'Pretty Little Liars' recap: 'Birds of a Feather' plucks a big bird bare
ABC Family's “Pretty Little Liars” stars Troian Bellisario as Spencer Hastings, Lucy Hale as Aria Montgomery, Shay Mitchell as Emily Fields and Ashley Benson as Hanna Marin. Credit: ABC Family
My, my, my, the “PLL” writers are really stepping up their game this summer. I think it's safe to say that this has been one of the most eventful seasons to date in the show's history.
One GIANT bird was plucked tonight, so naturally, let's start our weekly feast there.
Melissa, oh, Melissa. It's utterly baffling to me that at every turn, no matter the evidence against her, Spencer has been unwilling to accept that Melissa has any blame in any of these situations.
Not even after the PLLs find a feather matching one from the Black Swan at the masquerade ball in Melissa's apartment does she want to admit that it could've been her sister (I have to admit, I really enjoyed Hanna's “if the feather fits” statement when Spencer refused to face facts). Not until she confronts her sister face-to-face does Spencer being to accept the “truth,” or whatever warped version of it we're being fed now.
Melissa claims she lost the baby the day after Ian's body was discovered, and for now at least, we'll have to accept that. OK, fine, she must have been pregnant at SOME point (though I will say my subconscious is tapping its foot, shaking its head, refusing to believe it – Melissa clearly faked the entire thing ... even the other PLLs seem to think so).
She feeds Spencer and Mama Hastings some story about being blackmailed into wearing the costume after, we'll assume A, threatened that her baby-secret would be revealed to all of Rosewood. Not buying it, not one bit. At least now we know what Garrett has over the Hastings, but it doesn't make his whole legal situation sit any better with me.
Mona's not allowed visitors, which is prompted by her post-Caleb-visit fit last week. The strain between Caleb and Hanna is worse than ever, and finally reaching his boiling point, he breaks things off with Hanna.
Why can't she just tell him about “new A?” He knew about the PLL's A situation before. Why does she think he can't handle it now? Hm, maybe it's because at least one member of the A-Team is stalking his family in Montecito and trying to kill them. I suppose I understand her hesitancy, but it seems like the Spencer-Toby story line all over again.
Jason (Drew Van Acker) put out a reward for information about Ali's remains and though he tells Spencer he's retracting it, he also tells her that everyone under the sun has been blamed, including her. After she leaves the scene, he cuts a check for the reward amount made to cash and arranges some secret meeting.
My guess? A has sent Jason that lovely picture of the PLLs standing beside Ali's grave. After all, imagine what a deranged group of killers could do with $50G. But I guess we shall see.
Some other minor things to note: Detective Wilden (Bryce Johnson) is back and snooping around. He visits Mona and cryptically asks Spencer how far it is to her parents' lake house. Not sure what to make of it yet.
Maya's cousin is in town and is apparently planning on staying – no clue what role he'll play in the drama yet.
As always, my favorite and clearly the best part of each episode, the A-scene, does not disappoint. A's in Montecito -- I guess they're done with running Caleb's family off the road -- and has accessed the Radley patient information system. Mona is officially allowed visitors again. I guess she can expect her visits from the A-Team to start again.
