February 7, 2012 - 12:54pm
'Pretty Little Liars' RECAP: The first rule about fight club
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.
Kelly: OK, first off, let's talk about the return of Jason and the resulting drama.
Anna: Well … Rosewood just got smaller! And Papa Hastings got busier.
Kelly: He always seemed a bit sleazy to me.
I'm not surprised that this whole love-child thing happened, it was bound to at some point. Also, Jason is looking fine with his hair cut. I'm ok with him not being evil now that he's a bit of a babe. But is he evil? I can't tell.
Anna: He's an evil babe. I think he's less evil, more in the "know." I think both he and Noel Kahn just know things we don't!
Kelly: Noel. I cannot figure him out. What was that whole scene with him and Jenna where they were in that dark room looking at the secrets. How did they get those? Also, how did Noel get on the roof? And why is he so interested in Caleb? I swear, after every episode, one of my questions is answered, but I have 5 million more.
Anna: Right? Always! There are never enough answers — like we said last week, it's actually confusing. I'm starting to forget certain story lines (hello, Jason! I forgot about you), and I'm certainly not as invested in some of them (I'm sorry, Aria, what is your story line?). And I think the secrets in the dark room were there on purpose — part of “Truth Up” or whatever.
Kelly: Yep, way too much jumping around. Though I do like the non-A related drama with Jason. Also, the “Truth-Up” thing was interesting. We certainly never did anything like that in my high school, but I thought it was a good way to kind of throw some light on bullying in school without becoming too trite. Speaking of the school, what is up with the principal? He does not deserve that job. He was all jerk-wad to Emily.
Anna: He is a creep. I’m not sure why he’s such a jerk or how he's gotten away with it for so long — WHY DOESN'T ANYONE TELL THEIR PARENTS ANYTHING? — but he's certainly playing the part of a dictator quite well. Speaking of playing a part well, can we talk about how Mona can a) change her voice well b) hack into computers like it’s not a problem and c) blackmail principals without getting herself in trouble. Who is she?
Kelly: I know! That whole scene when they were in the principal's office, it was like “where is everyone!” I mean, there was even more people in the school as usual, thanks to the “Truth Up” night, yet no one noticed that Mona and Emily were both missing and no one saw them in the office? Also, Mona is all the sudden popping up more. I’m concerned. She seems as if she is evil. I remember when she was all shop-lifting with Hanna and she dated Noel. She does not have a good track record.
Anna: She’s dangerous, definitely. Especially considering Ali and the liars made her life a living hell in middle school ... I guess we’ll have to see (I feel like we can say this for absolutely everything in PLL). So ... FIGHT CLUB.
Kelly: I knew that Holden was going to be a street-fighter. I mean, the giant bruise? The sketchy attitude? The pills? It completely screams fight club. He should take Aria, shake up her life a little. Speaking of Aria, her older lover was mysteriously missing from this episode. So, can we assume Ezra took the job and went to New Orleans? Hmm...
Anna: He is like a super hero! Suave, ready to fight and always there in a snap. He really should take Aria along … maybe introduce her to something more than the life of a girlfriend-on-hold. Because Ezra is for sure in NOLA, and I'm thinking he's not coming back for her just yet.
Kelly: Oh, Ezra. Your time has passed. What about the mysterious raincoat? And the even more mysterious caller? Of course the Liars are going to meet him without having any idea who he is or what he is up to. It’s a perfectly sane plan. And they definitely shouldn’t tell anyone about it, like the police or their parents. That would just be silly.
Anna: They’ve definitely proven they can absolutely handle everything going on in their lives. Why would they even consider going to a parent or authority? I guess the police ARE kind of corrupt … but a parent? Caleb? Anyone?! They are surrounded by people and yet they’re so isolated. At first they were scared and unsure … but two and a half seasons later, their whole “we can handle it” attitude is annoying. And that trench coat/number? Coolest thing in the episode. At least it’s a lead!
Kelly: I am intrigued to see who this guy is. Hopefully he is a hottie.
Anna: HA. Maybe it’s Mona. She could change her voice. Who knows? I don’t. BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT’S GOING ON. Realistically, I don’t know who to be suspicious of. Maybe that’s the point? Maybe the writers want us seeing everyone as a suspect. I mean, that’s how the Liars feel, right?! Confused, looking over their shoulders, etc. What if one of them is “A.” Like, oh you know. Aria.
Kelly: Wow. You’re blowing my mind here. It could definitely be Aria. She has this whole I’m-definitely-innocent-thing going on that could be a total ruse. I’m betting on “A” being Alison. I just really don't want her to be dead … because how intense would a reunion be?
Anna: Not to be a party-pooper, but I kind of wish the writers kept the ending close to the book’s ending. It was convoluted and intense, but it could be simplified for TV purposes, and it was satisfying! And surprising. But I definitely want Alison to make an appearance. I think there’s too much story there that we don’t know about yet. I also fail to see a good reason for the Liars to actually befriend Ali. Rather, stay friends with her after they saw who she really was. I know she was popular and shiny, but after a while she just seemed grimy.
Kelly: I think the point was that they didn’t realize that she was so awful until she was, well … dead. But they are completely BLIND, because in every flashback she is even more bitchy than the last.
Anna: Right?! Right. I don’t know. I feel like this episode was a set-up episode. It’s setting up a lot of cool new story lines (Holden, Mona, Jason, Vivianne's RED TRENCHCOAT FRIENDS, etc.) and I'm (as always) waiting for the next episode to see where it goes.
