The TV Chick

Last night’s Pretty Little Liars “Never Letting Go” centered around relationships — parental relationships, the girls’ relationships and significant others/possible significant others. Jason DiLaurentis also takes on an even bigger (sadly non-shirtless) role. I thought the episode set up some very interesting things for the future. Are the girls able to let go of Ali? Clearly, not quite yet.

At the beginning of the episode, the girls continue to theorize about Ali’s death. They also talk about boys, which is very refreshing. I’d love to see these girls not worry about A for once…which would not make for good television, but still. Aria gets a text from Jason to meet up with her. Of course, she lies and says it’s Ezra. Oh boy. Jason tells Aria that he shouldn’t have told her all of those things at the funeral. There is definitely something shady here.

Meanwhile, it’s Toby and Spencer make out time. Woo! Love it. Spencer gets home and realizes her dad was on the phone with Jessica DiLaurentis. My first thought is that they had an affair. My second thought is that Spencer is making too much of it but who knows.

At the Fields house, Emily and her mom have a heart to heart about her dad. Em suggests that her mom stay with her dad until summer vacation. I love their new trusting relationship. Pam is so much more accepting of Emily now, it’s great. Later, Spencer tells Aria about her dad’s heated call with Jessica DiLaurentis. Spencer and Aria get an email saying that Ali’s mom wants to have lunch with them. Awkwardness ensues. She gives the girls dresses which they remember in a bitchy Ali flashback moment. Creeepy! She wants them to wear the dresses in the upcoming fashion show. Double creepy! Hanna vocalizes exactly what I think about the dresses. Aria offers to pick out and show pictures for the Ali tribute to Jason. I don’t like where this is going, Aria. Remember Ezra! I do like that Jessica DiLaurentis is suddenly back. I feel like she probably knows a lot more about Ali and Jason than the girls do and I’d love for that information to come out some time.

Then at school, it’s bitchy Mona alert! She took over fashion show duty from Spencer and Noel Kahn is DJing. Ew. Samara helps Emily out with her dress, and she invites her to the fashion show. So cute! At the Marin house, Han has a nice private dancing moment and her dad walks in. He decided to stay to see her fashion show. Han is convinced he’s hanging out because her dad is still in love with her mom. Harsh words! But I understand. She’s clearly been burned by her dad in the past and why is there this sudden reappearance?

After school, Jason and Aria look through pictures of Ali. They talk about the day and night that Ali disappeared. Jason freaks out a bit and thinks he’s being questioned. He storms off. Jason becomes more and more suspicious by the day. I don’t think he killed Ali or is A (if the show does it by the books), but there is definitely more to Jason than we know.

Pre-fashion show, the Mona bitchiness continues. Samara shows up with Emily’s dress and a “friend.” Emily is clearly jealous. And Spencer spies on a heated conversation with her dad and Jessica D. Oh man! Spencer hands Noel a DVD for the tribute…which she didn’t want to check over. This obviously will not go as planned.

Also at the fashion show, Ashley and Han’s dad talk. It’s sort of a nice, we-understand-each other sort of talk. Han sees them dancing and I am sure she gets the wrong idea. Later, Emily and Samara talk. Samara asks if it would bother Emily if she saw someone else. They admit their feelings for each other but Samara reminds Emily that she (Em not Samara) didn’t want to get too serious too fast. I see this relationship going somewhere though. I have grown to quite like Samara.

Then it’s time for the super cute fashion show! Just an observation, this fashion show montage could have been vastly shorter. Then comes the Ali tribute. It starts off sweet but then the DVD turns crazy, saying the bitch is back and playing ridiculous music. Whoa. After Spencer unplugs the equipment to get the DVD to stop, the girls get A message on the projector. I think that the fashion show kind of gave a ton of clues as to who A is — A had to be at the fashion show and most likely goes to school with the girls. I just hope the A reveal comes by the end of this season. It may not for dramatic purposes, I just think the show can go places after A is eliminated (another person who hates the girls? More about Ali’s past and her murder). But I digress.

After the fashion show, Emily chats with her mom about relationship stuff. And it turns out, Emily is going to stay in Rosewood with Hanna. Did we ever think she’d leave for good though? There was a big story line in the books where she is sent away but it might have been a little controversial for ABC Family. Yes, even more controversial than a crazy threatening stalker and possible murderer.

At the Marin house, Han comes home to find her dad. He tells her she’s right and he needs to work things out with her mom. No more excuses. She lets down her guard a bit. Hmm, I hope this lasts. At the Hastings house, Spencer comes home and confronts her dad about Jessica D. He’s super defensive which leads me to believe that he’s definitely hiding something. As I said, I suspect a possible affair. Meanwhile, Aria and Jason talk some more. Jason wants to stay in Rosewood and figure out how to be happy. I kind of want Ezra to find out about Jason. I want Aria to work out her issues and why she has been all flirty with Jason. Is it because she wants to figure out what really happened with Ali? Is it because she feels closer to Ali this way? Does she suspect Jason? The girls’ suspects (Toby, Noel) have not worked out so well in the past so hopefully, it’s not that. I am very interested to see where this relationship goes though.

At the end of the episode, A is ordering boots online. Weird. Overall, I think the most intriguing part of this episode besides the whole Aria and Jason situation was Spencer’s dad and Jessica DiLaurentis. Spencer’s dad hasn’t exactly been super present in the show. In fact, when I first saw him, I had to remind myself that it was indeed, Spencer’s dad. I am sure Spencer will investigate whatever is going on with them and I’m curious what it could be. I also have always enjoyed the fashion on the show and the school fashion show was a nice showcase (albeit to long of one but nice nonetheless). I am excited to see where the Emily and Samara relationship goes as well as how Emily does without her mom for a while. Also, what happened with Mike Montgomery? There’s more to be resolved there so I hope we see that in the future. While this episode wasn’t crazy dramatic, I liked it a lot. It was a nice break from the highly charged, run-through-the-woods to escape a possible killer episodes. Although I love those, too. I’m excited to see what’s to come.

Pretty Little Liars airs Tuesday nights at 8 PM on ABC Family.