caleb. I'm still unsure how I feel about him -- he seems better than Sean, but seeing as most of the guys in the Liar's lives tend to ... exit quickly, I wonder if Caleb is going to be part of the story long?
Kelly: I'm really not excited about Caleb (his hair! not good!), and I haven't been since the beginning. I really don't appreciate his very fortuitous tech-boy skills, as I think it was too easy of a way for the Liars to find out this information. And after Hanna destroyed the flash drive, I felt it should have been a bigger deal than Caleb just happening to have the same information saved on his computer. of course he did. I'm rather interested in this new twist with Ezra and Aria, as in Aria's Dad being all badass and suggesting Ezra would be perfect (just perfect!) for the job in Louisiana. I was almost ready for Ezra to go to New Orleans, because I can't seem to think what is going to keep Ezra and Aria's relationship fresh in the coming episodes. They have really exhausted all of their options there, unless Aria's parents were to suddenly be OK with the whole relationship. Not that I don't love Ezra, because I DO, but I feel he would be better off in New Orleans as it is. Maybe he can meander back when Aria is older or when we need him for some juicy plot twists. other than that, maybe it's time for a new, hot love interest for Aria (but not Holden, please!). I mean, I like Holden and all, and I'm really hoping he ends up being evil as well (cause he's been so dang nice this whole time!), but I just don't see a thing with him and Aria being really juicy or exciting. but we shall see what all enfolds.
Anna: Caleb's slimy mane IS quite disconcerting. I want to shampoo him. I think a major flaw with PLL is the speed with which they present information. It's like every one of the Liars just hop onto whatever train is passing through — new characters have had no time to develop, and their back stories are as fake as their tans. It's all too surface and immediate, and I just don't feel interested in anything but 'A,' Holden and the supreme hotness of some characters (EZRA. This might be the only reason I like him. I'm not going to say). Speaking of Ezra, I want him to go, too. Let's consider Aria for a quick second ... because all it takes is a second. Her entire drama in these two seasons revolve around Ezra. First it was his reluctance, then it was Jackie and finally, it's Aria's parents. I guess her dad's affair was drama, but considering Spencer was framed for Ali's murder, Hanna was run down by a car and Emily was tormented by 'A' so much, she developed a stomach ulcer. PLUS, 'A' spiked Emily's body cream with HGH. GROWTH HORMONES. Aria has gotten off pretty lucky, she's rarely a direct target of A's wrath and I'm tired of her pining for Ezra (though he is quite pine-able). Maybe distance will do them some good, who knows? Maybe she'll become awesome and exciting when he's gone. Maybe ... or maybe she'll mope until she finds another boy.
Kelly: So true. Aria's only nail-biting stint with ‘A’ seems to be when ‘A’ threatened to have Hanna tell Aria's mother about Ezra. Seeing that it didn't even really involve Aria at all, in that Hanna was the one with the decision to either rat out her friend or not, Aria got off pretty well. And she just ended up telling her parents anyway! I mean, sure, there was that whole drama with her brother (was that a mental illness thing? it was never really explained), but who knows what happened with that storyline. I feel like PLL is too excited about each new twist it can throw at us that it doesn't care how it wraps up all the other twists. And it keeps hitting us with the new stuff till we have no idea what is supposed to be important and what is just going to be dropped the next day. I completely agree with you that the secondary characters are hardly developed at all (Mona, anyone?) and the Liars make laughably bad decisions all over the place. But somehow, even with all these threads of unresolved plots flying around, I still love this series. The delicious juiciness just doesn't wear off, which is nothing to scoff at, considering the show has accumulated a fair number of episodes already. And I was never expecting the show to be very stimulating in a smart kind of way, I'm really coming to the show for the truly insane twists, just like the rest of PLL's audience. If it can just flesh out exactly what it is trying to do, it will end up being even more intriguing, as all the confusion will be cleared up and all we'll have to focus on is whole "who in the heck is ‘A’ and why is he/she/it so nefariously evil?!" Which is really the point of the show.
Anna: I could not have said it better myself. There's something about the complete helplessness of the Liars in the face of 'A' that I love. They can't stop 'A' but they're strong in their dealing with every twist and turn (though there are entirely too many of them). It's about trust and the value of friendship (ugh, cheese), and though I hate the hundred different stories, the core of the series is entrancing. I want to know who 'A' is. I want everything to work out for the Liars. I want to keep watching! I just want to be invested in more of the plot.
Kelly: I agree! I think it's a great series for displaying some real moments in female friendships and yes, the importance of friendship. I like that the Liars have these problems they must face, and they often get angry and annoyed and just plain pissed with each other, but the way ABC Family has handled their friendship during these struggles (more cheese), is commendable. though they were a little split up tonight, with their exclusion of Hanna, they still make up a unit and handle each other's baggage without judgment, an important lesson for any friendship (sorry, that got a little 'preachy'). In any case, PLL is delicious and next week looks to be as crazy as ever, with some unexpected twists (what else?) and hopefully some revolving of information.
Anna: Yes, yes, yes! Right on, girl scout. Also, the series finale is supposed to reveal 'A' — so eventually, we'll get the answers we're looking for ... even if it's not next week.
Kelly: Supposedly, I. Marlene King revealed ‘A’ was a girl, but that could be a clever ploy to throw us all off. I'm not ruling anyone out, especially Noel, cause he just screams evil.
Anna: Noel … Noel is evil, so supremely terrible. He makes my skin crawl. I've read the books and if 'A' in the TV series is anything like 'A' in the books … it's about to get a whole lot of different crazies. But I also know that I. Marlene said they had to switch 'A' up so as to keep the fans of the book series guessing. WE SHALL SEE, WON'T WE?
