Pretty Little Liars: “To Plea or Not to Plea” Review
Pretty Little Liars
Season 5.23
“To Plea or Not to Plea”
Previously on Pretty Little Liars…
Alison is offered a plea bargain as her prison hazing reaches dangerous new heights. Spencer gets duped (by guess who) in London. Emily wins the “Fearless PLL Sleuth Award” as she uncovers “A Big” clue. Aria finally comes to her senses! Hanna, poor Hanna, learns that orange is not a good color for her. This episode definitely had undertones of deceit and drama as A pulls a fast one on the girls.
Ali almost tells her lawyer about Mike’s revelation that Mona faked her death. When her lawyer asks “does this person know for a fact where you where at the time of the murder?”, Alison says no. Her lawyer tells her that this can’t help her case, so Alison does not share any further information about Mike. It’s very interesting, because she actually could have shared it anyway. Her lawyer tells her that the DA is offering a plea bargain agreement if Ali pleads guilty and tells who her accomplice was. She can get fifteen years and could be out in ten versus life without parole. After all, the police have been building a case around the person they believe helped Ali...Hanna Marin!!! Alison has a big decision to make and that decision will let us see more clearly into Alison’s motives.
Spencer is still in London. Even though her mother has supposedly set up another college interview for her, she is trying to book a flight back to Rosewood. Melissa convinces her to stay by sharing how different her life is since she moved to London. The first-born Hastings fills Spencer’s head with so much “I want to be a real big sister to you and share hair and make-up tips” garbage, that Spence falls for it and stays. Conveniently, Melissa and Wren’s flat mate, Collin, asks Spencer on a date to the Royal Shakespeare Company. Melissa follows through and gives Spencer the perfect dress for the date and Spencer goes off with Collin to see Hamlet and “legally” buy her first beer/pint. Hastings’ money, scheming, lies and a handsome guy to kiss Spencer prevail once again! Spencer later learns that there is no interview. Her mother thought Alison was going to name Spence as her accomplice, so they decided to conspire to keep her out of the Rosewood.
Well the word is out about Aria and Andrew. Emily sees the note that Andrew left in Aria’s locker about their upcoming date. Aria brushes all of that aside because she is focused on passing her History test and finding a way to help her brother stay out of trouble. So Emily goes to Ezra and asks if he found any information about Varjak when he was researching for his book. STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN Emily! Can’t you see that Ezra is still up to his neck in shady behavior!!! He has been out of town so much, mysteriously buys the Brew even though he is jobless, and he is just too shifty eyed and fidgety to be trusted! Oh well, she trusts him anyway and goes with him to James Neilan’s office. How ironic is it that Neilan was the attorney that gave Hanna the envelope from Mona in the Christmas episode? They go to his office but only Ezra goes inside. He thinks Neilan is working for A, and when he demands that he tell him who he is working for or tell the police….the camera cuts outside to Emily who has been joined by Aria and when never learn what Neilan says. As soon as Ezra leaves Neilan jumps in his car and of course the liars follow him to a remote gated property equipped with cameras. Hmm…. this place looks familiar. Yes, I think the PLLs have partied there in the past!
When Ezra sees the text from Andrew, “Congrats on killing the test, beautiful” on Aria’s phone it slows he and Aria down. But Emily shows us that she is no longer the weakest link, as she is the only one that gets through the gate before it closes. She searches the garbage and hits the Jackpot when she finds a pizza receipt with the name Varjak and the phone number 727 242 7839. Compare that number to the Letters on you phone’s key pad and you will find a major clue!!! (or just check out my blog at cdjack11cdjack11.tumblr.com where I re-blogged an anonymous blogger who shared how another blogger cracked the code!) Emily then spies Neilen taking money from a safe while getting instructions from someone (Varjak??) on the phone. Great job Emily!!!
Back at the Women’s Correctional facility Alison’s jail cell gets trashed and the words Take The Plea are painted on her wall. That’s not all. The one who bullied so many in the past gets bullied prison style as she is burned on one arm with an iron in the laundry room and is cut on the other. This really scares Ali! She calls her lawyer and asks if she can be moved to a less dangerous facility if she take the plea.
Before I conclude with the saddest news ever to air on PLL let me share some good news: Ezria broke up!!!! Get your life, Aria!!! I know you love him, but please stay away from Slim Shady!!! He may not be A, but I feel he is still lying to you all about some big things.
It is with a heavy heart that I must share that the last couple standing, my OTP (One True Pairing), is now separated by the bars of a jail cell. Caleb was right by Hanna’s side when she took his advice to share all the evidence she had on A with Lt. Tanner. Of course, just as she is ready to meet with Tanner, A remotely hacks her phone and removes all the evidence! (Later Em and Aria’s phones are erased too)
When Hanna sees Ali in jail, she gives her the Stare of Death!!!
But, wait a minute Hanna, Ali did not take the plea after all. Ladies and gentlemen, Alison DiLaurentis has turned a corner. Instead of lying and giving up her friend, she has decided to go to trial. With just two more episodes and then the season finale, I think we better all strap in folks. This is going to be one wild A ride! Until next time, remember to keep you friends close and your secrets closer!!!
"Fresh Meat" Review
Pretty Little Liars
Season 5.15
“Fresh Meat"
Last night’s episode of Pretty Little Liars was all about sleuthing and relationships. Old relationships, some interesting and surprising new ways of relating, as well as some brand new relationships that will affect the future of our PLLs. Two new characters were introduced, Thalia Sandoval who will be working in the kitchen at Ezra’s bookstore and Jonny Raymond who will be moving into the Hasting’s backyard loft. Thalia and Ezra seemed mighty friendly while Spencer has had interesting relationships with every man who has lived in the loft so far.
Let’s jump right in with one of the old relationships,Toby and Alison. Toby conveniently drops off paperwork for Tanner at the Chester Women’s Correctional Facility. While there he sees Alison “Fresh Meat” Dilaurentis sporting her new to prison bruises. Ali may not be A, but I for one was so happy that she is finally getting some payback. After she tries to guilt Toby about how he should have empathy for what she is going through, he reminds her that she was the one who lied to have him put behind bars. Score for Officer Toby!
But Toby has plenty of other things to worry about besides Alison. After finding a bloody knife behind Mona’s house, he panics and covers up the evidence because it was from his parent’s cabin. Spencer and Caleb want to destroy it, but Toby is struggling with his new commitment as an officer of the law. By the end of the episode, it is clear that his new job will be a major stressor for Spoby.
It was great to see Spencer and Caleb (SpenCa) in so many scenes together. Being two of the wittiest liars on the show, it was good to see some depth to their relationship. Caleb confessed to Spencer that he had once been arrested on suspicion of murder! After recovering the bloody knife from Mona’s backyard they took it to the kiln at Rosewood High to destroy it. Spencer should have known not to leave her buddy alone because A is always lurking the schools halls at night. Caleb gets locked inside the kiln to be destroyed along with the knife. Spencer pulls him to safety just in time, and makes sure to re-start the fire.
Aria and Emily were both spiraling out of control. Aria over her college rejection letters and Emily over Paige’s lack of communication since leaving for California. Emily get a grip...this seems too familiar! (identical response when Mya left you for California) She left you because she is hiding something! The hand writing from the note that Alison received at the end of the episode looked a lot like Paige’s handwritten note to the police when she found out Alison was alive.
Aria on the other hand takes action and drives to meet her former nemesis and Ezra’s former fiancee, Jackie Molina, at Talmadge College. Jackie works in admissions and received Aria’s ill-advised letter asking to be removed from the Talmadge’s wait list and confessing how she let her relationship with Ezra ruin her high school years. Jackie actually surprises Aria by siding with her and even getting her freshman acceptance in order. Aria, did you email that letter? You know that A has been hacking your email for years! Sure enough, she gets a book marker with a quote from her letter inside a book at Ezra’s bookstore event that night. Spencer and Hannah should not leave Emily or Aria home alone ever again!
Hanna went on a week long visit to Ballard College. But when she learns about the bloody knife and that Detective ShadyBrook has taken a personal leave to be with his ailing father, she goes to find him at Poppa Holbrook’s home in the mobile park. Of course Poppa is healthy and has not seen his son in weeks. But he mistakes Hanna for Alison (or maybe CeCe) by saying he thought that if anyone would know where he was, he thought she would. He then asks her if she was out on bail. So was Ali hiding out with ShadyBrook and his Dad while she was missing? Who was that boy on the bike? Hanna then pays a visit to Alison in jail and listens to Alison claim that she was waiting for hours to meet Cyrus on the day Mona was killed....only to find out it was a trap set by A. Hanna wasn’t buying it, and basically told Ali she was done with her.
The most shocking part of the night was seeing Ashley “Cougar” Marin hooking up with Jason DiLaurentis. Poor Pastor Ted! He loves Ashley and even posted her bail when she was falsely accused of Wilden’s murder and thrown in jail.
Mama Marin got busted when Hannah came home early from her college tour and saw the remains of dinner for two in the kitchen, and Jason getting dressed as he came down the stairs. However, in the midst of Jashley’s reveal, the writers threw in a big clue. Jason asked Ashley to look over a file that didn’t make sense to him. “We still have a tenant whose lease expired three years ago.” That would be the year that Alison went missing. So who is this tenant? Bethany, CeCe, or was it Alison? Can’t wait to find out who this tenant is!
Until next time liars, remember to keep your friends close and your secrets closer!!!